By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

The Chilton County Board of Education approved final personnel changes before the 2017-2018 school year during a called meeting on July 31.

Rather than approving new hires as a list, each employee was voted on separately. Board member Linda Hand made a motion, which was passed, to vote on each employee individually.

The following positions were approved: social science teacher Rachel Hartsell for Thorsby High School, teacher Susan Russell for Clanton Intermediate School, teacher Kristen Adams for Jemison Intermediate School, special education personnel Alan Lowry and Kendall Michaels for Chilton County High School and library media specialist Corrie Weiss for Isabella High School.

Emergency hires, positions that need to be filled quickly and are not required to follow some of the normal hiring requirements, were approved. At Maplesville High School, this included Trinity Watley as an elementary teacher, Wesley Entrekin as a social science teacher and Cynthia Shockley Knowles as a general science teacher. At Verbena High School, Jeremy Todd White was approved as a physical education.

The final Alabama Reading Initiative Reading Specialist, Holly Alverson, was approved. This brings the number of reading specialists for Chilton County Schools to four. Superintendent Tommy Glasscock said in a previous meeting that Gina Abbott will serve as the lead for this group.

Classified personnel were also voted on during the meeting. Bridget Jowers was approved as a CNP Assistant for Clanton Elementary School.  Rochelle Ross was approved as a School Nurse for Maplesville High School. Tyler Kelley and Joy Miller were approved as bus drivers.

A recommendation for a social science/health position at Verbena High School was not voted on.

Retirements or resignations were accepted for three teachers.

Chilton County Schools students will return to class on Aug. 9. Information on specific orientations and open houses at each school is available on the school’s website. Links to each of the websites are available at chilton.k12.al.us/ under the schools tab.