By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Chilton County Schools Superintendent Tommy Glasscock resigned effective July 31 during the July 11 Board of Education meeting.

Glasscock has been appointed deputy state superintendent of Career and Technical Education by State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey and confirmed during a recent Alabama State Board of Education meeting

“Mr. Glasscock comes to us with a plethora of experience … He is well respected in the field,” Mackey said. “He is well respected in the industrial community around the state, and I am thrilled to have him on our team.”

Glasscock will begin his new position on Oct. 1.

In the June election, Jason Griffin won the primary for Chilton County School Superintendent, but would not officially take office until January.

The Chilton County Board of Education is expected to appoint an interim director, possibly Griffin at a later date. The Board of Education is not permitted to appoint an interim in the same meeting in which the superintendent resigns.

Contract renewal for the Chilton County Children’s Club afterschool program was unanimously approved for the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 school years. Board president Lori Partterson recused herself from the vote. The program is in partnership with the YMCA of Chilton County through a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. The program meets at Clanton Elementary School and the YMCA.

“We serve about 300 children a day … we offer that to all students in the county,” CES Principal Rebecca Threlkeld said. “Right now, we receive students from Jemison schools, Thorsby schools, as well as Clanton schools.”

She said the program provides “academic assistance, through the child nutrition program they receive a supper meal and a snack, they have a fitness activity and enrichment activities every day.”

“It’s a wonderful program for the children of the county,” Threlkeld said.

The grant provides $175,000 per year through the end of the renewal period. Threlkeld said monthly requests for funds from the grant amount are approved by the state.

Also during the meeting, the BOE approved:

• Allowing New Life Community Church to rent Clanton Middle School on a weekly basis, pending approval of an official contract. Board Member Joe Mims expressed concern that the permission was being given without a signed contract. Board Attorney John Hollis Jackson said it would be a temporary approval, while he worked on drafting the official long-term agreement. The church is wanting to rent the facility starting in September.
• Hiring eight teachers for Jemison and Clanton schools. Two of these were approved pending the applicant receiving confirmation of their teacher certification.