By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The newly elected members of the Chilton County Board of Education held their first voting session on Nov. 27.

The four new members had received an orientation, complete with a financial update, the day before during a work session.

During this first voting session, board member Bucky Jackson was nominated and approved as board president, and Jacqueline Sullivan was nominated and approved as vice president.

Both votes were unanimous.

Starting in 2019, several changes are being made to the Board of Education meetings.

The Board of Education voted 5 to 2 approving meeting dates, locations and times for 2019. Jackson, Sullivan and board members Pam Price, Angie Sanderson and Chris Smith voted in favor. Board members Keith Moore and Lori Patterson voted against.

The schedule will be as follows:

Jan. 15 at Chilton County High School at 6 p.m.

Feb. 19 at Verbena High School at 6 p.m.

March 19 at Chilton County Board of Education building at 6 p.m.

April 16 at Thorsby High School at 6 p.m.

May 21 Regular meeting at 6 p.m., annual public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Both meetings will be at Chilton County Board of Education building.

June 25 at Maplesville High School at 6 p.m.

July 16 at Chilton County Board of Education building at 6 p.m.

Aug. 20 at Jemison High School at 6 p.m.

Sept. 17 at Chilton County Board of Education building at 6 p.m.

Oct. 15 at Isabella High School at 6 p.m.

Nov. 19 at Chilton County Board of Education building at 6 p.m.

Dec. 17 at Chilton County Board of Education building at 6 p.m.

As a part of approving reassignments for employees, the BOE named someone to the newly created intervention counselor position for kindergarten through fifth grade students whose office will be at Pass Academy.

Sanderson asked if this would be short-term counseling.

Ashlie Harrison of the Department of Teaching and Learning said the counselor would be working with students through disciplinary issues based on referrals from the schools.

“This is just so we can deal with disciplinary actions with K through 5 students to try to address those before they get to the next level,” Superintendent Jason Griffin said. “It is a mental health position that has been needed for many years … It’s just a way to try to avoid issues later on.”

Price expressed concern that the counselor would be based at Pass Academy since elementary students are not usually at this location.

The counselor would travel to the school to serve the students.

New hires were also approved, including a teacher for IHS, a counselor for MHS, a CNP assistant for JHS and a special education paraprofessional.

Also during the meeting, the BOE approved:

• Saturday School for Dec. 8 and 15. This opportunity students to make unexcused absences. Kelvin Boulware of Pass Academy said it will be 8 a.m. to noon each day and counts as two days toward absences. He said usually 30 to 40 students attend. Two teachers are paid overtime for overseeing the time, and students ate charged $75.
• An agreement with the University of North Colorado for an online student to complete an internship.
• A vehicle for the Technology department.
• The technology plan for the school system.
• The BOE unanimously approved resignations of a teacher at Isabella High School, a teacher at Chilton County High School and a counselor from Verbena High School.
• Policy revisions to clarify wording on the policy for special requirements for teachers.
• Griffin attending the Alabama Association of School Boards Convention.
• Bids for contract maintenance service for the next three years.
• Bid from Acoustic and Drywall Inc. to put in a drop ceiling at Jemison High School for $18,899.
• Changes to the Student Parent Guide outlining exemptions to mid-term (December) exams.
• Establishing an evaluation for classified employees.