BOE approves purchasing 10 new school buses
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During its December 16 meeting, the Board of Education approved personnel matters and also took action toward purchasing 10 new school buses for the school system.
At the meeting Superintendent of Education David Stover recommended approval of a resolution for that purchase, with the resolution titled “A Resolution Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Financing Documents for School Buses.”
The financing documents include a financing agreement reflecting an installment-purchase financing in the amount of $858,000 and the interest rate provided in the financing agreement, with the interest rate to never exceed 2.5% or the “maximum amount permitted under Alabama law.”
The board would be entering into the Secured Equipment Financing Agreement with Regions Equipment Finance Corporation, which would be the lender. The resolution was also set to take effect immediately.
After review, the board unanimously approved and adopted the resolution for the purchase of 10 new school buses, with all five board members present for the meeting.
Regarding personnel matters, the board unanimously approved accepting a letter of intent to retire from Transportation Supervisor John Nelson, effective January 1, and a letter of resignation from Misty Wade, Central High School counselor, also effective January 1.
The board also unanimously approved one certified recommendation. That was to hire Daniel Wiley as elementary school assistant principal, effective January 3, at the recommendation of elementary school principal Kara Forbus.
Additionally, the board unanimously approved two employee transfers. Those were to transfer Dwilda Ballard to elementary school bookkeeper and Jeff Moore to transportation supervisor, with both effective January 3.
The board also unanimously approved Marquesha Cobb as a substitute teacher/aide for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.
In personnel related matters, the board also unanimously approved job descriptions for project director, Literacy Everywhere! Project position and maintenance/transportation support position.
Board members also unanimously approved two low bids for repairs and renovations at its last meeting.
One low bid was from Standard Roofing of Montgomery Inc. for emergency repairs to re-roof the Rockford Arts & Crafts building on County Road 18 in the amount of $68,427. Two other bids were received for that project, but they were for $96,000 and $84,547.
The other low bid approved was from Williford Orman Construction of Hoover for renovations to Central High School for Cheaha Regional Head Start, with a base bid of $397,531. No other bid was received for that project.
Superintendent Stover also recommended approval of an agreement between Coosa County schools and the Alabama Parent Education Center for the period of October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2026, regarding implementation of activities for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant. That agreement was unanimously approved.
The board also unanimously approved a contract with Pat Edmondson, psychometrist, at a rate of $150 per test plus mileage at 50 cents per mile for evaluations and re-evaluations of referred students within the school system as assigned by the special education department. The contract is for the time period of January 1 through December 31, 2022.
In other business, Stover reported that Nia Herridge, elementary school teacher, received a grant from Alabama Power Foundation’s classroom program in the amount of $1,000 to “promote students’ ability to learn.”
Additionally, Stover reported that a request had been made to the County Commission to update flooring at the central board office and to limit access from the lobby area.
He also reviewed some of the ongoing work at the facilities, including the new career tech area, surveying for the walkway and football field, busted water line at the Career Tech Center, and movement of the bus shop fuel tank.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board was for January 27; however, the board was in agreement to move the regular meeting in January to January 20. Therefore, the next board meeting will be held at 4 p.m. January 20.
