Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The Autauga County Board of Education met for their regularly scheduled meeting, and the last meeting while school is still in session. The Board had numerous items on the consent and regular agenda highlighting teachers, students and nurses alike.
The ACBOE heard from Jana White, Alabama Examiner of Public Accounts, where White stated there were no findings, meaning everything is in order regarding funding for Autauga County Schools, ACS. The Board also heard from Lesley Poe regarding March and April’s bank and financial statements. The Board also approved the last special board meeting minutes as well as April’s minutes.
The Board also heard a presentation update from Julie Harrington, the director of personnel. Harrington stated that of the 1,179 employees within the ACS district, 96% of certified positions within the district are filled for next year, and 95% of the classified positions are filled.
Harrington and superintendent of Autauga County Schools Lyman Woodfin confirmed that the district is now asking personnel that are willingly leaving or retiring to take a survey regarding the district.
“As a system we should always be trying to get better and with this process, we can’t be afraid of the answers we may get when people say ‘hey this is why we’re leaving.’ If there’s several people saying the same thing well then that’s something we need to look at to improve as a district,” Woodfin said.
Woodfin went on to highlight many of the project updates around the district, where he reiterated that the funding for the projects such as the Autaugaville gym and updating restrooms around the district, are all coming from one time allocated state money and not from the local money.
This is the first year after the Board approved the “new” in-district transfer policy within Autauga County. The policy has replaced the hardship policy in the district. However with this new policy that was voted and approved previously last year, this gives parents more options, Woodfin stated.
Woodfin confirmed that Autuagaville will be losing 16 from their schools, Billingsley will lose four, Prattville Elementary will lose 10, Prattville High School will lose 10, Prattville Intermediate will lose five, Prattville Junior High will stay even. Schools that will be gaining students from the new in-district transfer policy are Marbury High School is gaining 10, Marbury Middle is gaining 4, Pine Level is gaining 10, Daniel Pratt gaining 12 and Prattville Kindergarten School is gaining 10.
“I’ve looked at the hardship data that we’ve been able to access. This is pretty much in line with what has always been through the county,” Woodfin said.
Woodfin also reiterated some recent policy updates regarding tardies, attendance and tardies. The attendance policy was changed to add vacation into excused absence, which was not previously in the verbiage of the former policy. The board also approved the change in policy for tardiness from students throughout the district. Now, tardies start over at the beginning of each semester.
