January is School Board appreciation month. The citizens of Cullman have done an exceptional job electing their School Board members. I encourage everyone to reach out to them and offer appreciation.

Cheryl Harrison, President

Joey Orr, Vice President

Amy Carter

Chris Branham

Jason Neal

Congratulations to our two Cullman City School System Teachers of the Year.

1. Elementary- Amanda Stidham, Cullman City Primary School

2. Secondary- Katie McGee, Cullman Middle School

Both teachers are great representatives of our school system and will represent us well as finalists for the Alabama State Department of Education Teacher of the Year.

A big thank you to Senator Gudger for a recent donation to our schools. His donation will be used for many things including increasing safety measures at CHS, sensory activities for some of our younger students, STEM instructional material, books for our book vending machines, and replacing the sliding doors at the entrance of Cullman City Primary School.

We are pleased to announce that in partnership with the city of Cullman and city engineer Erica York, we will be installing speed tables along Third Street Southwest which runs behind West Elementary School. I want to thank West principal, Dr. Page, for pushing this initiative and trying to find ways to keep the students at West safe while crossing the street behind the school.

It is time to update the strategic plan “road map” for the Cullman City School System. This plan will incorporate the input and feedback of our students, staff, parents, and community stakeholders. We will host a series of meetings to gather honest feedback and perception of our school system in three broad areas. We will use this data to develop strategies and plans, align resources, and inform decisions for the next 5 to 7 years. You can scan the QR code to offer feedback and/or attend one of the meetings below to learn more about this process.

Cullman High School’s Computer Science program was selected by the Alabama State Department of Education to be featured in a video that spotlights great CTE programs across our state. Recently, a video team visited Coach John Drake’s classroom and captured STEM being taught through interactive, hands-on learning. Our Career Technical programs do an excellent job of equipping learners with the foundational, transferable skills they will need for future jobs and the shifting work opportunities ahead. We are proud to be selected as a CTE Spotlight School in Alabama.

At East Elementary, students have been working in groups to code and operate robots during visits to the media center.

The Robotics Club at West Elementary and STEM time in the media center at East align with our STEM & Computer Science Education Tracks.

We continue to look for avenues to expand Career Technical opportunities to meet workforce development needs. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, 11th and 12th-grade students at Cullman High School can enroll in the Academy of Craft Training. This academy is a partnership between the Alabama State Department of Education and private industry that provides students with real-world, hands-on training by industry leaders in commercial construction. The goal is to help students get the education and skills they need to be entry-level, skilled workers in the construction industry. Students will learn directly from construction industry professionals in a workplace environment, work as interns with local construction companies, and receive job offers upon graduation.

Recently, the Board approved Danny Stiff to be the next Cullman High Bearcat head football coach. Coach Stiff most recently coached at Hoover High School, and previously coached at Hueytown High School, Spain Park High School and Gadsden City High School. He also has experience at the collegiate level, with stints on staff at the University of Alabama, the University of Tennessee and Jacksonville State University. We are looking forward to the excitement and energy coach Stiff is going to bring to the football program, Cullman High School, as well as the community.

2022 was a groundbreaking year for the Cullman City School System. We are just getting started and are looking forward to another great year as 2023 will bring change and more positive momentum. Thank you for your partnership and as always, stay safe Bearcats.

The month of November is 1) 16.66% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 18.77% while

expenditures were at 3) 17.17%. Our total net operations were 4) $387,968. Total assets were

5) $9.73 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $9.72 M which brings us to

7) 3.36 months of reserves.