Network issues, staffing dominate board meeting

A blinking caution light wouldn’t normally make a principal happy, but Dr. Brian Clayton is excited to see one on County Line Road.

“That’s a great sign,” Clayton said about the on-schedule opening of James Clemens High School. Enrollment now stands at more than 1,000. Due to ongoing construction, schedule distribution for James Clemens students has been moved to Liberty Middle School on Aug. 8-10.

With staffing almost complete, James Clemens has openings for two math teachers and a cafeteria worker. Head cheerleading coach Tara Murphy and head volleyball coach Nekeysha Jones have resigned.

Inspection is scheduled for Aug. 3 with teacher move-in Aug. 6.

In other business, Dr. Maria Kilgore announced that Knights of Columbus have donated $4,080 to the district from their current candy drive. Over the years, the organization has contributed $93,618 to Madison City Schools.

Teachers’ scheduling has been adjusted with Aug. 13 as a workday; Aug. 14, split between Institute Day and workday; Aug. 15, faculty meetings and professional development; and Aug. 16-17, professional development.

An agreement for sports medicine sponsorship was approved with The Orthopedic Center (TOC) and Huntsville Hospital, which will provide trainers, emergency treatment at games and examinations. TOC and Huntsville Hospital will receive full-page sponsorship in programs and field signage.

Huntsville Hospital will pay an undisclosed amount of allocations directly to the secondary schools, not the Central Office.

To fill a vacancy for network specialist, technology coordinator Katrina Allen compared costs and duties of internal versus external staffing. Her proposal recommended ClearWinds Technologies, who would provide an onsite engineer solely dedicated to the district. The company would provide remote monitoring and alerts on network systems.

The proposal was tabled until the next board meeting. Board members Ranae Bartlett and Connie Spears requested that Allen present references from other school systems that have worked with ClearWinds. Bids aren’t required because this work is considered a “professional service,” Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler said.

In the past, Allen used ClearWinds on the district’s virtualization project. Rebuilding is still ongoing after “the summer incident” in May when system-wide backups failed, Allen said.

The board approved bids for photocopiers from Berney Office Solutions at James Clemens High School at $22.20 monthly per machine and .0074 cent per copy; and cafeteria produce, Forestwood Farm, $64,378.20.

Formerly at Mill Creek Elementary School, pre-school students will attend Rainbow Elementary School. New playground equipment at Rainbow will be paid by grant, Title 1 and public funds moneys.

Among numerous personnel actions, Lewis Murray was hired to work temporarily as band and choir director at Discovery Middle School. Director Johnny Nash is on leave after his arrest on charges of violation of Alabama’s mandatory reporting law.

Military Appreciation Night will be held at Madison City School Stadium on Sept. 7.