001Gentlemen, we will now call to order the regular board meeting for Tuscaloosa City Schools. It is February 3rd, 2026. And we will have a brief period of silence and follow that by reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Good evening board. >> Good evening. >> Thank you, Mr. Simmons. >> Good evening. Uh board may have a motion to adopt the February 3rd, 2026 regular board meeting agenda. >> So move second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> Anybody opposed? This agenda will be adopted as written. Item four. Board may have a motion to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2026 regular board meeting.
002>> Second. >> I. >> All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? >> Those minutes will be approved. Item number five is public comments. No one has signed up this evening. Item number, excuse me, item number six isformational reports. Tonight we will have 6B and hear from our CSFO, Mr. Jay Duke. Uh, good evening, Mr. Duke. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, board members, superintendent, ladies and gentlemen of the audience. >> Good evening, Jay. Good evening, Lesley. >> It is my pleasure to bring the November financial statements. And Mr. Chairman, I'll dive right in. uh very uneventful so I will be brief but always uh welcome to take any questions. We will start with property tax revenue and of course that's over the course of the year. The bulk of it will be in December and January
003but you can see the numbers there very similar to last year and we'll continue to track that have more on that December and January. Moving right along to car tag tax. Up a little bit. A healthy month on car tag tax this month versus the same month last year. And it's tracking so far so good. On the sales tax, it's up slightly. Uh very similar numbers to last year. Again, kind of flattened off over the last two or three years now. And we know and and I want to mention again that we're missing a lot from SSUT tax that we're not getting. So that we think that's one reason we we know that's one reason it's flat. So we'll continue to monitor that. On to our general fund management report. Revenues at the top summarized
004there in green. Expenditures summarize there in the red. Uh tracking a little below budget. Uh we we are glad to see that. We've got a uh some expenditures that will come on board here in a few months. Central High School track uh being one of them. We'll replace the roof at Woodland Forest and then we'll buy some school buses. We've got some school buses on order. I talked to transportation director today and and um we they actually think they're in the state now. They're getting prepped up for for delivery. So you'll see those numbers come into play, not on this one, but here in a few months you'll see some bigger numbers and expenditures and it'll get it closer to that target number we're below right now, but it should calibrate to about what we're
005thinking. So uh really nothing unexpected. Um I'll go to the next next couple of slides. This is our overall um all funds report that we send to the state of Alabama department of education. Again, nothing uh nothing to speak of there. close to budget. So, so far so good there. Last slide is um I'll take you back on the left hand side back to 2019. That's our reserve balance and then what we had gotten from advancement and technology fund. The reason I put that slide in there now is the legislature is in session. Uh they'll be appropriating that soon. There's um we got 11 million in this year and they're on the table right now in the as the bill is written it's 9 million. So fairly close um we'll get into this more later
006in a work session here in a couple of months I think superintendent and uh we'll kind of project that out for about four or five years of what we're hearing uh versus our our current but but so far so good. You'll see that green dotted line that's our board one and a half month reserve target. We're above that. So, so far so good. Again, uh but just to kind of give you an idea of what part of our reserve right now, we're just we finished the year and this is as of September 30th. We finished the year just below a fourmonth reserve, but 1/4 of that was from advance that one time advancement in technology month. So uh again we're hearing a somewhat similar number to to to today but here in a few months
007we want to have a work session with you and look out FY 2728 29. So um Mr. Chairman with that page there that wraps up my report and u certainly be glad to take any questions. >> I'd like to go back to the buses. Uh so why would that put us on buses? Uh, let's see. We got 25 on order. We bought 57, I believe it was, last year. So, we're we're we're on track and and think fleet renewal. So, the 50some last year hit their 10-year mark. We got 25 hitting their 10ear mark. So, we're on schedule. And so, with that being said, we have 113 routes. That's about 75ish ballpark figure. We're g we're going to have almost 60 to 70% of our fleet almost in new buses by the end of this
008fiscal year. >> And most of these are diesel, right? >> That's right. That's right. And Mr. Lucas, we're also looking at um at possibly three to two to five specialed buses coming up. We think we might can use some of this advancement technology money. So, um, had a conversation with Tiny and Mikey out there at transportation and, um, we we think we're going to get between two and five. They actually met today about those special ed buses. We haven't ordered them yet, but we're in negotiations. >> How much more expensive are they? >> They didn't give me a price, but but generally around that 140 to 150 range. Don't hold me to that exact figure, but that that's kind of a ballpark. >> Okay. We've been fortunate to have this advancement in technology money that
009we're able to purchase those and not have to pay interest on a loan on those. So that'll serve us well for 10 years. >> The advancement in technology funds um they have to be used for a specific purpose. >> They do uh there there's about five categories. Buses being one of them. Uh infrastructure, buildings, brick and mortar, that type stuff. We can also use it on bus parts, bus tires, those type things. We can also use it on safety. Dr. Cameron's used it on some safety items and and we've got some planned I think like cameras and that type stuff. And so, uh, little bit of flexibility, not real strict, but earmarked, but not tight. >> Okay. Any other questions for Mr. Duke? >> Thank you, sir. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr.
010Duke. Item number seven, introductions of motions or resolutions for our first reading of which we have none. Brings us to item eight, which is consent agenda items. We have consent agenda item 8A. Board may have a motion to approve. >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Consent agenda item 8A will be approved. Item nine is the regular agenda items for final adoption. 9A approve the superintendent recommendations regarding changes in personnel. Dr. Cameron, good evening, sir. >> Good evening. I have the superintendent's recommendations regarding changes in personnel. I also have a supplemental list. I will go through both with you. Starting on page one, you have three resignations, one new certified personnel, one transfer of certified personnel, four part-time extended day tutors, two 202526 Northridge Middle Athletic supplements, and two
0112526 contracted coaches. to the supplemental list. You have one resion of a retirement, one retirement, three resignations, one new certified personnel, one rehire of a classified personnel, one new classified personnel, one rehire of a certified personnel, and one part-time extended a tutor. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. board members. Are there any set aides for a separate vote? Last call for set aides for a separate vote. Hearing none, board may have a motion to approve. >> So move. >> Second. >> Questions or discussion by number only, please? >> Number four. I'm just glad to This one on the personel. Any other questions? Hearing none, I'll call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Each of those will be approved. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. Item 9B, discuss, approve the 2025 to salary
012schedule change for RNs and LPN substitute daily rate of pay. Dr. Cameron. >> Yes, sir. Uh we're asking for this recommendation um for a few reasons. Um our nursing coverage for extended hours has greatly increased. From August to December, uh, we had 69 hours where nurses had extended day coverage at, I'm sorry, 99. At the midpoint last year, it was 65 and from the entire year last year was 130. So, we're going to go over that pretty comfortably. Um, with extended day, we've increased our number of field trips and with that, we've got some medically fragile students. So, it increases the number of field trips that our nurses have to attend for these uh for these events. Uh and then you look at our yearly uh number for requiring nursing care. It's greatly increased from
013uh the 20 uh 23 24 25 and then the midpoint this year from 2526 is a little over 57,000. So we've got some medically fragile students coming in. We need so when we go on a go on a field trip, the nurse has to go on a field trip but someone still has to stay at the school uh for that. So, we're hoping that with this increase in RN and LPN that it will increase our substitute pool. Right now, we've got three. Uh, so we're asking for the RN sub pay is $25. Now, we're asking that to be increased to $35 and the LPN sub rate currently is $21. We're asking that to be increased to 26 $26. What we've done, we've done a comparison of some other school systems and this gets about right
014in the middle, the sweet spot where we hope we can get more substitutes in to help fill especially those field trips that we have to do. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. Board, may I have a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Second. >> Questions for Dr. Cameron. >> How do we recruit for those substitutes? >> So, um, of course, we'll put it out on our website, but, uh, our nurses will put it out as well. Um, you know, we'll look at uh look at some different u DCH if we can get the word out to DCH and some other facilities as well. Uh, and we're also going to work with our PR department to get that out on social media. Uh, so we can put that out there. Uh, and just get
015as many nurses as well. And this increase, if it's passed, we think will attract more to us. So, we're going to do it to multiple different ways. Word of mouth. Um, we'll talk with people at DCH, but we'll also put it on social media, too. >> They have this nursing guild that deals with a lot of retirement, retired nurses is a part of it, like a good resource. >> Yeah. So, our nurse will will do that as well. So, yeah, I'll when I talk to her tomorrow, we'll get it out. We'll blast it out to make sure we we cover everybody. >> Any other questions for Dr. Cameron? hearing none. I'll call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? >> Be approved. >> Item 9 C, discuss approved >> proposal to enhance
016academic outcomes for Westlaw Middle School. Dr. Daria. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Board members, this is a similar proposal that you all approved last year um for Westlaw Middle School. Uh these are supplements for meeting academic progress goals. Uh the star of this show is clearly our um friends at Fifer Wire. Last week you guys approved last board meeting you all approved anou for modern manufacturing with Fifer Wire and here they are again supporting our schools. Um so very similar uh to give um incentive for the faculty and staff at Westlaw Middle School um for raising um outcomes for all students and could not be more excited to have Fight for Wire as such a strong partner for our school system and then certainly for Wes Middle School. All right, board may have a
017motion to approve. So >> moved. Second. >> Do we have any questions? Hearing none. I'll call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? That'll be approved. Um item 9D, discuss approve the Central High School track resurfacing project and the bids number 2025-7. Mr. Smith, good evening, sir. Well, good evening board. Uh, tonight I'm presenting the Central High School track resurfacing project. The bid was opened on January 12th at 2 p.m. The lowest responsible bidder to include alternate was the Kico Poly Sport. Uh, this bid was at $472,300. Uh, this is $277,000 below bid below our uh uh budget. Uh the estimated start date would be May 1st and estimated finish date would be July 15th. We've already communicated with the school and the athletic team. We're in good shape to have that
018as a start date. We will be done before football season or any other pro program start. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Smith. Board may have a motion to approve. >> So move. >> Second. >> And Mr. Smith, apparently like the surface is actually pretty even better than what we had originally. >> Yes, sir. Uh we were able to go and do a testing. That test saved us a lot of money to be proactive to do the testing. So, we were able to do that without having to tear the whole thing up. >> So, that's how we cut a third of the cost off. Is that what you're >> That is correct. >> That's great. >> All right. Good job, Mr. Smith. I call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? >>
019Be approved. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. One quick last question on that. We do have some contingency in case once they start it goes over, right? >> Oh, absolutely. Yes. It's already it's built in. Yes, sir. >> I asked I asked Deacon Lucas was he concerned about homecoming. You'll get to go to homecom. I I have a a question that um just because it's the question may surface because we're saving 200,000. How does that money get reallocated or where does that go? >> Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Duke. >> Okay, moving along to 9E. Discuss approved job descriptions for the Sabin Center. Sabin Discovery Center, >> board members, I'm going to kind of go a little bit um slow on this presentation because we've not had this before. So, this is the first
020of what will be a couple of proposals for this board to approve that will formalize the city schools partnership with the Saving Discovery Center. Um, what's in front of you now are all of the job descriptions for the employees who will serve the Saven Discovery Center. They will be employees of the Tuscaloosa City Schools. So, what you are being asked to approve this evening are the job descriptions from the executive director to the teachers and residents. I think it's a total of 13 positions, seven job description types, if I remember correctly. If you all approve these, that allows the SA and discovery center to begin the selection process. The second thing that will come to you all in a subsequent board meeting, potentially the next February meeting, is anou between the city schools and the
021saving discovery center. So recall all of the funding for all of the employees that you'll approve tonight on the job descriptions, those that comes directly from the state department to the saving center and then the center to the Tuscaloosa City Schools. Theou is pretty clear about um employment. They're they're employees of the city schools under the supervision of the Saving Discovery Center. So, this is different from the way we've done business because this is a new venture and an extremely exciting one. So, what's in front of you tonight in summary are the job descriptions. They'll begin the selection process. We will not make a recommendation for any employees into these positions until the board receives and approves theou that formalizes that structure which ideally will be in the next board meeting. So tonight we're just
022asking you to approve these job descriptions so we can begin the uh recruit and selection process. >> All right. Thank you Dr. Daria. Board may have a motion to approve. >> So move second. >> Do we have any questions for Dr. Dario? >> So currently they have that does the fundraising. Is that going to become our employee or that separate? >> Yes, ma'am. That's a great question. That that is the saving foundation. That is totally separate. Um these are this team that you see here. These are the ones that do the curriculum piece, the educational side of the saving center. And it these positions will actually report to the executive director of the entire saving center, not our employee, but one of the city and the saving discovery center foundation. Great question. Thank you. >>
023So, is the foundation then sending money to us >> for these positions? >> These positions. >> Yes, ma'am. And the attorneys for both organizations have worked it out that um these employees will report to two will report to the superintendent for the employment side of the the agreement, but we'll report to the saving center executive director for the programming and the the supervision, if you will. Um theou will have provisions in there for legal expenses and all other so that the city schools will not um take on the additional expenses coming with this employee group that you're approving this evening. >> Thank you for that question. >> That's a big deal. >> It is a really big deal. It's an exciting time. Um these are exciting um positions and um the theou that you'll get
024next formalizes it and then what will probably come after that is more of a preparation for a budget so that all Tuscaloosa school students begin to go through the Saving and Discovery Center at specific points in their career with us. It is a really big deal and an exciting time. >> When do they expect to be open? >> I believe 27. I might be off on that, but >> fall of 27. >> I think mid 27, but I think they're still working that, but they're making great progress. The walls are up and it's it's looking terrific. And we, as you recall, we have two employees who are on loan already there that are doing the programming to set it up. So when it does open, the programming will be ready. >> Um, so step raises
025won't be tied into anything that we do, >> but insurance will >> for these employees. >> Yes. >> There's enough funding from the state through the saving foundation through the savings center to cover all expenses for these employees. This this board of education, this school system will not carry any expense. Even if there are legal expenses associated with those employees, they'll have a reserve set aside in their operations to handle all legal expenses associated with these employees. So we will not any step step raises will be handled through the savings center through the state. All of that is incorporated um through the states line item for this. Thank you for that question too. Any other questions? Call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? be approved. 9F discuss approved Kids First, Westl
026Middle, Arcadia, and Martin Luther King Junior elementary schools. Dr. Pope, good evening. >> Good evening, board. This is a contract between Kids First and Tuscaloo City Schools um to provide teachers to fill vacancies at Martin Luther King Elementary School and Arcadia and also a math coach at Westlaw Middle School. You have any questions? >> All right, board may have a motion to approve. Move. >> Second. >> What's the difference in this >> for the math instructor? >> You know, we were trying to do something at Westlon with the math. >> We have a math initiative there now. It's magma math. Um we started that in January. So this is um providing direct instruction um support to the math teachers there that are um novice teachers. They may be um math background but support needed direct
027support instructional support with those um math teachers that are new but need coaching. So um sidebyside coaches things like the teachers need to see um another teacher teaching it or give feedback to them so that coaching support. >> Are there some metrics that made us choose these three schools in particular? We're doing mid year reviews for one um the two Arcadia and Martin King there. Those are vacancies that came up within the last two weeks. Um last two weeks and I think both of them are fifth grade if I'm not mistaken. Fifth grade. Um so those came up the right. Yeah. And then the um the one from Weslon was our we're doing migar reviews our midyear conversations and things that we noticed that need support that um came up in our meeting last week
028from math coach. Any other questions? Call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? It'll be approved. Thank you Dr. Pope. >> Thank you. >> Item 10. There is no unfinished business to attend to. Uh general announcements, student hearings next week. Two student hearings next week will be at 5:30 at the region's room. The next regular board meeting will be two weeks from tonight, February 17th, and then we will have a board work session the following week, February 24th, at the region's room. Does any board member may make just one announcement, Mr. Chairman, two things. I hope you enjoyed the gifted talented showcase prior to the board meeting. Um, just an incredible example of our students engaged in hands-on active learning. Um, so a big thanks for our gifted teachers and our schools
029uh for demonstrating the the engagement of learning. Secondly, board members, we're bringing uh board uh recognition month to a close now that we're in February. And Miss Bishop um provided these boxes for you to say again, thank you for your service for our this school system, our students and community. So, thank you. >> And also the uh national board certified teachers program >> today. Excellent, excellent presentation and great ceremony and certainly we're very proud of our in NBCT teachers and uh it was quite a quite a celebration it was. So, >> Mr. Chair, just two quick things. Number one, um uh board members, please don't forget to decide on what attire that we're going to wear for the mayor's cup coming up a few months. Uh we will start working out next week. So y'all
030let me know. >> I'm serious. >> I think Leslie um suggested pink tutus. >> No pink tutus, please. And um one additional thing on uh earlier today uh Mrs. I'm sorry, Dr. Grant uh received a state audit 100%. >> Yeah. Um, that's why I missed the N. I was getting ready to head to the lunchon and Carol walked up and said state board is here and so that why I look crazy. But anyway, I received 100 at my cosmetology school. So I am proud of that. >> Congratulations. >> All right. Anything further? >> Rachel, this is beautiful. Oh my god. Yay.