Russellville school board approves annual contracts, personnel moves at short meeting

Personnel moves and approval of several professional contracts comprised the lion's share of the Russellville City Schools Board of Education meeting held on August 19th.

With the start of a new school, the board approved several contracts, including two Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) contracts, a one-year probationary contract for Thomas Reed and a five-year advanced TEAMS contract for Jennifer Cooper.

Other contracts approved by the board included:

— Bridges Behavior Therapy & Consulting, for behavior analysis services for FY25-26, REACH Pediatrics Therapy Services for physical therapy services thru 7/31/26, Stepping Stone Pediatric Therapy for occupational therapy services, through 7/31/26, JB Education Solutions for Individual Student Assessments through 9/30/26, Riverbend Center for Mental Health for professional services through 9/30/26, Athens Behavior Therapy for applied behavior analysis through 7/31/26, The Healing Place for the 25-26 school year and Encore Rehabilitation, Inc., for athletic training and physical therapy services through 7/31/2028 and an employment contract for Chief School Financial Officer Lisa Witt through 6/30/28.

Among the 29 personnel moves approved by the board was the resignation of Trey Stanford, RHS drivers education teacher and head varsity soccer coach, effective September 1st.

Other personnel moves approved included:

— Resignation of Alana Parker, RMS teacher, leave of absence for Greg Pace, RHS custodian, through August 11, 2025, Madison Berry, RES teacher, through October 24, 2025, Erin Singletary, RES teacher, through September 30, 2025 and PPL/FMLA for Tori Padron, WES teacher, from September 16-December 19, 2025.

— Employment of Kristen Mason, bus driver and Maria Cartee, RMS ELA teacher (contingent upon AL certification).

— Temporary Employment in Position of Hernan Hernadez and Aubree Hyde, part-time student Park & Rec workers, Magda Lopez, Jennifer Wynn, Brittany Bradford, Jacki Daily, Tiffany Terry, Melissa Greenhill, Kyra Greenhill, Brittany Smallwood, Jessica Jones, Johnna Morrow, Lauren Archer, Amy Hall, Madison Calderon, Haley Hargett and Lauren Hellums, WES and RES After School Program, and Janice Aaron, Haley Hargett and Selena Pounders, WES and RES After School Program aides.

— Transfer: Beth Pounders, from RHS Child Nutrition Worker to WES Child Nutrition Worker.

Other agenda items on the August 19th meeting included:

— approval of trip requests on 2025-2026 Athletic Schedules for Fall Sports and Band Competitions.

— recognition of the five board members for their successful completion of the required six hours of annual training, including participation in whole board training, as outlined in the Alabama School Board Governance Act.

— notice of the system's first budget hearing being set for September 8th at 3 p.m., with a work session immediately following. The September board meeting will be held September 11th at 3:30 p.m., and will include the second budget hearing.