Hillman to serve as RCS Board of Education President for coming year

The Russellville City Schools Board of Education approved a $532,000 bid from Hovater’s Metal Works, Inc., to install new canopies at Russellville High School at the board’s May 19th meeting.

The bid was the lowest one received for the job.

The board also approved a quote from Global Fire for fire alarms in the Russellville High School Band Hall and Auditorium in the amount of $320,396.

No bids were received for the project, so the board moved forward with a quote from Global Fire.

Board member Howard Hillman will serve as Board President for the next year with Greg Trapp serving as Vice-President.

In other agenda items, the board:

—approved operating the Seamless Summer Feeding Program from June 1, 2026, to July 24, 2026. The program will be hosted at Russellville Elementary School and all students will be eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch. Curbside meal pickup will be available for any child 0-18 years of age. Curbside meals will include one breakfast and one lunch per child. Meal pick-up will be available daily from 10-10:30 a.m., from June 1-July 24. Children do NOT have to be students of Russellville City Schools. Meals will be distributed at Russellville Elementary School rear circle drive. 

—approved the use of $2,000 in local funds to provide meals to the Foster Grandparents when on campus as volunteers for Russellville City Schools during the next school year.

—approved the use of $15,000 in local funds to provide meals for the SPAN program from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027.

—approved for the Russellville City Schools Child Nutrition Program to provide breakfast and lunch for the students and adult workers and snacks for the students to Head Start and Pre-K programs operated by Community Action of North Alabama at the prices in the agreement as presented in the agenda. Meal costs will be paid by Community Action.

—approved to declare one Ammco Disc Brake Lathe as surplus property in the Career Technology Program as surplus property to auction, repurpose or dispose of.

—approved a facility use request for RHS baseball facilities and field on June 8-9 for the RHS baseball team to host a youth baseball camp as a program fundraiser.

—approved the following Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) contract: Justin Sappington, July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2029, Mandy Swinney, July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2031, Zach Bruce, July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2029, Heather Boyd, July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2031, Katelyn Little, July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2029, Thomas Reed, July 1, 2027 thru June 30, 2029, Nicole Watts, July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2031 and James South, July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2031.

—approved a trip request for the RHS girls basketball team to participate in basketball games at the University of South Alabama June 11-12, 2026.

—approved the following personnel moves: FMLA for Liza Bohannon, RES teacher, April 22-May 8, 2026, Brayden Jeffreys, Park and Rec custodian, April 20-July 15, 2026. Retirement for RES Library Media Specialist Leanne James, Bus driver Beverly Kay Baxter, Assistant Superintendent Chris James, WES teachers Debra Lawler, and Krista Burcham. Termination of Cade Presnell, RHS teacher, Jade Pounds, RMS Math/TEAMS (termination and nonrenewal of TEAMS contract). Leave Without Pay for Robin Fugate, Child Nutrition Worker, May 7-22, 2026. Resignation of Libby Scruggs, WES teacher, Cole Porter, RMS teacher, Alicia Stanford, WES Principal, Jess Smith, Head Baseball Coaching Supplement. Employment of Michael Canfield, RMS special education teacher, Hunter Kilpatrick, RHS science teacher, Ava Oliver, WES teacher, Haley Sparks, WES teacher, Johnna Robinson, WES teacher, Justin Holmes, Park and Rec custodian/groundskeeper, Logan McInnish, RHS history teacher, Brian Kilpatrick and Clark Gandy, RES PE teachers, Ethan Truitt, RHS history teacher, Peyton Higgins, RMS PE teacher, Bailey Burleson, RMS ELA teacher. Transfers/Reassignments of Tonya Lawler to RHS library aide, William Kilpatrick to RHS PE/Driver’s Education teacher, Maria Cartee to ELA teacher at RHS, Karlee Faust to PreK teacher, Judy Putman to custodian at WES, Shay Pounds to RMS Math/TEAMS teacher and Lindsey Potter to CNP worker at RMS.

—set regular meeting times to be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 3:30 p.m., at the RCS Central Office Board Room with work session on the second Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m.