001Good evening. I would like to call this regular meeting of the Muscle Shoals Board of Education to order. Would everyone please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And Ms. Mifflin, would you please call the roll? >> Dr. Stoddard. >> Here. >> Dr. Davis. >> Here. >> Ms. Allman. >> Here. >> Mr. King. >> Here. >> Mr. Wood. >> Here. >> Thank you, Ms. Mifflin. Dr. Holden, we have a quorum. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I recommend approval of the agenda as presented. >> All right, board. Our first order of business is to approve the agenda as presented. Do I have
002a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Thank you, Dr. Stoddard. We have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Dr. Davis, we have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All right, hearing none, call the vote. All in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed? All right, Dr. Holden, the agenda has been approved. >> All right, next item is approval of previous minutes from meetings. Uh in your packet, you have the uh minutes from the April 21st regular meeting, the special called meeting on May 7th, and then a special called meeting on May 11th, and I recommend approval of those minutes. >> All right, board. The superintendent has recommended approval of the board meeting minutes as presented. Do I
003have a motion to approve the minutes? >> I'll make a motion to approve >> Thank you, Dr. Davis. We have a motion. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Ms. Allman. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All right, hearing none, call the vote. All in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed? All right, uh Dr. Holden, the motion carries. >> All right, next is the consent agenda, and for the consent agenda, the board has been furnished with background material on each item or has discussed the item at a previous meeting. Consent agenda items are voted on acted upon with one vote without discussion. If a board member wishes to discuss any item, it will be pulled from the consent agenda and voted on separately. For tonight's
004consent agenda, we have the financial statements and check register from Ms. Langley's office, as well as the 25 audit findings, which you heard about during the work session, a report from the auditors, we have the agreement between the owner and architect for the baseball softball turf and other work upgrades at the airport complex, the activity and athletic supplement schedule, an update to the five-year capital plan, an out-of-state field trip, the CNP cooperative agreements with Calvert County Schools and other school systems in the county, as well as the pre-ACT for ninth, ACT for 10th, CW test prep services, as well as the establishment of time and place of future board meetings. Does any board member wish to pull any of those items and vote on it separately? Hearing none, Mr. President, I recommend approval of the
005consent agenda as presented. >> Thank you, Dr. Holden. Board, the superintendent has recommended approval of the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> Mr. President, I vote to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Thank you, Ms. Allman. We have a motion. Is there a second? >> I second. >> Thank you, Mr. Wood. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All right, hearing none, call to vote. All in favor, say "Aye." >> Aye. >> Any opposed? All right, Dr. Holden, the consent agenda is approved. >> All right, Mr. President, next is the personnel report, and I recommend the personnel report as presented. >> Thank you, Dr. Holden. Board, the superintendent has recommended approval of the personnel report. Do I have a motion to
006approve the personnel report as presented? >> I make a motion that we approve the personnel report. >> Thank you, Mr. Wood. We have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Stoddard. We have a motion and a second. Second, is there any discussion? All right, hearing none, call to vote. All in favor, say "Aye." >> Aye. >> Any opposed? All right, Dr. Holden, the personnel report is approved. >> All right, thank you, Mr. King. For the benefit of the audience, the personnel report tonight consists of the following. Under retirement or resignation, Tracy Richter, intervention gifted teacher, McBride. Under for rescinding her resignation, Emma Armstrong, special education teacher, Muscle Shoals Middle School. Under termination, Jamie Ridinger, technology specialist, excuse me, for the district. Under employment, Kelly Benson, paraprofessional aide, system-wide. Caitlin Cornelius,
007elementary teacher, McBride. Joshua Faust, assistant director of bands, Muscle Shoals High School. Gracelyn Habada, elementary teacher, McBride. Matthew Hunter Hill, secondary science teacher, Muscle Shoals Middle School. Shayla Hill, paraprofessional aide, system-wide. Miranda Hogland, paraprofessional aide, system-wide. Connie Nicholson, paraprofessional aide, system-wide. Chelsea Ray, elementary teacher, Avalon Grace. Gracie Roten, elementary teacher, McBride. Under other part-time supplemental contract or special assignments, contract principal renewal, Diana Ritter. Contract principal renewal, Wes Pounders. These are all one-year contract, temporary, or part-time contracts for the upcoming year. Denise Woods, director, Early Learning Center. Tim Underwood, teacher, ISS Alternative School. Amy Bracken, interventionist teacher, Muscle Shoals High School. Lisa Myrick, Spanish teacher, Muscle Shoals High School. Maria Kennedy, teacher of EL and program coordinator for the district. Stephanie Mayfield, EL teacher for the district. Tanya Moore, interventionist, Webster. Andre Turner, clerical aide in
008the guidance office, Muscle Shoals High School. Teams contracts for math or science for the coming year. These are all renewals. These are all employees that were they're already working for us. These are just renewals. Holly Brooks, Tamer Counts, Jordan Frederick, Dane Glover, Cardi Malone, Hannah McDaniel, Sherry Arthur, Tina Mitchum, and Maggie Thomas. Uh the next several are summer tutors, summer school workers, uh the people who'll be helping with our summer learning program. Candy Hester, Katrina Smith, and Michelle Woods. Hannah Clement, Amy Reeves, and Michelle Woodis. Emily Hess, Reagan Holliman. Catherine Osteen. Josh Bailey. Jane Hollis Poovey. Josh Bailey for drivers ed instructions for Muscle Shoals High School an additional block of instruction. That's for next school year. Chad Willis, health teacher, Muscle Shoals High School, also an additional block of instruction. And then we have
009a host of names. I won't read all of them. Anyone who would like to see this list is welcome to come up and see it. But we have a host of folks who are going to be working with our community ed summer program as well. That starts June 1st, goes all the way through the June do Excuse me, through June 10th. I'll get it right in a minute. June 1st through July the the 10th. And then we have a host of people who'll be doing that. We have two names that are additions to the MSCS nurse substitute list for this year and for next year. And then for information only, not for board action, we have Kelly Surface staffing updates. Miranda Hogland will be working as a paraprofessional in our summer ESY services, as well
010as Debbie Winstead will be a long-term substitute teacher at Highland Park filling a leave next year. And then we have one employee who has a new leave request that's also packed. Did I miss anything or misspeak on anything other than murdering that date? Other Yeah. Other than that, it was That's right. >> All right, and then just a brief superintendent's report. I I shared this on social media, but also I sent this to you, but I think it's worth mentioning here. You know, anytime our district gets recognized by an outside entity that's that's bragging on schools and public schools and what's going on in the state, I think it's noteworthy. But, you know, our state is one of only two states in the nation that is performing above the 2019 levels in math, and I
011think that's that speaks highly of of public education in Alabama across the board. Chronic absenteeism has even fallen below pre-pandemic levels in Alabama, and I hear people talking about that at conferences, and I think school people are kind of shocked by that as we feel like, you know, there's still a lot of absenteeism in our state, but comparatively speaking, Alabama is actually doing pretty well when it comes to chronic absenteeism. And then the point part that I wanted to get to is that Muscle Shoals has been recognized as a district that is outperforming our peers in math and reading. And so it speaks volumes, and I just appreciate the work that's going on in our district, both our students and our teachers. Obviously, we couldn't get that recognition without the work that's going on, the
012boots on the ground in the classrooms. I will say this just from an academic standpoint, we can't really go into the details right now, but the preliminary analysis that we've done, I know Dr. Kincaid's been working on this as well as the principals have been looking at it. But, you know, our spring testing data looks pretty good. I mean, we've been able to sort of look at ACAP, we've been looking at ACT. You'll get a full report when we do the academic roadshow in the fall, and we'll even, you know, go to the city council with this information, but it looks really good. So, I'm very proud of the work that has gone on in our schools and continue to see us moving in the right direction. I mentioned that, you know, we closed on
013the bond. We'll do some paperwork tomorrow. Sherry and I have been reviewing a lot of documents that they've been sending our way, but everything is moving in the right direction. As heard in our last meeting when Johnny was here, you know, we had the A rating from the bond rating agency. So, from a financial standpoint, and I think that just we put the exclamation point on it tonight with the auditors. I mean, the school system is in good financial shape. So, I'm very proud of that. Um we're close to being fully staffed. I know we hired a lot of folks, and I think maybe they and their families may be here tonight with but we still have just a few holes that we'll have to fill, but we're really close to being fully staffed for
014the the 2026-27 school year. As we've already mentioned, there may be a need to have a special call in a couple of weeks. Uh short of that, we will have our regular monthly meeting for June at the June 16th meeting. Uh did want to mention Ms. Smith's back there. I want to congratulate Shenetta Smith. I learned today she's been selected for the CIO program through the CLASS organization. That's certified uh instructional leader. And so, that's pretty rigorous program. I know we've had a couple of other administrators in our district to do that, but it speaks highly of her, and we just appreciate her willingness to be able to go through that program. Uh as I mentioned earlier, we have the retirement tea. That's on Thursday at 2:00. That'll be at Muscle Shoals High School auditorium.
015Uh thankfully, we don't have as many retiring this year as we did last year, but we do have a lot. And I think I think I added it up the other day. It's still about 350 years of combined experience that will be leaving us in just a few days. And so, uh if you have time and opportunity, we'd love you to be there as we celebrate those employees and the contributions that uh that they have made. And then graduation. Weather permitting, and it's not looking great. But weather permitting, we'll be Friday night 7:30 at James F. Moore Stadium. Obviously, if we can't be at the stadium, we will be at Grace Life Church across the street. We've been there before. It's always beautiful, and it is air-conditioned. So, there are perks to be in there.
016probably be live streamed and all that. So, they they're always a great host when we have to be over there, but uh anyway, our first choice would be the stadium and we'll we'll be watching the weather to see uh what happens with that. And with that, Mr. President, that is all I have. >> Okay. Um I think I'm going to turn it over to you are going to go We're going to go first for the resolutions or was Clayton going to go first? >> I think Clayton. Yes, just so we can so she doesn't have to come up here. >> So, we have a resolution tonight to um enter into the minute the minutes how much we appreciate Sherry uh Langley. And before I say that, I'm going to save you all the whereases and
017the wherefores and all that language and I'll just make a few comments. Um you know, the as Dr. Holden has already said, the real work of this school system happens every day in the classroom. And so, if you're not directly in the classroom, then your goal, my goal as a board, the superintendent's, Ms. Langley's goal is to put those people in the position to succeed and do well. And for 7 years now, Ms. Langley has done a fantastic job of making sure that we have the resources and our money's taken care of and the auditors are pleased and everything is squared away and it has been a very good 7-year period. I said this when she announced that she was leaving and I said it when Dr. Holden announced that he was leaving. Um that's
018a challenge for us, of course, but it's a huge compliment as well. So, Tuscaloosa County, where Ms. Langley is going is the fifth largest, I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong. Fifth largest school system in the state. And the fact that they come here and steal one of our employees is a challenge, but it's also a compliment to us and the type of people that we have working here. And so, for the last 7 years, Ms. Langley, thank you for what you've done for us. And you'll get a copy of the all the whereases AND THE >> I AM I AM GOING TO BORE YOU A LITTLE BIT WITH THE whereases because this is good and I don't want to want to miss anything. But, I want to thank Corey King for the president for
019allowing me the opportunity to do this resolution for Dr. Holden because we've been together a long time. He hired in uh 24 years ago. I thought maybe what, 22? >> 22 years old. I was old enough to be his mother. I'm still old enough to be his mother. But, uh it's just been fun to because I got to serve with him. I was the counselor, he was a a new teacher. We have worked together a lot. Then as it was you know, just neat to watch him grow in his leadership and um then he became assistant principal. We served together, he became principal, we served together. Then we didn't work together for a couple years and then when I was appointed to the board, he was superintendent. So, we've got this long-term uh relationship and
020so it's just been really neat to watch him grow and develop as a leader and all the positions that he's held. And I was going to say one of the same things that Clayton had said and Celia, Dr. Rudolph is the first one that I ever remember saying that when I first got on the board is that it is a compliment when people come and get our people. And so, we're looking forward to all the good things he's going to do. He has been an advocate for public education as long as I have known him. And so I know he'll still continue to that effort in his new position. So congratulations. We're so proud of you. And so anyway, let's go with this. Where is Dr. Chad Holden, superintendent of Muscle Shoals City Schools and
021an employee of the Muscle Shoals City Board of Education for his entire educational career of 24 years, will leave office in June of 2026. And where is Dr. Holden served Muscle Shoals City Schools as a secondary history teacher at Muscle Shoals High School and in educational leadership positions of assistant principal and principal at Muscle Shoals High School followed by his role of superintendent for six years. And where is Dr. Holden demonstrated exceptional vision, integrity, and dedication to the success of all students and displayed initiative and professionalism in the area of educational leadership, business and finance, staff relations, community relations, personal qualities, and in his working relationship with members of the Muscle Shoals Board of Education. And where is Dr. Holden earned the respect and admiration of students, employees, and colleagues throughout the through his enthusiasm
022and unwavering commitment to the continued excellence of Muscle Shoals City Schools exemplified by his dedication to professionalism, collegial leadership, and generosity in the workplace while also advancing the district through the expansion of pre-K opportunities, the implementation of safety upgrades and facility improvements across every campus, and the development of forward-looking vision for new elementary school to support continued enrollment and growth. And where is Dr. Holden's achievements during his tenure at Muscle Shoals City Schools has now led to a statewide role as executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards allowing him to have an even greater impact on education in Alabama by providing professional services to school board members across the state as he serves as a legislative act advocate for the continued advancement of education law and policy for Alabama students. Now, therefore, let
023it be resolved that the Muscle Shoals Board of Education wishes to express its appreciation and congratulations to Dr. Chad Holden for his invaluable contributions as a representative of the citizens of Muscle Shoals as superintendent of education and be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be entered into the minutes of the Muscle Shoals Board of Education and a copy be presented to Dr. Chad Holden. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY PREPARED REMARKS, so I'll I'll keep it short. I didn't know my family was going to all be here tonight, so it's probably not good for me to just start talking off the cuff cuz I'll get choked up in a in a heartbeat, but um it it's been a tremendous honor to be the superintendent of this school district. I mean,
024it just it goes without saying it's that with the school system it has such a phenomenal reputation. It did when I came to work here 24 years ago. Uh it continues to have that same reputation and and I just I just wish the school district the very best. Um you know, we're going to continue to to live here and be members of the community. Um my kids are going to continue to go to school here. Sorry about that. Start talking about your kids and it it changes things, doesn't it? But uh it has been a blessing to be a part of this and and I you know, continue to be a part of it in every way that I can. I'm going to be one of the biggest cheerleaders for this school system. I want
025to see it progress and and be successful and continue to be the system that everybody comes here to to to come after our people, whether that's teachers in the classroom or principals in the buildings where the boots on the ground, the people that are getting the job done. I've already said that. So, but thank you so much. Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to finishing strong, finishing the school year and thank you so much. >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN TO MS. LANGLEY AND TO DR. Holden for their long-term service to this district and what they've meant to so many people here. So, at this point we're going to move into electing new board officers. In May of each year the board elects a president and vice president to serve in the
026coming year. The the new officers will assume their new positions at the regular meeting in June. This time I will open the floor for nominations for board president and vice president. >> Mr. President, I nominate Clayton Wood for board president and Dr. Jamie Stoddart for vice president. >> Thank you, Ms. Allman. Are there any other nominations? All right. Hearing none, is there a motion to close nominations? Uh thank you, Dr. Davis. Is there a a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Ms. Allman. Uh we have a motion and a second to close nominations and call the vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? This point, no, it would not. All right. The The motion to close nomination carries and we will now vote on the nominees. All in favor of Mr.
027Wood serving as president and Dr. Stoddart serving as vice president, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. Congratulations, Mr. Wood and Dr. Stoddart on being elected board officers for the coming year. All right. That uh, concludes our agenda for the meeting. Is there any further discussion? All right, then we are adjourned.