RCS Board of Education recognized during School Board Appreciation Month

Pictured from left to right: RES principal Tiffany Warhurst, Board member Radford Hester, Board member Howard Hillman Jr., RES student Lindsay Rush (front), Board member Kim Clonts, Board member Greg Trapp (back), Board member Ike Rogers, and Superintendent Tim Guinn. (Courtesy Russellville City Schools)

At the Russellville City Schools Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, January 13, it was the Board itself receiving the most attention.

January is School Board Appreciation Month. In honor of that, before the start of business, Russellville Elementary principal Jennifer Warhurst, representing the administrations of Russellville’s other schools, as well, thanked the RCS Board of Education for its hard work and dedication.

“We could not do our jobs without your support,” she said before showing a short video of Russellville students thanking the Board.

Board members were also gifted banana bread and banana cream cake baked homemade by Russellville Elementary fifth-grader Lindsay Rush. Rush, who has won school-wide and regional 4-H baking competitions, will be competing in a state-wide baking competition this year.

After the Board was recognized it began its business. In agenda items at the January 13 meeting, the following actions were taken:

- Approved the 2025-26 athletic schedules for tennis, golf, baseball, softball, track, and soccer, subject to changes due to cancellations, rainouts, or other unforeseen circumstances. Approval includes authorization for out-of-state and overnight travel and permits coaches and sponsors to take the teams and cheerleaders to away games and matches. Students will travel to away games by bus or other approved vehicles.

- Approved revised salary schedules for Technology and Extended Contracts, Supplements and Other Pay.

- Approved the following personnel moves:
RESIGNATION: Peyton Balentine, RMS PE aide; Pamela Herring, bus driver; Shannea Flanagan, CNP worker; Dustin Goodwin, RHS Athletic Director/Head Football Coach. EMPLOYMENT: Jordan Baccus, RHS custodian; Jonathan Dill, bus driver; Rebecca Green, RHS JROTC (10 month); Amanda Butler, RHS CNP worker; Braydon Bolton, RCS Technology Assistant; Isabella Archer, RCS Technology Assistant. Temporary Employment in the Afterschool Program: Ellie Willis, WES/RES aide; Amy Hall, RES teacher; Melissa Greenhill, RES teacher; Chelsey Graves, RES teacher; Joy McLaughlin, RES teacher; Christina Baker, RES teacher; Madison Calderon, RES teacher; Suzanne Parrish, RES teacher; Carol Fretwell, RES teacher; Lety Vargus RES aide. Temporary employment: John James, substitute bus driver (pending certification). TRANSFER: Caley Farris voluntary transfer to Technology Specialist.

- Approved contract with Jonathan Willis to provide public relations services for the Russellville City School System for the period of February 1, 2026, to February 1, 2027.

Of the personnel moves, the most notable was the approval of the resignation of Russellville football head coach Dustin Goodwin, effective January 15. As previously reported by the FFP, the head coaching position was posted on January 9 after Goodwin informed Superintendent Tim Guinn of his intention to take the vacant football head coach position at Demopolis High School.

Guinn said the job posting for RHS football head coach will be open until January 23, and added that if the Board has found a qualified candidate a new head coach could be hired as soon as that two week window closes. If not, the search will continue.

“The Board and I are committed to the finding the right, qualified person to lead the football program,” Guinn said.

The next RCS Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 17.