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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Chilton County Board of Education approved the capital plan for the 2023 fiscal year during its meeting on Sept. 20.

Projects were listed for 2023-2027.

Priorities listed to be completed in the 2023 fiscal year, included a new roof for the Chilton County Schools Central Office and Clanton Elementary School as well as paving the back parking lot and access road at Chilton County High School and addressing parking issues at Maplesville High School.

The CES roof is already leaking.

Estimated costs of each project were not included.

“Do we have plans for each of these?” board member Chris Smith asked as he reviewed the list.

“These are realistic projects,” Superintendent Jason Griffin said. “… These projects (are) based on our facility assessment. Yes, there are plans for those.”

A separate motion would be needed to move forward with each project, approving the capital plan simply fulfills the state requirement that the school system have one.

“This is just a projection. This does not mean that any of these get done,” Griffin said. “This does not mean you can’t add something.”

A separate motion to move forward with requesting bids for the Central Office roof, LeCroy Career Technical Center roof, Chilton County High School paving behind the stadium and softball field drive and paving the Maplesville High School front parking lot died for lack of a second.

The board amends the capital plan on an annual basis.

The capital plan only includes projects that would cost more than $50,000.

The listed project for 2024 was intercoms for all of the schools. For 2025, a classroom addition for LeCroy Career Technical Center was listed. A multi-purpose building for Jemison Middle School was listed for 2026 and the Isabella home side bleachers are scheduled to be upgraded in 2027.

The BOE approved the budget for the 2023 fiscal year on Sept. 7. It included $81.7 million in expected revenue and $76.8 million in expenses.

During the Sept. 20 meeting, the board approved Griffin’s recommendation to have himself, board leadership and the board attorney negotiate with the Chilton County 911 board now that a new contract for the school system’s use of the countywide emergency communications system has been proposed.

Under personnel, the board approved 10 leave requests, Child Nutrition Program personnel, a teaching assistant for Isabella High School, a teaching assistant for Jemison Elementary School, supplements for Chilton County High School, Jemison High School and Clanton Middle School and long-term substitutes for JES and Verbena High School.