The Chilton County Board of Education approved 27 new employees and the resignations of 10 employees at its monthly meeting Tuesday.

Maplesville High School Principal Maggie Hicks was among those resigning. Hicks’ resignation will go into effect June 30.

Others resigning were: Sharon Borders-Wallers, counselor at Verbena, effective May 28; Lisa Marcus, bus driver for the Clanton route, effective May 24; Jaclyn Porter, teacher at Clanton Elementary, effective June 3; Cam Springer, teacher at Clanton Middle, effective July 1; Dorothy D. Veazey, bus driver, effective May 31; Robin Baker, teacher at Clanton Elementary, effective June 6; Misty Jones, teacher at Clanton Elementary, effective June 13; Russell Jones, custodian at Jemison Middle, effective June 30; and Natasha Marshall, teacher at Jemison Elementary, effective June 18.

New employees approved were: Heather Frederick, Cathy Gamble and Darrell Moncus at Chilton County High School; Donna Nelson at Clanton Elementary; Anita Joyce Minor, Willie Lewis, Brittany McKee and Christine Eyer at Clanton Middle; Christie Payne, Glen Graham and Patricia Allen at Isabella; Teresa Knott, Stephanie Adams and Brandy Rhea at Jemison Elementary; Lisa Campbell at Jemison Middle; Connie Gentry, Susan Clark and Stephanie Thacker at Jemison High; Beverly Hubbard Adams and April Smitherman at Maplesville; Marika Porter at Thorsby High; Kelvin Boulware at Verbena; and Tanika Moore, Glenda Bolton, Stephen Karn, Gregory Nobles and Tammy Strength at the transportation department.

In other business, the board approved Superintendent Dave Hayden’s recommendation to post instructor positions for the Public Safety Academy class at LeCroy Career Technical Center, including one part-time law enforcement credentialed position and one part-time firefighter credentialed position.

Hayden said the class would be offered in partnership with local law enforcement agencies pending final board approval at a later date.

“We’re in talks now with the [Chilton County] Sheriff’s Department and with the city of Clanton,” Hayden said. “They really want to work with us as far as helping stamp these licensed firefighters and licensed police officers for instructors.”

The board did not approve the Student/Parent Information Guide.

In a 4-3 vote, board members Keith Moore, Linda Hand, Pam Price and board president Lori Patterson were opposed to, while board members Curtis Smith, Jim Shannon and Joe Mims were in favor of, the guide presented for approval Tuesday.

Those opposed to the guide expressed concerns over sections such as one covering cell phone usage needing to be updated.

The board heard from visitor Jennifer Guthrie regarding the PALS preschool program geared toward special needs students ages 3–4.

Guthrie asked board members to exercise caution as they work on the structure of the program for the 2013–2014 school year.

“Going forward I just beg that you are very careful in your decision on looking at the program and making sure every detail is mapped out so that all children benefit from this to the fullest extent,” Guthrie said. “The ball’s in your court—the majority of the board’s vote—and you can make that decision how to restructure this program and if there will be a classroom at Clanton, at Jemison or at both.”