By Christa Jennings
Senior staff writer
During a relatively short meeting in September, the Board of Education approved a handful of personnel and other matters.
However, names of individuals involved in personnel matters on the agenda are not made publicly available until the meeting minutes are approved at the next Board meeting.
At its September meeting, with all Board members present, the Board unanimously approved three non-certified recommendations. Those were for Payton Fielding as a paraprofessional, Joe Ponder as a custodian and Deborah Wilson as a special education paraprofessional, all for the 2025-2026 school year.
Additionally, the Board unanimously approved two contracts for therapists. One is a contract with Michelle Baynes to provide occupational therapy services, and one is with Cameron Elliott to provide physical therapy services, both to students selected by the school system, and both effective October 1 through September 30, 2026.
In other business, discussion with Board members at the meeting led to a recommendation from Board President Tiffany McCain to nominate Dr. Chante Ruffin as the Alabama Association of School Boards District 4 director.
Following its regular meeting held on October 23, the next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held at 4 p.m. on November 20. This will also be the Board’s annual meeting which includes the election of officers and establishment of regularly scheduled meetings, as well as public comments regarding the allotment of public funds or administration of the county’s schools.
