Reeves steers first school board meeting, honors culinary team excellence

ALBERTVILLE – Superintendent Dr. Bart Reeves presided over his first Albertville school board meeting on Tuesday night, marking a pivotal moment in the system’s educational leadership. 

“First of all, I just want to publicly thank the board for your faith, trust and confidence in appointing me as your superintendent. Thank you very much. I’m excited to be here. I want to be here,” said Dr. Reeves. “I also want to thank the community and staff for such a warm welcome. I’m looking forward to getting to know our parents, our students, our staff members."

The culinary team from Albertville High School was recognized. The team competed in the National FCCLA STAR Events Competition in Denver this summer. This was the first time Albertville had taken a group to FCCLA nationals, and they brought home a first-place national title, along with many other prestigious awards.

The students recognized included Daisy (Hong Wa NG), Yenifer Aguilar Perez, Mariano Andres, Sara Bledsoe and Madgie Bolt, and Dulce Jarquin Diaz. They were joined by their teachers, Brittanee Johnson and Moriah Miller.  

“When all the other students went home for summer break, these students showed up at school once a week to practice. Four of them were seniors who had already graduated. I am so proud of them for everything they did,” said Johnson. 

Daisy, who was awarded first place in the nation for baking and pastry, couldn’t attend the meeting. Daisy is currently studying at The Culinary Institute of America in New York City. 

Alabama State Board of Education District 6 board member Marie Manning was also in attendance at the meeting. Manning, who attended McCord Elementary, shared her excitement over being back in Albertville and about Dr. Reeves appointment as Albertville’s superintendent. 

The board approved several items to be removed from the basketball inventory at the high school. These items will be auctioned off at a fundraiser dinner for families, fans, and community members. Items include old uniforms from the boys’ program, junior varsity scorebooks, banners and pieces of the gym floor from the Coliseum. The money raised will help with costs throughout the season, including travel, officials, and game operators. 

FFA officers from AMS took time to attend Tuesday night’s meeting. The purpose was to observe parliamentary procedures for a business meeting. Following the meeting, the students networked with those in attendance. 

The following E-Learning dates were approved for testing:

  • Oct. 24 for 9th, 11th, and 12th grade only. Sophomores will be taking the PreACT.
  • Nov. 9 for students in K-11. Seniors will be taking the ACT Workkeys at AHS. 
  • Feb. 16 for all non-EL students at AIS, AMS, and AHS. All EL students at these schools will be taking the ACCESS test at their respective schools. 
  • March 12 for 9th, 10th, and 12th grade only. Juniors will be taking the ACT at AHS.
  • April 10-11 for 5th grade students only. Sixth graders will be taking the ACAP test at AIS.
  • April 16-17 for 7th grade students only. Eighth graders will be taking the ACAP test at AMS. 
  • April 17-18 for 6th grade students only. Fifth graders will be taking the ACAP test at AIS.
  • April 18-19 for 8th grade students only. Seventh graders will be taking the ACAP test at AMS.

During the meeting, the board also: 

  • Approved the minutes from each of the special called meetings for superintendent interviews, along with the minutes from the Aug. 15, Sept. 1, 6 and 14 meetings. 
  • Approved the fundraising revenue and the listing of inventory to be recycled and deleted. 
  • Approved the following personnel items:
    • Resignations
      • Briana Phillips, elementary teacher at AES, effective Sept. 30.
    • Supplement Resignations
      • Stacie Wright, technology team at AMS, effective Aug. 23. 
    • Transfers
      • Moriah Miller, from business education teacher at AHS to education and training teacher at AHS, effective Oct. 19.
    • Employments
      • Marty Hatley, migrant program specialist at the central office, to be paid from migrant program funds Title I-C, effective Oct. 2.
      • Eva Alonzo Diaz, system-wide bilingual aide at ACS, effective Oct. 2.
      • Dena Dendy, math teacher at AHS, effective Sept. 20.
    • Other
      • Brittanee Johnson, to work the concession stand for AHS/AMS basketball, to be paid $5,000 by the Tip Off Club, effective Sept. 20 – Feb. 14.
      • Justin Murphy, assistant baseball coach at AMS, to be paid $2,000 by the baseball boosters, effective Sept. 20 – May 31.
      • Tony Cassels, boys assistant soccer coach at AHS, to be paid $2,000 by AHS soccer, effective Sept. 20 -May 31.
      • The following individuals were approved to drive a bus for the after-school program three days a week and will be paid by ARP ESSER State Reserve Funds: Stanley Burgess, Bonnie Burton, Tiffany Smith, Charisie Joshua, Angela Gilbreath, Angela Turner, Kelley Spaulding, Charlie Alldredge, Michael Williams, Paula Jarvis, Cara Smedley, Karen Smith, Janet Smallwood and Rickey Gable. 
      • The following individuals were approved to work the after-school program three days per week and will be paid $45 per hour by ARP ESSER State Reserve Funds: Emily Huntington, Pamela Fortner, Jade Townsend and Jessica Lewis.
    • Independent Contracts
      •  Kevin Chase, Diamond Classic Show Choir Competition judge, paid by AHS.
      • Victor Zavala Luna, middle school football assistant, paid by AMS football.
      • Donald Walker, to paint murals at AKPK, paid by AKPK.
      • Jarad Voss, to provide choreography for Centerstage, paid by AHS.
      • John Mastin and John Hicks, clock operators for AHS basketball, paid by AHS basketball.
      • Cale Colvin, Cameron Hall, Armando Guerrero, Jr., clock operators for AMS basketball, paid by AMS basketball.
      • Barry Galloway, announce for the Northeast Alabama Marching Invitational, paid by AHS.
      • Daniel Marshall, Blair Callaway, James Crumb, Jr., Mary Bates, Ron Pence, Robert Stegall, Christopher Moore, Jason Winningham and Jena Goosby, judges for the Northeast Alabama Marching Invitational, paid by AHS. 
  • Approved the AHS FBLA group to travel to Providence, RI, Nov. 8-12 to participate in leadership development and state officer training.
  • Approved the financials and reconciliations for July. In July, the district’s revenue totaled $10,470,690.02 and expenditures totaled $8,596,402.57. 
  • Approved the September fundraising requests, including the Books are Fun Book Blast crowdfunding platform.
  • Approved a list of old textbooks to go to surplus at APS.
  • Approved the following professional services contracts:
    • Milestones Behavior Group, Inc., to provide behavior analytic services and/or speech language services for identified students, paid for with IDEA funds.
    • Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists Ramona Evans, to provide orientation and mobility assessment for identified students, paid for with IDEA funds.
    • Kris Wayne Courson Sign Language Interpreting Services, to provide interpreting services to identified students, paid for with IDEA funds.
    • Amended the agreement with WISE to change the start date from Aug. 8 to Aug. 4, paid for with IDEA funds.
    • Mountain Lakes Behavioral Healthcare to provide mental health treatment services to identified students, paid for by Title IV.
  • Approved the FY24 five-year capital plan.
  • Approved Carrie Jefferson to be the superintendent’s appointee to the sick leave bank committee for 2023-2024.
  • Approved the membership renewal with the School Superintendents of Alabama for AASA liability insurance coverage.
  • Selected Sandy Elkins as the delegate to the Alabama Association of School Boards Convention and Delegate Assembly scheduled for Nov. 30 – Dec. 2. Bobby Stewart was chosen as the alternate.

The next regular monthly board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. in the boardroom at 105 West Main Street in Albertville. 

Please click here for additional photos from Tuesday night's meeting.

The culinary team from Albertville High School was recognized at Tuesday night’s board of education meeting. The team competed in the National FCCLA STAR Events Competition in Denver this summer. This was the first time Albertville had taken a group to FCCLA nationals, and they brought home a first-place national title, along with many other prestigious awards. Pictured are, from left, Education and Training Instructor Moriah Miller, Dulce Jarquin Diaz, Sara Bledsoe, Superintendent Dr. Bart Reeves, Yenifer Aguilar Perez, Mariano Andres, and Culinary Instructor Brittanee Johnson.