Haleyville BOE approves 3 teacher retirements Tuesday

HALEYVILLE  - Three teacher retirements were approved by the Haleyville Board of Education during a teleconference meeting Tuesday night, April 28.
Board President Donna Jones opened the meeting, with each of the board members being on their mobile devices to give voice votes or discuss any issues. Board members linked on their phones for the meeting were Jones, Barry Burleson, Kris Burleson, Chad Tidwell and Beth McAlpine.
Teacher retirements approved included  middle school teacher Kim Sartin and elementary teachers Melanie Hogan and Regina Corsbie. Each of the teacher’s retirements will be effective June 1.
“First of all, I would like to congratulate our teachers who are retiring,” Dr. Sutherland noted in her monthly report. “Each of these ladies has done a wonderful job for HCS, and we wish them much happiness in this new chapter of their lives.”
The topic of graduation is on the mind of educators and especially students. Dr. Sutherland informed that administrators have an online conference this Thursday with State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey to hopefully know which direction to proceed concerning graduation.
“We are still working on traditional graduation plans as well as investigating what others are doing, so we will have a plan,” Dr. Sutherland noted. 
“We are also working on plans for the fall,” she added. “We want to be prepared in case things look a little different at that time as well.”
Teachers will be asked to prepare their rooms for summer cleaning in the next few weeks, but will practice social distancing as required under the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines.
Those with questions can contact principals who will be at their respective schools each Wednesday from 8 a.m. until noon to answer the phone.
As HCS works through the challenges that have come their way amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Sutherland  commended teachers, staff, CNP workers, custodial staff, grounds and maintenance for stepping up to the plate and doing whatever is needed.
“Although challenging,  we have made the best of a tough situation, and I feel that most students are being provided opportunities to learn if they take advantage of them,” Dr. Sutherland said.
Teachers, she added, were contacting students daily and using such new technology as Zoom to conduct engaging lessons
Among regular board business, March board expenditures and financial statements were approved at $1,333,559.94.
Board members also approved a fundraiser for the high school Student Government Association to sell T-shirts from July, 2020 through April, 2021.