The Limestone County Board of Education unanimously approved the calendar for the 2019-2020 school year during a brief meeting Tuesday evening, which also included an unusually long list of personnel actions.

Before the calendar was brought before the school board for approval, staff members were given the chance to chose from two different schedules. More than 75 percent selected Schedule A, which has students attending class from Aug. 5-May 21. Additionally, students will be out of school from Oct. 7-11 for fall break, Nov. 25–29 for Thanksgiving, Dec. 23–Jan. 1 for Christmas break and March 30–April 3 for spring break. Report cards will be sent to parents Oct. 17, Jan. 7, March 27 and June 1.

Unanimous approval

The board quickly agreed on several other agenda items, including the sale of East Limestone High School’s old basketball jerseys to raise money for the basketball program.

Contracts with NexGen Document Services in the amount of $44,158 and Remote Learner (Moodle) digital learning platforms in the amount of $30,000 were renewed by the board.

The board also approved the purchase of four Skill Boss Trainers for the Limestone County Career Technical Center at a cost of $74,1740, which was paid for by grants from state Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA.

The board also agreed to use $62,700 of Gov. Kay Ivey’s At-Risk and High Hopes grant money for a K-8 software intervention computer program called Edgenuity.

Finally, the board agreed to pay the annual $18,000 fee to maintain and monitor the county’s nearly 1,000 SafeDefend boxes. Chief School Financial Officer Kimberly Hubbard assured the board the maintenance fees were already budgeted in the general fund.

Recognitions

Following the recent elections, incumbents Earl Glaze and Anthony Hilliard were sworn into office by Limestone County Probate Judge Charles Woodroof.

East and West Limestone high schools were recognized as two of only four secondary schools in the state to be designated as schools of excellence by the Alabama Best Practices Center and the A+ College Ready Board.

Piney Chapel elementary and East Limestone middle and high schools were honored for designing the best recycled ornaments in the Christmas Tree Lighting Ornament Contest.

Finally, the board bid farewell to Clements High School Principal Keith Hairrell, who will retire Dec. 21.

Personnel actions

New personnel

• Beth Little, LPN/instructional assistant, Tanner Elementary, replacing Sharon Reynolds, rest of year only; and

• Kyle Shoulders, agriscience teacher, East Limestone High, replacing John Carter Kincer, rest of year only.

Transfers

• Ina Holland, instructional assistant, Tanner High, transferring to the Limestone County Career Technical Center, replacing Sandra Thomas; and

• Mary Norman, utility bus driver, Transportation Department, transferring to regular bus route, East Limestone High, replacing Ed Nave.

Part-time

• Cali Stewart, part-time teacher, Tanner Elementary, paid $27 per hour through the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant.

Retirements

• Rebecca “Missy” Bailey, fifth-grade teacher and new teacher mentor at Elkmont High.

Resignations

• Johnson Akins, technical specialist, East Limestone High/Tanner Elementary;

• Travis Lewter, electrical instructor, LCCTC; and

• Sandra Pylant, bus driver, Limestone County Schools.

Leaves of absence

• Jeanna Kennedy, bus driver, Blue Springs Elementary/Clements High, extended leave of absence retroactive to Oct 31–Dec. 19;

• Amy Mosley, media specialist, Clements High, leave of absence retroactive to Sept. 24–Dec. 20;

• Jennifer Quillen, teacher, Creekside Elementary, leave of absence effective March 18–May 24, 2019, under the Family Medical Leave Act;

• Melanie Perry, teacher, Creekside Elementary/East Limestone High, leave of absence retroactive to Dec. 3-Jan. 11 under FMLA;

• Daniel Weathers, bus driver, East Limestone High, leave of absence retroactive to Sept. 26–Jan. 4 under FMLA;

• LeAndrea Hobbs, teacher, East Limestone High, leave of absence retroactive to Sept. 26–Jan. 22 under FMLA;

• Holly Thompson, teacher, LCCTC, leave of absence, retroactive to Nov. 13-Dec. 16 under FMLA;

• Randall McCrary, teacher, LCCTC, leave of absence retroactive to Nov. 20–Jan. 15 under FMLA;

• Greg Burchell, bus driver, Sugar Creek Elementary/West Limestone High, leave of absence 20 days retroactive to Nov. 14–Jan. 4;

• Mike Slaton, bus driver, Tanner Elementary/Tanner High, leave of absence retroactive Nov. 5–Jan. 3 under FMLA;

• Jordan Hill, 2nd grade, Tanner Elementary, leave of absence retroactive to Nov. 1–Feb. 11 under FMLA;

• Whitney Moran, special education, Tanner High, leave of absence effective Dec. 31–Feb. 28 under FMLA; and

• Carol Green, bookkeeper, West Limestone High, leave of absence retroactive to Nov. 26–Feb. 11.

Leave instead of sick leave

• Karen White, Child Nutrition Program worker, West Limestone High, leave in lieu of sick leave, retroactive to Dec. 3 – Jan. 8;

Supplements

• Hunter Cox, varsity girls soccer coach, Ardmore High, paid $2,000 plus seven days effective 2018-2019 school year;

• Patrick Vining, non-employee assistant baseball coach, East Limestone High, locally paid $1,500 retroactive to Nov. 1–May 24;

• Michael Jarrell, non-employee assistant boys soccer coach, East Limestone High, paid $1,200, retroactive to Nov. 1 – May 24;

• Michael Davis, non-employee assistant girls soccer coach, East Limestone High, locally paid $1,200 retroactive to Dec. 1–May 24; and

• Quientin McLin, non-employee assistant soccer coach, Tanner High, locally paid $1,200 retroactive to Dec. 1–May 24.