The Chilton County Board of Education approved resignations for 17 Chilton County school system employees in a meeting Tuesday.

The board has seen a significant increase in resignations this year because of higher premiums associated with changes in the Public Education Employees Health Insurance Plan (PEEHIP) law.

The state has not extended the retirement deadline of Dec. 1, 2011.

“It is quite a lengthy list,” board president Joe Mims said of the employee resignation list. “These folks have given us good service. We appreciate their years.”

The board approved resignations for: Delene Baker, CES; Pamela M. Carmichael, CIS; Mary L. Caver, CCHS; Christie Childress, Verbena; Melanie P. Cox, CCHS; Donn C. Dorminey, CCHS; Glenn Graham, IHS; Jo Ann Lewis, Jemison; Nancy Meank, Verbena; Sheila M. Minor, CCHS; Karen Mitchell, School Improvement Specialist; Charla Payton, JMS; Billy Ray Popwell, Verbena; Diane H. Sanders, Clanton; Jim Shannon, CCHS; Alicia Smitherman, CCHS; and June Wallace, Jemison.

The board re-elected Joe Mims as president and Ann Glasscock as vice-president for 2012.

Elizabeth Crowson of the Alabama State Examiner’s Office presented the public audit report for Chilton County.

Crowson said the audit was “good” and showed no indications that the board had not complied with regulations under the School Fiscal Accountability Act.

Superintendent Dave Hayden recognized Isabella High School’s Jay LeCroy for being named the 2011 Outstanding High School Science Teacher by the Alabama Science Teachers Association in October.

Chief Financial Officer Steve Yeargan presented the monthly financial statement for September and October and said the board has adhered to the budget despite a slight decrease in general funds.

“We’re pretty much holding our own,” Yeargan said. “We’re still, right now, able to meet our mandatory month reserve. We started what we ended the year with.”

In the superintendent’s report, Hayden recommended the board approve a request for a certified substitute at Jemison Elementary School and a request to post a Title 1 teaching aid position at Jemison Elementary School. The board approved both requests.

Hayden also recommended the board approve a list of staff and helpers recommended by Clanton Elementary Principal Rebecca Threlkeld for the new afterschool program for CES and CIS students. The board approved the request.

In other business, the board:

•Approved dates and times for board meetings.

•Approved requests from: Chilton County High for approval of Nagosi Agee-Windbush as volunteer girls basketball assistant coach for 2011-2012 season; Isabella for employment of interventionist teacher for the second-term of the 2011-2012 school year; Jemison Elementary for approval of afterschool tutoring program funded by Title 1 funds; Jemison High for permission for J. Benton Morton and the Jemison High Key Club to travel to Callaway Gardens in Warm Springs, Ga. on Sunday, Nov. 20; and LeCroy Center for permission to request bids on a forklift to be paid for with trade and industrial funds.

•Approved payment of $2,057 to Boy Scouts of America for the 2012 Learning for Life Character Education Program.

•Approved repairing a student’s car that was damaged while moving a shed in the Jemison High parking lot.

•Approved payroll deduction for YMCA dues pending 50 employees sign up.

•Approved to grant permission for the following CCEA members to attend the AEA Delegate Assembly on Dec. 1-4: Pamela Bearden, LeCroy Center; D.J. Nix, Chilton County High; Jacqueline Sullivan, Maplesville; and Donna Velasquez, Clanton Intermediate.

•Approved the new policy on governmental accounting standards.