Hartselle school board opens application period for superintendent search
By Staff Reports
Members of the Hartselle City Schools board of education approved a vacancy notice for its superintendent last week.
Superintendent Dr. Bryan Clayton will retire from his role June 30. He notified the board of his retirement in a letter dated March 6. Board president James Joy said Clayton, whose initial contract ended on the same date, was offered a one-year extension but opted instead to retire.
Joy added the search for Clayton’s replacement will be similar to previous years.
Board attorney Woody Sanderson will accept applications through April 18 and provide a list of qualified candidates to the board, after which public interviews will held.
The job posting saw several updates, most notably the requirement for candidates to hold a doctoral degree. Previously, a doctorate was preferred but not required. Joy noted that Hartselle’s last three superintendents stepped into the role without prior experience as a district leader, and he hopes the revised qualifications will attract candidates with a background in school system leadership.
The salary range for the position is $185,000 – $225,000 annually plus benefits. The chosen candidate will be required to reside in Hartselle, according to the posting.
In other business, the board also:
-approved the increase of out-of-district fees to $750 from $500. A five-year study showed the average cost of an out-of-district student is $755 per school year.
-approved the purchase of new science textbooks by Inspire and Savvas. The state updated requirements in 2023, which lead to schools buying new material to teach the updated standards. The total cost for the textbooks will be approximately $314,000.
-approved funds for upcoming competitions for students participating in robotic and drone clubs. A total of $15,000 was approved and will assist with travel costs and registration fees. These funds go toward nine teams who will travel out of state for final competitions. The funds come from local money received such as taxes and Tiger Cards, as well as interest paid on the accounts.
The next school board meeting will be held April 15 at the central office at 6 p.m.
Tracey Tylman contributed to this report.
