CCBOE approves retirements from new state law [The Cullman Times, Ala.]

Nov. 25--CULLMAN -- With some changes to the state retirement law now going into effect, the Cullman County Board of Education recently approved its first batch of retirements related to the change. Thirteen employees retired at a meeting last week, including seven teachers.

The new Alabama law requires public employees retiring after Dec. 1 to pay more for their health insurance if they have served 25 years or longer but aren't yet 65 years old and eligible for Medicare.

More than 1,660 education employees across the state are expected to retire before the end of the year, and CCBOE Superintendent Billy Coleman said several recent retirements were related to the changeover. Overall, the county system anticipates losing about 25 employees, less than 10 of which are classroom teachers.

"That's quite a list to look at, but everyone has to understand what is happening with retirements," Coleman said. "But, everyone needs to understand what is actually happening with retirements here, because it can mean quite a bit of money. Some of those may not have really been ready to retire, but are retiring now because of the finances."

Coleman said the law allows some wiggle room in regards to retiring teachers come back in a limited capacity to finish the school year, and he anticipates several will come back for the final semester.

"You don't want students getting a new teachers mid-year, so we've worked around a lot of those," he said. "A lot of them do want to come back and finish the year with those students. I believe that's what is best for the kids."

--Retirements and resignations recently approved include:

-- Deborah Peake, Alternative School Program Manager (Retirement).

-- Kerry Henderson, assistant principal, Hanceville High (Retirement).

-- Laurita Hogland, kindergarten teacher, Cold Springs Elementary (Retirement).

-- Donna P. Thomas, fourth grade teacher, Fairview Elementary (Retirement).

-- Darleen Faith Whitlock, teacher, C.A.R.E. (Retirement).

-- Tony Lee Silvey, teacher/band director, West Point High (Retirement).

-- Bryan Kreps, teacher/band director, Hanceville High (Retirement).

-- Kathy Scruggs, gifted specialist, Child Development Center (Retirement).

-- Diane S. Barnett, guidance counselor, Cullman Area Career Center (Retirement).

-- Mickie Joe Perry, bus driver and station head, Holly Pond.

-- Okley Shelton, bus driver and station head, Cold Springs (Retirement).

-- Doris Mead, bus driver, Fairview (Retirement).

-- Connie Lawrence, vocational driver (Vocational trip 1 only), Vinemont (will continue driving regular route).

-- Gaynell England, CNP Worker, Parkside (Retirement).

-- Tammy Davis, teacher aide, Fairview Elementary (Retirement).

-- Henri L. Derrick, bookkeeper, Fairview High (Retirement).

-- Mitch Jones, middle school boys basketball coach, Holly Pond Middle.

At a recent meeting, the board also:

--Viewed a special presentation from Good Hope Primary.

--Transferred and introduced Phillip Mabry from assistant principal at Vinemont High School to principal at Vinemont Middle School.

--Approved a leave of absence for Patrick Brock, teacher, Good Hope Elementary.

--Approved voluntary transfers:

-- Timothy Sellers, from math teacher, Fairview High; to credit recovery teacher, Career Center.

-- Bobbie Denise Latty, from school bus driver, Harmony/West Point; to school bus driver, Child Development Center.

-- Bridget Taylor, from school nurse, West Point Elementary; to school nurse, Vinemont Elementary.

-- Richard Hays, from School Bus Driver, Parkside; to School Bus Driver, Holly Pond.

--Approved funding transfers:

-- Kim Kanaday, From: 25% Title VI/ 75% State; To: 25% Title II/ 75% State.

-- Derrick Waddell, From: 25% Title II/ 75% Title I; To: 25% Title VI/ 75% Title I.

-- Ronnie Barnes, From: Part-time, 100% Title II; To: Part-time, 100% General Fund.

--Approved appointments:

-- Eric Vest, Math Teacher, Fairview High.

-- Becki Klein, Clerk/Receptionist, Central Office.

-- Janie L. White, Receptionist/Media Aide, Career Center.

-- Karri Moore, Special Education Aide, Fairview Elementary.

-- Brandi Aris, School Nurse, West Point High and Elementary.

-- Gloria Bean, Vocational School Bus Driver, Vinemont.

-- Jean Baker, Transition School Bus Driver (as needed), Child Development.

-- Benita Mosley, Station Head, Cold Springs.

-- Melvin Williams, School Bus Driver, Cold Springs.

-- Matthew Wood, Station Head, Holly Pond.

--Approved substitutes: Margarite Thomey, Daniel Guthery, Janet White, Joe Duke, Leslie Hembree, Regina House.

--Approved CNP substitutes: Tonya Ballenger, Sonya Ann Byram, Frances Annette Casey, Wanda Fay Cole, Shela Bell Drummond, Kristina Smith Gable, Lisa Dawn Garmon, Imogean Simpson Gilliland, Brenda Jane Goodwin, Sharon Lynn Hancock, Deborah A. Hendrix, Tammy Linn Henke, Regenia Elaine, Dawn Marie Johnson, Regina L.Q. Johnson, Esma M. Lindsey, Lanna Annette Mann, Shannon Renee Means, Juliet P. Moody, Donna R. Roberts, Tara Elizabeth Sandlin, Kimberly C. Sinclair, Sonya Denise Still, Angela Davis Turbyfill, Kimberly D. Watts, Jennifer Ann White, Vickie Lynn Wood and Angela Dawn Woodall.

--Approved High Hopes and At-Risk instructors, Fairview High: Vicky Skelley, Michelle Bryant, Tami Crook, Curtis Alexander, LeDell Cook, Eric Vest, Carol Fetters, Anthony Gamble and Abby Branch.

--Approved contract salary changes:

-- Sue Livingston, from: Temporary/Part-time, no benefits; To: Part-time, with benefits (no change to hours).

-- Kim Crumbley, Upgrade to Master's.

-- April Alldredge, Upgrade to Master's.

-- Bob Kusz, add MS Boys Basketball coaching supplement, Holly Pond Middle.

-- Phillip Key, add MS Girls Basketball coaching supplement, Hanceville Middle.

--Approved September bills, salaries and financial statements.

--Approved some out of state field trip requests.

--Approved a request from Hanceville High School for permission to pay staff a stipend to work gates as ticket takers for athletic events, to be paid from local funds.

--Approved a request from Good Hope youth association to pay at the end of their season $500 to Patrick McDonald and Scotty Cofer for coaching a seventh grade team this year.

--Approved a request from Vinemont High School to pay Todd Johnson, Lance Lay and Kerry Thompson for refinishing the gym floors on all Vinemont gyms in the net amount of $200 per floor, to be paid from local funds.

--Approved a request from Fairview High for permission to remove all unused and obsolete equipment by sale, donation or salvage.

--Approved a request from Welti Elem. for permission to remove all unused, obsolete, broken equipment by sale, donation or salvage.

--Approved a request from Stevie Mullins, agriscience teacher, Cold Springs High, to construct an equine science arena. It will be used to teach Equine Science to students, horse management, feeding, hoof care, horse riding safety, barn management, parts identity of horses, proper use of horses, etc.

--Approval of warranty deed and agreement between Sherry Stricklin and the Cullman County Commission on Education.

--Approved the sick leave committee.

--Appointed probationary principals.

--Appointment of Deborah Peake, alternative program manager, at C.A.R.E. for 2011-2012 school year.

--Appointed contract principals.

--Approved request from Good Hop School softball program to accept bids to sell its U-Haul style utility trailer.

--Organized the commission.

--Announced the next meeting for Thursday, December 15.

--Went into executive session.

--Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at [email protected], or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.

___

(c)2011 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.)

Visit The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) at www.cullmantimes.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services