The Chilton County Board of Education held a special meeting on May 9 and approved step raises for bus drivers and bus assistants, teacher assistants and Access facilitators.

According to superintendent Tommy Glasscock, the step raises had been in the works and is something that needed to be done.

“We’re finding that it is extremely competitive to find and hire good teachers,” Glasscock said. “They are in high demand.”

One of the primary reasons behind scheduling the meeting was to give the county a head start when it comes to the process of hiring and retaining teachers.

The step raises will continue to increase annually before capping out after eight years.

Sixty-seven personnel actions were approved by the school board, highlighted by the acceptance of the resignation of CCHS principal Dr. Cynthia Stewart, who will be reassigned to the central office under the job title of district accreditation consultant effective June 1.

Ron Pinson will be promoted to interim principal, after serving one year in the role of vice principal at CCHS. He will become the interim principal effective June 1.

Prior to the meeting, the school board recognized members of the CCHS track and field program that were on hand. Special attention was given to senior Christian Todd and freshman Jacob Baer.

Todd broke the school record by running a time of 52.87 in the 400 meter, while Baer posted an impressive time of 11:42.28 at the 3200-meter distance.