001Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to call to order the regular board meeting. It is May 5th, 2026. We are going to stand and observe a period of silence and we'll follow that by saying the pledge of allegiance. Attention. Salute pledge. 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. >> You may be seated. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening board. >> Good evening. >> All right. Board, may I have a motion to adopt the May 5th, 2026 regular board meeting agenda? >> Someone second. Have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? It'll be adopted. Item number four. Board may have a motion to approve the minutes of
002the April 21st, 2026 regular board meeting. >> Some move. >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Those minutes will be approved. Item number five will now recognize spring 2026 superintendence essay winners. Dr. Daria >> or Dr. Pope is around the corner. Good evening, Dr. Pope. Hey, Dr. >> Good evening, everyone. >> Good evening. >> We are um tonight recognizing our great writers. So, our superintendent's essay winners, when I call their names, they're going to come to the podium. We're going to make a line. And this is exciting for us because this is for our um superintendent 26 um essay winners for the spring and they u wrote about why rules are important. So can they hear me out there? Okay. The um our first winner and
003remember this is the overall winners for each grade grade level. All of our students had to write essays and those winners were from each school. There was a top winner and these are our district winners for each grade level. So it is a big deal. So as I call the names out for Verer Elementary School, our kindergarten winner is Charlotte Markham, superintendent essay. Okay, first grade, Sam Alleti. Everybody clap it up for Sam. Our second grade winner is from Verer Ellis Finley. Third grade winner from Magnet Elementary School, Anna Grace Robbins. Fourth grade, Oakdale, Jabari Jackson. Fifth grade, Rocky Elementary School, Emilia Glazer. Sixth grade from Magnet Middle School, Nashika Melani. Clap it up. Clap it up. Seventh grade, Magnet Middle School, Sedaya Zaman. Eighth grade, Magnet Middle School, D. Carla Knight. Ninth grade, Northridge
004High School, Adida Shyam. 10th grade, Northridge High School, Virginia Melton. 11th grade, Northridge High School, Maline Dennis. And 12th grade, Northridge High School, Stress Majesty. And our fifth grade, she's here. Fifth grade from Rocky, Emil Emilia. Emmeilia Gazer. Can we give these kids a round of applause again? Thank you. And we're going to um ask our senior to actually come to the podium and tell us what you wrote, your experience of writing it, and how did it make you feel? You remember what those three things? Um, so my prompt was about school rules and whether they should be applicable in schools and whether they're safe. And so I talked about how school rules are important because it keeps us safe. It inspires us as students to be provocative in what we're learning. And then what
005was the third? >> It made me feel good. I wrote this during AP um lit where it was for extra credit and so our teacher was like it's optional for you guys but I wanted to do it for the first time because I had never written for the superintendent's essay competition and so I had a great experience. >> So before I turn over to the board could all of our parents of the winners will you please stand all the parents? Thank you so much. The teachers and principles of the schools of our winners as well, please stand. Thank you all so much. And again, can everyone give these boys and girls a round of applause, a standing ovation for the work they've done. Thank you all so much. board. This is these students are your
006district level winners of 2026 spring superintendent essay contest. >> Hey, thank you Dr. Pope and on behalf of the board of students. Job well done. Thank you guys for um being here tonight. We love to recognize our students and you know the writing piece for the superintendent's essay is just a another building block on our strategic plan and we appreciate you guys participating. Keep up the great work. Congratulations. >> We're gonna take a picture in front of Here we go. You guys come this way. smile. Thank you. >> I thank you students. >> Good job. Keep writing. Keep writing. All right. Item number six on our agenda. We will now recognize third grade national math stars. Dr. Pope. >> Yes, board. Um going along with that same spirit of excellence and recognizing u this is
007something brand new. We were um actually informed and brought to us um the um from National Math Stars. This these students represent when they were in second grade, they were the top two% of the students on AAP 2025. So, I'm going to say this one more time. We're recognizing the top 2% of our math students. So you look at we recognize extraordinary um talent. Um we're celebrating the achievement that they've done and this is a um tonight is for inspiring and the inspiration for the journey ahead. So tonight we're recognizing um the students and I'm going tell you the schools they're from, but I'm also let you know who they are. So, um, and you all wave since you all already in when I call your name, just give a big wave for me. um
008from Magnet Elementary School. Um Aaron Kong, Magnet Elementary School, Matthew Cold, Burner Elementary School, Joseph Johnson, Burner Elementary School. Samuel Baduchi, Rock Corey Elementary School. Charles Mccantsz, Skyland Elementary School, Liberty Bell, Magnet Elementary School. Charlotte Jennings, Burner Elementary School. Andrew Kelly, Burner Elementary School. Logan Powers, Burner Elementary School. Grayson Patchin, Burner Elementary School. Rose Leam, Burner Elementary School. Brian Gwyn, Arcadia Elementary School. Morgan Everett, Central Elementary School. Onyx Lucius, Magnet Elementary School, Lyanna Snowden, Rock Quarry Elementary School, Grayson Miller, and Rock Corey Elementary School, Lucas Ramirez Morales. Again, this is in spirit of excellence and thinking about our strategic plan. We're talking about closing the opportunity gap, but also things a focus on math as well as literacy. So, tonight we're spreading the love with math as well as literacy. Give these boys and girls
009a round of app and we just going to let them smile at you tonight. They're not going to speak on what they did because they're so uh smart and math and you're not going to give them a problem to do, a problem to solve. So, we're gonna just turn it back over to our board chair. >> Hey, thank you, Dr. Pope. Could we get the parents of these award winners to please stand? >> Yeah. >> Hey, to the parents, congratulations. You know, this board and this superintendent and everybody in this system, we've really started prioritizing math. We've been prioritizing literacy for so long and uh this is just such a great accomp accomplishment for these kids. Students continue to work hard in math. Very proud of you. The board congratulate this award. It's a great
010job. M >> Mr. Wilson, I forgot also u because the principles are here um from those schools and Burner had seven of those um top two. So I do want to recognize Verner Elementary School. and all principles that are here representing your students, please stand as well. Principles, if you please stand, represent those students. Thank you all so much. Leadership matters. And any of our teachers, do we have any teachers in the building? Please stand as well. You all did the work. >> Congratulations. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Pope. Can we get a picture? Yes. I'll come through right through here. Okay. >> Congratulations. >> Good job. Ready? Count to three. We're smile everybody. Ready? >> One, two, >> good job, guys. Congratulations. Thank Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, item number seven will now recognize
011Sakura art contest winners. Michelle Dorl. Good evening. >> Good evening, board. >> Good evening. It's always great to be before you to highlight um just how awesome the students of the Tuscosa City Schools are. And uh so as you know it is our 40th anniversary, our 40th Zakura Festival uh this year which is our Japanese arts uh and culture festival that we have celebrated in Tuscaloosa with our sister city Nishino. And we do a art contest every year and there is always a theme and this theme was voices of today, visions of tomorrow. And we had um over 60 uh uh entries into the art contest from not only Tusca City Schools but also um students from Narosino. and we are here to celebrate the students of the Tuscalus City Schools who won places in
012that contest. Uh first of all it is Ella Burke Hazinga Hisinga. Okay. Not here. Okay. Are you a teacher? >> Okay. Okay. So I will give you that. Thank you. Um she won first place elementary. She is from the magnet school. Aaliyah Fand. Thank you. And um she is from Martin Luther King Jr. and she won second place. Uh her title of her piece was Promise of Heavenly Peace. >> Um third place is Eden White from the Magnet. Her uh she won third place and her title of her piece was Save the Animals. And uh we have an honorable mention for Aaron Kong who is math and art. >> Congratulations. >> And um his piece was called Countries United. And then for our middle school, we have a second place uh for Zoe Hill from
013let's see, Alberta School of Performing Arts. Her piece was the black and white voices of today to the blooming visions of tomorrow. And third place we have Katherine Evans in for middle school. She is from the Alberta School of Performing Arts. Congratulations. Um and uh her piece was called I'm Booked for a Better Future. >> So as a librarian, good job. Um, and uh, we have an honorable mention for Mariah Reid of the Alberta School of Performing Arts for What Could Have Been. And then moving on to the high school, we have a third place position for uh, Quincella Rice and she received it for she's from Paul W. Bryan High School and she received it for a piece called Preserve. So, thank you. Congratulations. And then we have an honorable mention for Jocelyn Lopez.
014Okay, I'll be getting after Joselyn because she's going with us to Japan. She did come. And then we also have Ariana Ramirez also from right. Okay. So, we just want to thank you and we want to thank all of the students and oh, can we please recognize our art educators? Dr. Schultz, did you want to say anything? Okay, you're good. Okay. And I just want to thank you uh for collaborating with us and having collaborated with us for so long on this project. Um, these all of these pieces were displayed at the public library for the entire month of March. Hopefully some of y'all went by to see them, but we received uh contact from many people in the community saying how much they enjoyed looking at the pieces and how in inspired they were
015by the art that our students made. So, thank you so much. Appreciate that. >> Thank you, Shelley and Dr. Schultz. Thank you for y'all's part in in in this and what y'all do all the time for this aspect. Students, congratulations. Tonight is a snapshot of our strategic plan. And the other part of our our strategic plan is the entire student and we know that art is part of being a wonderful, well- educated, well-rounded student. Congratulations. Keep it up because it will pay dividends in the future. Great job. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Congratulations. Can we get Can we get a picture of everyone? Thank you. >> Mr. Chair, as they come around, we can y'all hold up some of those as they're some of their work is being presented now. >> Students, all of
016this is just gorgeous. >> Amazing. >> Wait, wait, wait. We get pictures. >> Oh, that's wonderful. Congratulations. Thank you. >> Great job. Thank you all. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you very much. >> You already Item number eight, public comments on non-aggenda items. I think Mr. Ryan Alford wants to speak this evening. >> Good evening. >> I want to tonight I want to recognize the teacher and the educator because I want to thank you for the teacher. We appreciate for this week. We thank you for all you do for your hard work. Dedicate each and every day. The district cost include the whole state Alabama includes city school, include county school, include everybody. So I want to tell y'all how much it's important for the educator, for the faculty and staff, but it we
017appreciate for the teacher. That's why I'm here. All right. I item number nine isformational reports from the superintendent and executive administrative staff. Tonight we'll hear from Mr. Jay Duke, CSFO. Good evening, sir. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, board members, superintendent. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to bring you the financial statements through February of 2026. That's our fifth month of the fiscal year or 41% through our budget year. We will start looking at the local property tax revenue. Excuse me. It is coming in good. Uh, one thing I want to uh say out front on this is it's it looks like it's a little bit ahead of what we budgeted and it is, but just know because of the um the special property tax district, we we'll pay back about 600,000 of this in
018in August. And u so just keep that in mind as you see those numbers a little bit ahead of what it might seem. We'll have to turn around and get back about 600,000 based on that ballot initiative from November of 2024 for the special tax district. But otherwise, looking good on property tax. I'll move along to car tag tax. Same thing, a little bit ahead of schedule. The the prior month comparison there, February of this year versus February of last year, almost identical, but overall for the year up slightly. Move along now to sales tax. Up a little bit this month compared to the same month last year. Uh real close overall for the year and tracking towards what we think is our budgeted number. Move along to the general fund management report. Our overall
019expenditures are slightly below right now through February of this report. Again, that pace will pick up as it we'll see when we fast forward a month or two into March and April when we start paying for some school buses. That'll kind of get that target number and the total expenditures closer to each other as we're buying about 25 buses, which is over $3 million. But otherwise, these numbers are looking very, very close to budget. And I want to drill in just for a moment to those top two categories under expenditures. You see instructional services and instructional support services. That's those two categories make up twothirds of our budget. That's classroom teachers and materials, uh, principles, assistant principles. Those top two categories are twothirds of our budget. I want to go to the next page and
020show you how with a lot of strategic planning over the last two years, we've got those numbers now leveled off in a couple of ways. One, they're even with the budget and they're also they're even with last year. And and the reason we've had to do that is you've heard me over two years now talking about how sales taxes leveled off. Therefore, we had to level off our expenditures to match that up budgetarily. And you see those two dark blue arrows. That's current year to date versus prior year to date. You add those two numbers together and they're almost identical. If you look at just the month of February, look at those sets of numbers kind of the lighter two far right blue light blue arrows. Very, very close. Extremely close. And that's a lot
021of credit to the to the finance department, the HR department, the the superintendent and this board for approving a budget that has leveled off our expenditures to match the leveling off of our revenues, mainly sales tax. So, just want to kind of drill in and focus on those two categories. Again, that's twothirds of our budget right there in those two line items alone. >> Mr. Chair, Mr. Just uh real quickly, are we are we not benefiting uh sales tax wise from the prices being somewhat inflated? Everything is being lost online pretty much. >> Well, we're >> technically with the with the prices being elevated, our revenues should increase that area, but they're not or has spending slowed down just in a general sense. What do you think? two things and you kind of touched on
022both of them. I think because of the s the online sales tax, we're not getting anything of that. We kind of looked at that last month. That's we're not getting that. So, a lot more sales are being transacted online and we're on the outside looking in on that part. The other part is it appears you almost have to assume that the volume has slowed down or at least leveled off because you're right, prices have have done nothing but go up. So apparently there's a leveling off of volume in brick andmortar sales but an increase in online sales and we're not getting any online sales. Great question. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Good question. Uh if no other questions, I'll go to the very last form here. This is what we send in to the state
023of Alabama. This is our overall look at all of our funds in total. The general fund there we just looked at in detail. The special revenue again is mostly our federal funds. Debt service, you don't see a lot of activity in debt service right now because we make two big uh bond payments in late July and early August. So that'll kind of appear to be dormant for the next few months and then you'll see those payments which will come up to about $11 million. Mr. Chairman, with that I'll be glad to take any more questions or comments, but otherwise that wraps up my presentation. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Duke. Board members, any additional questions for Jay tonight? At one point >> for this coming summer. >> Well, the the group that's planning it,
024they're planning within the budget allocation they've got. Um, now we've received additional money from the state on that, which is a good thing. But the total allocation that they're working with Jay's office, they'll they'll stick to that and only build a program that meets that. As you know, that is an We would like to get additional funding so that we could scale back to where we were in our peak. >> So the state >> we're getting some we're getting more funds from the state than we have before because of the literacy act and the numerousy act. So we're getting some additional funding that is being dedicated to summer learning. But as you know, because of ESTR funds previously and then local funds previously, we were already our expenses were already above. So we're really just
025filling that in a little bit as we're getting state funds. >> And one more thing, and we're remaining aggressive in getting 21st century funds. Those 21st century funds allow us to do a lot in the summer space. Uh so we we've submitted additional grants and every time there's an opportunity for one of our schools to apply, we we we're in that space trying to get those funs. when we see >> um our enrollment we're already we already have most of the registrations complete with our VIPs first obviously and then others and then wait list um so we we'll have those miday pretty much locked down and then once we start we'll make sure that all seats are filled once we make sure everybody's coming >> I got one Just a real nosy question. >> What
026are we looking at since the gas prices are going up? What are our diesel for the school buses? What is it looking like? >> It it has went up some, but we we had budgeted a little bit of um cushion there because you never know about fuel prices. So, we had uh we see an increase. It has increased anywhere from uh6 to $10,000 a month. So, um, but we we've got a a cushion built in there. And here's one good thing, not a good thing, but he school's almost over. >> So, we're going to only have about 30 to 45 school days that that really affected those real jump in prices. So, um, and it's out of a $200 million budget, it's a it's tens of thousands of dollars. So, a very small percentage. So,
027we're okay there. As long as it doesn't continue to go up for an extended period of time, we should be okay. Good question. >> Anything else for? >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Duke. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Item number 10, introduction of motions, resolutions for a first reading, of which there are none, brings us to item 11, the consent agenda. We have consent agenda items 111 through 117. board and just for the board's information, we have approved these yearly um almost identically. So board may have a motion to approve the con the entire consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Each of those items will be approved. Thank you, board. Item 12, regular agenda items for final adoption. 12
028121 approve superintendent recommendations regarding changes in personnel. Dr. Cameron, good evening, sir. >> Good evening. I've got superintendent's recommendations regarding changes in personnel. Also have the supplemental list. We'll go through both with you. Starting on page one, you have four resignations. Two new certified personnel, one transfer of a certified personnel, two reassignments, one 2526 Eastwood Middle School athletic supplement, four non-renewals of a certified employee, certified employees pursuant to the students first act. Two non-renewals of classified employees pursuant to the students first act. 12526 Fifer contracted employee. Four part-time extended day tutors. spring semester academic incentives carries us to page six. You have 26 2025 26 spring semester clinical clinical master teachers. On page seven, you have 114 spring semester mentor mentee supplements. to page nine. You have one 2526 spring semester national board st uh
029national board system lead three 202526 spring semester district lead teachers 12 202526 spring semester district team leads and nine 202526 spring semester fine arts. On page 10, you have one three-day suspension pursuant to uh for certified personnel, pursuant to the students sourced act, and one transfer of administrative personnel. To the supplemental list, you have 15 resignations, one retirement, two new classified personnel, nine new certified personnel. On page two, you have one rehire of a certified personnel, two transfer of certified personnel, three part-time extended day tutors, one 2526 spring semester mentor mentee supplement, three 202526 spring semester academic incentives, and 284 summer learning academy contingent upon student enrollment. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. Um, other than if you could maybe make this print a little bit smaller next time. >> It was tough reading. >>
030Save some paper. >> Um, board members, are there any set are there any set aides for a separate vote? Any set aides for a separate vote? >> Any set aides for a separate vote? Board. Hearing no set aides. I have a >> set number. >> Number seven on the regular. >> Okay. Number seven will be set aside. >> Any other set aides? >> All right. Board accepting number seven. I have a motion to approve. So move second questions or discussion Dr. Just a question. And I'm sure that can I'm just thinking they have whatific >> this >> I'm just thinking. >> Sure. Uh this year we had about 10. Now some of those you see on the resignations. Uh so uh the HR team does a great job. They have get got get them licensed
031for to take the practice exam. And some of those just based on loss of certification. We'll rehire them back once they take practice. But unfortunately, you know, you've got it's really two years two years. say two years uh for emergency search and then another get an additional two years for that emergency as well. This year we had like I said had about 10. Now you had more but about four or five were able to pass the practice in that last year. Now they can take the practice throughout those four years. Some do and some wait to right at the last moment to take that practice. We try to get them to take it as many times as possible. You can take it as many times as possible. It's about 150 a pop and we pay
032for one per year using those funds. But you know unfortunately when they can't pass a practice we have no other result at the end of that certification for an emergency. So at one so we have so if they've ended their certification and they haven't passed the practice we can't do any they can't they can't teach in again in the state of Alabama under emergency sert now if they go back and get a degree then that's perfect and that that works for both of us they have up until like some of these you'll see the resations they'll still take the practice this week, next week, and if they get it passed, um, we'll rehire them because we've already talked with the principles to do that. So, and they'll take it, they can take it during the
033summer, and we'll rehire during the summer as well. As long as they pass the practice and then they get in, we can put them on a route. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Any other questions or discussion? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Hearing none, I call for vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Those will be approved. Board may have a motion to approve number seven. >> Second. >> Questions or discussion? Call for a vote. All in favor? >> I >> We have one abstension. Anybody opposed? be approved. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Uh 122 discuss approved turf tank pro 3 incription. Dr. Cameron. >> Yeah, this is a really cool robotic field painter that will help our uh athletic coaches, but they don't have to go out and paint the field.
034So, it will designed to mark any types of athletic fields. Um it delivers the marking um consistently and u was able to use a tablet. So they can use a tablet doing this, but it allow our coaches more time to game plan and practice. So all three high schools are doing this and using their funding that they get from us for athletics. So it's a three-year. They'll be provided with training and we're looking forward to uh seeing how this robot paints our athletic fields. >> Board may have a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Awesome job. >> Yeah, Mr. Herd and the athletic um >> I know the coaches probably. Yeah, they certainly will. school or one unit to share. >> Each one will get their own. >> So, three total. Yes, sir. Yeah, we
035were going to go that route, but there's just no way for it to happen. So, each school will get their own. >> Okay. So, >> these are not just for football, but also >> baseball, soccer, softball. Yes, sir. >> Why is this? It falls under athletics. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Mr. Herd's taking the Mr. Herd's taking the lead in this. So, um, yes, ma'am. >> Call for vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Approved. Item 123, discuss approved Raptor Technology Student Safe. So, as you might remember, uh we used to use what was called inside, which would hire, uh which would house our behavior threat assessments, um that we had with students. Inside's gone away. It went away. It was a state contract. It went away, I think, September, October. So, we've been keeping
036this in Google Docs. You know, we've got our Raptor visitor management system um with visitor management checking in. We have our Raptor badges. And this is another part of the Raptor safety suite that will allow us to keep that behavior threat assessments when we do with students in one central location. So, and it'll follow the student across the district. If they they happen to switch schools, it will follow them as well. And does this allows us to be proactive and preventative. Uh it comes with Raptor provides the training for our users and then we're able to see datas and trends with this. So, it's a real neat thing that we think will help us and help students and staff as well. >> All right. Board may have a motion to approve. >> Questions or discussion?
037>> This is excellent. Again, >> thank you. >> Call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? We have approved. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. Item number 14, general announcements. Graduations are on Monday board starting at 1:00. Miss Robin has given us a folder with all relevant information and parking passes and um no no work session next Tuesday. Correct? >> Okay. >> Does any board member have a general announcement for the good of the order. >> I just want to ask how many >> how many what >> me. >> All right. We have no unfinished business to attend to. So, we're going to Peace. >> Thank you.