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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Chilton County Board of Education approved securing architectural drawings for 10 projects during a meeting on Jan. 19.

Projects include:

1. Verbena Annex parking lot
2. Repairs to the Verbena High School parking lot (front, beside auditorium and gym)
3. Jemison High School back property to use the land beside the field house for future construction
4. LeCroy Career Technical Center roof
5. Chilton County High School classroom addition
6. Isabella High School classroom addition
7. LeCroy Career Technical Center bathroom additions
8. LeCroy Career Technical Center classroom addition
9. Technology building to be placed near PASS Academy or central office
10. Addressing stadium bleacher safety issues —VHS visitor side bleachers, CCHS visitor side bleachers, JHS visitor side bleachers, IHS visitor side bleachers, Maplesville High School home side

 

Board President Pam Price said the school already had engineer drawings for developing the property behind Jemison High School. She asked if these could be used instead of paying for them again.

Superintendent Jason Griffin said these could be sent to the state for review to see if they would be accepted.

However, he said it could be at least a month before they get a response.

A new band building for JHS and JMS has been discussed for the site, if the land can be made useable.

In a separate motion, a fence for Thorsby High School’s playground was approved. The vote approves up to $25,000 for the project. The school had previously raised $9,700 for the fence. However, if the donors are all right with the school using those funds for something else, then the school board will pay the full amount.

“I don’t feel like you all should have to raise money to build a fence around your … playground for safety,” board member Keith Moore said, addressing THS Principal Corey Clements. “I appreciate everyone that donated, but if it is a safety concern, I feel like the board ought to cover the whole thing.”

Lighting at school stadiums will be reviewed by an outside entity before the board votes on taking any action.

“It’s Alabama Power, they do the service for free,” Price said. “They will come check all of our poles, all of our wiring and everything for free.”

During a work session prior to the voting session, Price presented information to board members on what the process would be if it wanted to move from an elected superintendent to an appointed superintendent. Price explained if such a resolution was approved by the board, it would also have to be approved by the Chilton County Commission and the Alabama State Legislature before going into effect. Griffin said he was neutral on the issue because he plans to retire at the end of his term in two years. Price said having a superintendent that is hired and appointed by the board would bring accountability to the role.

This topic may be discussed at a later date. However, no action was taken during the Jan. 19 meeting.

Also approved during the voting session:

• A special education services contract position for Verbena High School.
• Three interventionist positions to be paid for with CARES Act funding.
• Posting to hire a special education bookkeeper, hiring a contract bookkeeper for Clanton Intermediate.
• Purchasing archived data from iNow in order to retain student records when the school system moves fully to Power School for electronic record keeping. This will cost $12,809, and it is something principals said would be helpful.