Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

During the June board meeting of the Hartselle City Board of Education, Superintendent, Dr. Vic Wilson was given high marks for the performance goals that had been set for the prior year, 2015-2016. During the meeting, board president, Randy Sparkman mentioned that Wilson was completing his third year with the system. The board members each evaluated Wilson on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest ranking. Wilson did have input on the goals that were set last year.

There were four areas and a score was given for each area. The areas and the results were:

Fiscal Stability

Led the planning, outreach and strategy for the 2015 District specific property tax renewal.

Maintained the 3.5x monthly operating expenses in the General Fund Reserve.

Formulated and executed a successful buy-out program.

Engaged in effective analysis and began optimization of the District transportation program.

Made local school funding more visible.

Unexpected level of FY15 budget deficit created concern and emphasis from Board on balancing the District general fund operating budget.

Worked with the CSFO to estab

lish a balanced FY16 budget.

Worked with the CSFO to conduct a quarterly Financial Work Session with the Board.

Maintained a balanced budget during the first two quarters of FY16.

Learning

Continued to leverage and invest in the District Strategic Plan.

Maintained HCS position in the State top 10 measures (e.g. niche.com)

Maintained and improved ACT and other standardized test scores.

Achieved positive results with Aspire testing.

Created innovative, and, in some cases, “out-of-the box” learning opportunities for all HCS students.

Continued to refine and leverage the IT facilitator role at each school.

Significantly advanced HCS use of technology for learning. Did this while maintaining a flat technology budget.

Collaboration and Morale

Increased morale among staff.

Developed and maintained a visible and positive image for HCS among Hartselle families.

Increased the visibility of and improved the “brand” of HCS at the County and State level.

Led the establishment of the HCS “Teacher Hall of Fame”.

Conducted various team building activities during the year, including multiple fun competitions between schools.

Administration

Restructured Central Office staffing to better align with the HCS Strategic Plan.

Made very effective staffing and leadership changes in the Central Office.

Kept abreast of emerging school choice trends, policies and statutes, and was influential within the State education and legislative decision makers.

Wilson was given an overall rating of 4.0, meaning he performed above expectation. A score of 3.0 meant he was performing at expected goals.

The board had only one area of concern, which asked that Wilson continue to invest in one-on-one interaction with board members as practical.

The board also approved performance indicators for the upcoming year to include:

Goal 1: Learning

Indicators

1. Create innovative learning opportunities for each HCS student to discover their unique talents and leadership capacity.

2. Maintain, refine and leverage the District Strategic Plan.

3. Maintain district wide Advanced Placement, ACT and ASPIRE achievement levels and propose goals for improvement.

4. Broaden the existing “gifted” program to provide enrichment opportunities to more students.

5. Ensure processes and technologies that support student assessments are efficient, effective, student friendly and readily available to all students.

6. Leverage dual enrollment opportunities to create new options and opportunities for students.

7. Establish a formal method for ensuring that all students have access to essential digital content.

Goal 2: Financial Management

Indicators:

1. Establish and implement processes and disciplines to balance the District general fund operating budget.

2. Begin work to enable the creation of a budget line item for a capital improvement/operational reserve, independent of the general reserve fund balance. Establish a target of $350,000 within 4 years.

3. Pursue additional revenue streams through non-traditional approaches in order to maximize positive outcomes for students.

4. Look for long range opportunities and initiatives to maintain or increase the general reserve fund balance to a level of 3.5 times monthly operating expense.

5. Continue to make local school budgets (revenue/expenditures) visible.

Goal 3: Collaboration and Morale

Indicators

1. Foster an engaged community that is actively involved in promoting student success.

2. Strengthen and build partnerships with new and existing businesses, civic organizations and agencies.

3. Maintain and strengthen staff morale

Goal 4: Administration

Indicators

1. Restructure Central Office staffing to better align with the HCS Strategic Plan.

2. Establish more deliberate succession planning at the Central Office and in schools.

3. Keep abreast of emerging school choice trends, policies and statutes. Ensure HCS is compliant and engaged but in a risk aware and incremental fashion.

During the board meeting. CSFO Jonathan Craft gave the board the financial report for the month ending May 2016. Craft reported that with 66.67% of the school year completed the board was at $16,799,525 or 69% of budgeted revenue and 67@ of budgeted expenses with $492,699 in revenue over expenses. The board also has a 3.67-month reserve in the general fund. Craft also mentioned local tax revenue is running about the same month to month compared to last year.

Wilson commended the principals for the good job they have done with lowering utility costs at the schools. The junior high and central office continue to lead the way in lowering utility costs.

In other action the board approved:

Action Items

The final reading of the Virtual School Policy

An additional six (6) new out-of-district students beginning with the 2016-2017 school year

The request from Crestline Elementary School to dispose of textbooks

Brenda Livingston to be added to the substitute list.

The 2016-2017 Board Meeting Dates

Personnel Items

Approved the following personnel items:

Leave Request

Janice Parker for a leave of absence from the position of CNP worker, currently assigned to Hartselle High School, from approximate August 9, 2016, thru September 8, 2016

Fred Wallace, receptionist at the Central Office, for FMLA from May 23, 2016 – August 17, 2016.

Stipend / Supplement

Paying the following coaches for their participation in Hartselle High School Baseball Camp; Jerry Childers, Jon Hall, Bryant Whitlock, Jessie Perrin and Keith Wright.

Sandra Schmidt to be paid to work six additional days to teach SAMA classes for the Special Services Department.

Tara Hamlett to be paid to work during the summer to perform psychometrist duties for the Special Services Department.

A stipend to be paid to conduct Kindergarten Camp at F.E. Burleson to the following: Beth Balch,  Lauren Brock,  Shelley Carter,  Wendy  Hembree and Sandra Jones.

Paying the following for working the Hartselle Basketball Camp from the proceeds generated from the camps: Gary Orr, Faron Key, Bucky Garner, Blake Harbin, Shane Alexander,  John Allen Landers and Tamisha Key.

Employment

Blake Harbin to fill the position of Instructional Aide, based at the Central Office (to be assigned to schools), beginning with the 2016-2017 school year

Annie Burwell to fill the position of school nurse, based at the Central Office (to be assigned to schools), beginning with the 2016-2017 school year

Paying the following for June and July to work at Crestline Elementary School. The work will be completed by August 5, 2016,  with Crestline covering the costs: Cy Harris,  Weston Baker, Amanda Hampton

Contract

Approved renewing the contract for Dr. Robbie Smith, principal at Hartselle Junior High School.