001Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to call to order the regular board meeting for Tuscaloosa City Schools. It is March 3rd, 2026. Let's have a brief period of silence. We'll follow that with the pledge of allegiance. And if you will please keep in your thoughts and prayers the family of a third grader that passed away. She was a third grader at Arcadia and her name is Marie. If we'll keep her in our thoughts and prayers and her family, please. >> Attention. Salute. Pledge. >> I pledge algiance 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. >> All right. Good evening everyone. You may be seated. Good evening. >> All right. Board, may I have a
002motion to adopt the March 3rd, 2026 regular board meeting agenda? >> So moved. >> Second a motion. Have a motion and a second. All in favor? I >> I. Anybody opposed? The agenda will be adopted as written. Item number four, board may have a motion to approve the minutes of the February 17th, 2026 regular board meeting and the February 24th board work session. >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Those minutes will be approved. Item number five. Let's now recognize TCS students Zeke Fowler White and Victoria Krooty for International Sister Cities Experience. >> Um, as you may know, I'm not Zeke or Victoria. [laughter] My name is Shelley Dorland. I'm the executive director of Tuscaloosa Sister Cities and I'm here first and foremost to say
003thank you. Thank you to the board. Thank you to the leadership of Dr. Daria. Um, I was fortunate to be a teacher in our system for 18 years and now I've been the executive director of Sister Cities for um, over a little over a year. And what I can tell you is that the opportunity that this board and Dr. Daria in collaboration with Sister Cities and the city of Tuscaloosa gives to our students in the city schools is something that no one else in the state has. The educational travel uh opportunity is something that I would hazard to say no one in the southeast has. These students, as they're about to share with you, just a little bit of what they have gleaned and learned as part of our ambassador program. They are prepared for
004the future in a way that again we talk about creating global citizens. They are truly global citizens. And I just want to thank the board and Dr. Dr. Daria for your leadership and also I must give a shout out to Miss Shondaanda Hart for boots on the ground uh who has done so much of the individual labor and also for Dr. Maxi who has uh who's our board member of our board from the city schools. So without further ado, I'll introduce you to Zeke and Victoria, the newest Tuscaloosa City Schools sister cities ambassadors. Hello everyone. My name is I am a senior at Northridge High School. >> Hi everyone. I'm Victoria and I'm also a senior at Northridge High School. >> So like Miss Dor said, we are all uh we are students. We are
005members of the 2025 to Shandorf uh sister cities delegation to Shondorf. And today I am going to teach you guys a little bit about me and Victoria are going to teach you a little bit about history. Now, going into this, we knew that we wanted to do something with baking and history because they were both shared interests. But I decided and we both were decided that we were going to teach you guys short history by comparing it to the history of the pretzel. So, do we have a presentation there? Okay. So we will start at the beginning that's our little timeline path that we'll be going along. So and on the bottom we have pretzel pictures that I got in Germany and up above is pictures of Shondorf. So let us begin. We will start
006in 1235. >> Shorf is first mentioned this year. The name Derkus Desorf is mentioned as a witness to property transfer in exchange for positions in the Roman Catholic Church. The best estimates for the founding of Shondorf are during this time as well. And below if you guys can see the picture is a photo of Lor Abby which is one of the properties mentioned in this exchange. Now for your pretzel back to remember that at this time the pretzel has become symbols and serve as a final test of masters. Next we're moving on to 1477 where this year the construction of the city church began finished in 1501 and is still standing to this day at the city monument and in the bottom right there's a picture of us can see it moving on to the
007pretzel fact of 1477 is according to an unfortunately incorrect Swayian legend the pretzel was invented this year by a baker who saved himself from execution by the accidental invention of the pretzel and in the bottom right corner there is a map picture of the region of Sabia. >> Very interesting story. All right, move on. 1688. >> The women of Shornorf led by Barbara Walsh prevent the town surrender to French troops in the war of palatine succession earning a place as a town hero even until today. Her historical marker is pictured in the top right and the bottom right picture is of a painting of the these events taking place. >> That's the fact remember around the same time the city of was under threat of an underground Ottoman invasion that nobody knew about. But there
008was a group of pretzel baking monks that heard the dig reported to the city and saved the city from invasion and they earned their own farms. Moving on to 1834 the big year of Daimler was born. Now if you didn't know among being the inventor of the high speed engine was a co-ounder of MercedesBenz and when Mercedes-Benz opened their first plant became sister cities pictured to the right is himself and the pretzel fact going along with this year is that in the early 19th century beer gartens were beginning to be established where the pretzel was and still is a staple food. We visited the uh the beer gardens while we during our time in Munich. >> We drank no beer. [laughter] >> Moving on to 1945. >> Walter Arnold, a prominent citizen of Schwindorf, negotiates
009the surrender of the city to American troops, preserving the historic buildings that have survived until today, including the church and the castle. And to the right of the text is his memorial and his grave. Also in short, that's right. Pretzel factory, remember it by the Sturgeis family, which is a prominent pretzel baking family if you didn't already know, opens the first pretzel factory in Reading, Pennsylvania, which would go on to establish Reading as the pretzel capital of America. And pictured below is that first factory, second to last, in 1970, Max Plankia, which is the school we exchange with, is founded. Now, the program wouldn't begin for another 26 years in 1996. for the pretzel fact for this year. The pretzel the pretzel the pretzels for God movement is founded in Arizona which seeks to renew
010Catholic faith to rediscover prayer and penance with pretzels as the symbol for the holy trinity. And to the right is Marlene Cowi who was the leader of this movement. [crying] Then finally 2025 >> the student delegation from Tuscaloosa visits Shore North. >> Yay. That's us. And in case you need to remember the fact remember that in the same year the residents of Freeport, Illinois set the new world record for the largest human pretzel image at 603 people pictured in the top right of your care. And that's what we've got. I hope you've learned something from our rapid presentation. We're open to questions now. Do you guys have any >> Zeke and Victoria? We have a a large group of parents here of a lot of elementary students and middle school students. As official ambassadors for
011Sister City, what would you tell these family members and your younger peers the benefits of your exchange? If you could do that in one or two sentences, please. >> I'll start. [laughter] You're going to learn how to You're going to learn about culture you otherwise know. >> Tori, >> this experience has connected me to people that I would have never been connected by otherwise. Like some of my best friends like traveled to Germany and I'm still really close with them. And it's also a way to try new things. Like if you're ever scared to get out of your comfort zone, it's the best way to like just get out there and do that because it's like amazing. Like Zeke said, >> you're great ambassadors. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hey guys, we we appreciate
012you being wonderful ambassadors and for sharing such a wonderful story. So, job well done and thank you for uh representing TCS with such class and um great personality. So, thank you. >> Okay, item number six. We will now recognize and celebrate students who participated and placed in the perennial math competition. This is Dr. Pope. >> Dr. Pope. Dr. Pope. >> Good evening board. >> Good evening. So, just to continue with the excellence of recognizing our students, on Saturday, December 6th, our um elementary and middle school students participated in perennial math and um on December 12th, our high school students participated. This is one of the um our proud moments that we had 100% participation from all of our schools in grades K through 12. They all did a great job. Our our high school students
013were they were so impressed with our high school students that they have um waved the fees for them to participate in a monthly competition. So give it up to our high school students as well. The perennial math um competition is broken up in two different events. The kids going to talk more about that later, but there um the first event is a test for 30 minute sessions with problems. The second um event is a 20-minute session with word 10 word problems. So tonight we're recognizing and perennial math have the um competition broken for individual members and also team members. So now we're going to recognize our um individual um winners and they're they've been told to wave so you'll know who they are when I call their name. So before I start, I also would
014like for um to recognize our parents. So parents, before we even acknowledge them, can you all stand so we can uh know who you are too? All parents in the house, if you please stand and give you a round of applause. So this is outside of school day and we do appreciate our parents. also principles and um math team sponsors if you all would stand as well recognize you for um supporting these students and our district sponsors um Dr. Asian Asia Wilson Daffin and Daffin Wilson and also Miss Chelsea News. Thank you all for supporting these students. And individual winners from Rock Quarry Elementary School, third grade, Victoria Lee. Wave big. Now y'all got to wave big so they can see who you are. Aaron Kong, Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary School, third grade. Yeah, y'all do
015that. Scream for them. We want some excitement. Ruth Savvy Rocky Elementary fourth grade. Wave. G Rocky Elementary fourth grade. Charlie Waters, Verer Elementary, fourth grade. Miguel Taylor, Scland, Elementary, Fifth Grade. Harmony Johnson, Scaling, Elementary, and Fifth Grade. Aiden Lee, Scland, Elementary, Fifth Grade. Malachi Patton, Scandin Elementary, fifth grade. Ashley Dong, Tusca Magnet Middle, sixth grade. Victor Lee, North Ridge Middle, sixth grade. Max Lane, Northridge Middle, 7th grade. And Isa Atingus, Northridge Middle, 8th grade. We also have our school teams here. And this is what I want to do for the school teams because we um don't have all the names who you all are. When I called the school team for Tus and Magnet uh Magnet Elementary third grade, all of you wave. The captain was Aaron Kong and they won second place overall. Second
016place, y'all wave. School team. Verner Elementary. The captain was Charlie Waters. Fourth grade, they won first place. Verner Elementary School team, please. Skyland Elementary School captain was Miguel Taylor. Fifth grade they won first place. So Skyland Elementary Tuscoosa Magnet Middle, the captain was Tom Arbell, sixth grade, they won second place. Tus Magnet Middle. Tusa Magnet Middle also won. Um the captain was Mars White. They won third place as well for this team. Sixth grade as well. Please wave magnet. Northridge Middle. The captain was Vert Vert Kum Cananan. Okay. Seventh grade, second place. Please wave. And Tasper captain was B. Williams. Seventh grade. They won third place. Tasper team, please wave. at Northridge Middle School. Captain was E. At Aandas, 8th grade, second place winners, Northridge Middle, please wave. So, our 9th through 12th grade was
017called Math Storm. That was the Math Storm team event. And um our high school's um team members are participating in a whole lot of other things as well tonight. So, they're not here, but we want to recognize um Northridge High School teams. There are two teams placed in the competition. The ninth and tth grade team won third place. The 12th grade team um won fourth and sixth place. So, please give them a round of applause as well. At Central High School, the ninth and 10th grade team won fourth place, the 11th grade team won sixth place, and the 12th grade team won eighth place. So, please give them a round of applause as well. And also congratulations to the 12th grade team at Bryant High School won ninth place. This is our competition winner. Can
018y'all give them a round of applause everybody? And as we this is a real big deal. Congratulations to our students. But before we uh we want to hear from one of our students. And normally uh we have a high school students, but today we have a middle school student and she's going to join me at the podium. You come this way. Come right this [laughter] way. She's gonna join me at the podium and she's going to say uh tell you about how um perennial math was for her, her um experience. And she has a few other words going to um express to you as well. And she's open for questions. Perennial math challenged me and allowed me to think differently of how I would. I realized that there are different ways to do math and
019how to plug it into the real world. While it may have been difficult, me and my peers were able to work together and collaborate. Math team has truly helped me throughout my life and my current classes that I do at school. Thank you for inviting us and supporting us by recognizing all of us and everyone's hard work. You know, this is this is so exciting, y'all. Um I uh just to see you all before us and and and and hearing about the experience that you had. I know you all had a wonderful time. Thank you so very much for your hard work. um not just along individual but working as a team, supporting each other, supporting your schools, and supporting the way that you do math differently. Thank you all so very much. We appreciate
020you all. >> Are any of the uh math uh school coaches or sponsors here to where they can be recognized? >> Yes. Um they stood up. Y'all, they're around all our math team sponsors and coaches. Can you stand up? Stand. >> Yeah. right there. Well, this is exciting because I know this board after we'd sort of really worked hard on reading really wanted this system to make an emphasis on on math and um this is sort of the fruits of what our vision is and you guys are doing really really awesome things and we appreciate y'all being here tonight and keep up the good work. Keep going. >> And we're going to take a picture with you all. So, they're gonna uh let's go from this end around in front of the table. So, you
021follow Chelsea. Go to where Dr. Derry is. And as the board do two probably do like a double line for this group. I think I'm right. >> Turn right and look at me. Face me. Skyland. >> Okay, >> that's good. Are you all be uh >> That's good. All right, here we go. Yeah. Two, three. >> One more. One more. One, two, three. Awesome. Okay, we got >> Great job. You guys are amazing. >> Hey, you got to share. You got to share. Okay. >> Take it. >> Look, I'm have to pull up on pull up. I'm coming. I'm coming. Just a couple minutes. Thank you all. >> Depends on how long Duke is. >> Thank you. Take good care. Thank you all. >> Appreciate you all. >> All right. Item seven is public comments
022on non-aggenda items and I don't believe we have anyone signed up. Item eight, information reports. Tonight we will hear from our CSFO, Mr. J. Duke. Good evening, sir. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman. Uh I'll dive right in to the uh December financial statements. We are now uh with these reports three months in. So first quarter of our fiscal year is over. So we're starting to get a little bit uh more of a look on on how the budget is and it's a little bit uneventful tonight, Mr. Chairman. Um and that's a good thing. So we're tracking pretty close to the budget on our big items. the ones we're not we're actually below and that's by design because we've got three big projects coming up this year that I'll talk about briefly. I'll dive into property
023tax. Um those started off first month a little slow but it's picked up pace. So um three months in we're kind of about where we thought we would be. Car tag tax pretty much the same thing. It seems to be tracking a little bit at or probably above budget and nothing out of the ordinary down. It was down a little bit this month, but you can see the previous month it was up. So, I think we're kind of washing [snorts] out there. Sales tax. Sales tax again is flat. Uh kind of interesting to look at November and December the last four years. The numbers are almost identical for the last four years. What you don't see here is SSU Tax, which we are not getting. And that's a again about $5 million that we are
024not getting that we should [snorts] be based on the current setup. Our general fund management report I'll focus on the expenses there. You see totaled in the red target for this point in the year would be 25% and you see that we're either almost dead on the number at 24 point something or a little below. So, I want to talk just real briefly about the ones that we're below. Um, auxiliary services, that's transportation. We've got some buses on order. And, you know, those buses are about 140 something thousand a pop. And so, you'll see that expenditure pick up and get closer to the target. Uh, probably uh this month in March and April, those delivery should be uh being made. I'm being told those buses are in the state and getting prepped right now. The
025other thing you see capital outlay, we got 4 million budgeted. We've only spent 134,000. Two things there. We're about to do a track refurbish at Central High School and we're going to redo the roof at Woodland Forest Elementary School. We've had pre-construction meeting on both of those and uh they're pretty much on about the same timeline. They should start around April, May and be finished July, August before school starts. Um, so that's the general fund management report. Again, kind of uneventful and we like it that way. The next report is one that we look at once or twice a year. And this is a three-year look with our budget, our current budget dropped in. And so, uh, a lot of numbers there. If I could just summarize what you'll see as a leveling off this
026year, which we plan for. U, we had, uh, 23 and 24 the last two years of COVID money. So you see the the numbers picked up, but if you'll look at the two right hand columns, expenditures kind of level off. Again, that was by design. Last but not least, our comprehensive um fund report, which shows all of our funds. This goes to Montgomery uh each month. And a general funds on the left there. That's the one we just looked at a couple slides ago. Then we got special revenue which is most of our federal funds. And then uh debt service. You see a lot of zeros on debt service. We'll uh make our first payment in January which will be the ne my next time I present. So you'll see some more numbers in there.
027And so again a little bit uneventful and um that's [clears throat] not a bad thing. So with that I will close but certainly take any questions. Uh Mr. Chairman I appreciate the time. >> Thank you Mr. Duke. Excellent presentation. Thank you for that. board member have any questions? >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> All right. Item number nine is introduction of motions or a resolution for a first reading of which there are none tonight, which brings us to the consent agenda items. We have consent agenda items 10A through 10E. Board may have a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Have a motion. We have a second by Miss by Dr. Grant. Uh call for vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Consent agenda items will be approved. Item number 11, regular agenda
028items for final adoption. 11A. Approve the superintendent recommendations regarding changes in personnel. Dr. Cameron. Good evening, sir. >> Good evening. I've got the superintendent's recommendations regarding the changes in personnel. Also got the supplemental list. I will go through both with you. Starting on page one, you have one retirement, six resignations, one rehire for classified employ personnel, [snorts] one transfer of a certified personnel, seven part-time extended day tutors, four supplements for teaching during the planning period, one 202526 Central High School athletic supplement removal, one 2526 Central High School athletic supplement, 1 2020 2526 Paul W Bryant High School athletic supplement, one 2526 contracted coach and one 202526 volunteer coach. On the supplemental list, you have one rescion of a resignation, three I'm sorry, recent of a retirement, three resignations, one new certified personnel, one transfer of
029classified personnel, one 202526 contracted coach, and 10 part-time extended tutors. >> All right. Thank you, Doc. Excuse me. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. Uh board members, do you have any set aides for a separate vote? >> Yes. Um set aside number on the supplemental >> number four on supplemental will be set aside for a separate vote. >> I have a question on um just a general question on number nine, not a set aside. >> Okay. Um any other set aides? >> Okay, board accepting number four on the supplemental list. May I have a motion to approve? >> So move. [clears throat] >> Uh Dr. KTJ questions >> question just on uh number nine I'm just asking the difference what is a collaborative teacher >> so you have self-contained you have collaborative teachers will they'll um push
030into the classroom and they can also pull out in the classroom they're not in a self-contained classroom >> so just asking because it looks odd we're going from a one position totally opposite that's all I'm just working it in my head >> part of um it's part of the process that Miss Scott has been involved in uh been in they've gone into UWA through that program for special education. So um she is our second person that we've had in this program. >> Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And so we do a stipen, right? >> So we help defay the cost um for uh going to West Alabama. >> How's that looking? >> So far we have two. Um, of course we'd like to fill the 11 other vacancies that we have, but uh we've got
031uh we've got nine in the pipeline for Reach University um that will in three to four years will come to fruition for us. Uh we've got uh went over today in executive staff what we can do for retaining and recruiting our uh special education teachers and I think we're going to bring that to the board on the 1 of April. And just for information purposes and we'll go over with our special education teachers and we'll come back to the board for any questions and then look for it uh to move forward that first of April so we can hopefully retain the teachers we have. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> May I just on that part I I know it's only two and your question is spot on. We look at that as as
032a as a strong success that the the plan that you all approved that was presented that we can look at this in a strategic staffing way. So that's a classroom that's filled that was not filled before with somebody who's who's capable and just has to go back for the certification. So um a big kudos to our HR team and our special education team for thinking differently on how we can um meet this need. So I I I see it as a really positive. Again, it's only two, but we have we have more that are in the pipeline for that as well. >> And Miss Scott done a great job with that because it's a lot of going through and meeting with the teacher and getting to the university. So, it's it's u she's done a
033wonderful job getting those and we're always looking for more. So, >> we still statewide just don't have enough going into >> the pipeline. Yes. We're not graduating enough >> for our needs. No, ma'am. Thank you. >> She's moving. Uh yeah, nothing with us. It's just uh moving with her spouse. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> And just when you leave like some of these dates are saying now or two days from now, >> right? we end up just getting a substitute, right? >> We do. So, let's take for instance, uh if you'll look at on the supplemental list number two, the supplemental list. So, uh talk with the principal. We've already she's already divided up those students among um the other two third grade classrooms, but we're also bringing in a sub. [clears throat] So,
034they're going to get the reading and math for them, and then that substitute will also provide that inter intervention for them as well. So she has a plan going out for those who are leaving rather soon. >> Just making sure we're not because that's one and one on each. >> It just means either the classes in my mind are over or not. >> Well, that's where that sub comes in and that they can take it out in intervention group so we won't overpower the teacher. Any further? >> Okay, call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Those will be approved. Board may have a motion to approve number four on the supplemental list. >> Sorry. >> We have a motion and a second. Um, any questions or discussion? >> I got one.
035It's not question awesome person. And I don't know why, but I wish they'll come back. That's all I say. >> Okay. Call for a vote. All in favor? >> I >> We have one abstension, but the motion will pass. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. >> Okay. We have no unfinished business to attend to. Does any board member have a general announcement to make? >> I don't have an announcement, but I do I will not leave you without recognizing these beautiful ladies that sit before us. Um, I had to make sure. So, Miss Jackie probably if I say the name wrong, but I didn't know they was coming tonight. Advocate for social justice. Is that the initiative that's here tonight? and empower our family. So these are the lovely ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sority Incorporated is
036you're right Omega chapter and we have our president here Miss Athena Tate and our vice president Miss Jackie Prior and other sorority members um this Dr. B sority sisters and so we're so happy to have you all here and thank you for your service. >> Thank you for being here. Okay. So, thank you not >> you didn't have to say that. >> She want to throw some shade one way or the other. I'd rather it be that way right there. >> Well, we appreciate y'all being here and you know, you're excuse me, excuse me, always welcome to attend our board meetings. We love having faces from the community here to to hear and listen and support and question and critique even >> even from the county. >> All right. membership administration. They're all amazing. Y'all
037have made our night. So, >> I know, right? >> Absolutely. >> Yes. Let's adjourn and then we'll get a picture. Uh any announcements? >> Wait, before you adjourn, um Miss Bishop, are you um responsible for these? I just want to say thank you because I have been printing um my own documents most of the time and I just appreciate the effort that's going into just sort of modernizing us because people don't realize when we're looking up it's times hard even though we do have a laptop um and we want to thank our technology chair for keeping us a breast but sometimes just having um the document in front of us helps. >> So thank you for working. And I see you keep trying to work to perfect it every meeting. >> Thanks for the >>
038and thank you for mentioning that Dr. Thompson Jackson to that. Thank you. >> Um no meeting next week. >> No meeting next week. That's correct. >> We we did have a work session on your calendar that we're going to just move those two items to a briefing in the in the future. Um so no meeting and I think um this evening we have taste of possibilities being hosted with Tuscalus Education Foundation. a really exciting evening. >> My face just broke. We got one >> board members. Don't forget statement of economic interest and uh don't forget to register for the mayor's cup um coming up in just a short month or so >> and vote for Erskin's pink tutu. >> All right, with nothing further, we'll stop >> Thursday. Thursday. >> Thank you. don't