BY TATUM NORTHINGTON
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
The Autauga County Board of Education met for their regular scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. at the Chapter One building in Downtown Prattville. All five board members were present as well as the Superintendent. Attendance by community members was lacking as there were approximately four people in attendance that did not work at the Central Office.
The meeting was called to order and the agenda approved. Superintendent Tim Tidmore addressed policy changes taking effect immediately within the ACBOE Handbook:
- Policy 2.35 the tobacco policy to update terminology regarding use of tobacco products on campus. New terminology as follows:
- “It is the policy of the Board to promote the health and safety of all personnel and to promote the cleanliness of all school facilities. To this end, the Board prohibits the use, possession or sale of tobacco or vaping products on school property, including vehicles or at any school activity. Tobacco is defined to include, but not limited to, lighted or unlighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, clove cigarette, spit tobacco, smokeless tobacco, dip, chew, or snuff, CBD products, lighters, matches, electronic cigarettes, vapes, and other similar/related products. Unidentified substances intended to be used with electronic cigarettes and/or vapes may be classified as a drug and coded as a Class III (Major Offense).”
- Policy 6.40 change to Interim/Alternative School, under Section A – they deleted words “aggravated battery” and updated with “assault”
- “Administrative options for students in grades 7-12 found to have participated in Major Offenses C(3) Fighting and/or C(5) Assault will be either recommended for expulsion or referral of the student to the STEP program at the Alternative School for a minimum of forty-five(45) days.”
Tidmore discussed the Capital Projects underway including use of the $2.5 million received from the ETF funds and updated the board on the progress of the projects.
The Autauga Co. Technology Center is updating their roof, the Early Learning Center has the engineering renderings almost completed to be issued for bidding to begin, security entrances (vestibules) across the county have been updated and are more secure, the Ag Science building at Billingsley School is almost completed – mid September move in date, and the outdoor classroom for the ACTC is being delivered.
CFO Amber Anderson updated the board on Banking and Financials and was pleased to announce that things are tracking well, revenues were better than projected and expenditures were less than projected at 66% of the way through the fiscal year.
Tidmore announced enthusiastically that they had just received word from the Attorney General that day regarding the opinion they requested April of this year, and the AG’s opinion was in the affirmative and agreed with the ACBOE
- “May the Autauga County Board of Education enter into an agreement with the Autauga County Commission to assist the board with projects and to pave school parking lots without bidding the work pursuant to Ala. Code 39-1-1 et seq, and with the commission providing material, labor and equipment, at cost, for all work to be performed.”
Tidmore asked the board for the approval of the Consent Agenda, which was accepted. The Consent Agenda included information regarding the July 28 meeting minutes, Local Book adoption for ELA, Salary Schedule Changes, and a Covid Policy update.
Superintendent Tidmore addressed the policy and said he would be following Policy 5.22 to try to get back to as “normal as possible” and would follow the rule of “all other communicable diseases.”
Board Chairman Jim Manderson discussed more regarding the ETF Planned Projects and praised the work that had been completed thus far. He reminded those in attendance that the ETF Funds from the State of Alabama are not guaranteed year to year and that “we must get as much done as we can while we have the special ETF Funds.”
This led to Superintendent Tidmore introducing the Personnel Report for approval, which led to discussion of approximately four certified positions still unfilled at this time and there were quite a few emergency certificate/alternative certificate hires on this report. The personnel report can be found HERE
Tidmore then praised the schools dealing with all the changes over the past few years. He also introduced information regarding School Visits where members of the Central Office staff will be on campus this week visiting with all the schools and offering support. He also discussed a “New Principals Academy” that will help all Principals and Assistant Principals, with under two years of experience in the county, to grow and learn in their new roles. It will provide professional development for these members over the course of the school year.
Tidmore also mentioned his staff is working on hosting an “Aspiring Leaders Academy” and this would be an opportunity of professional development for all faculty/staff in the county who are interested in becoming school leaders and administrators.
The meeting was adjourned and everyone was thanked for their time.
