Legislators and BHS Honor Veterans

On Friday of last week, Senator Bryan Taylor and Representative Charles Newton joined Brantley School in tribute to our service men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces.   Both legislators thanked the Veterans in the audience for their bravery and commented that we should also remember the sacrifices of their families as well.  Thank you to those who spoke, played in the ensemble, performed with the band and pinned our military persons.  Also, thank you to Mr. Nathan Lowe and the many other staff members that made the event so special.

After the program, Senator Taylor and Representative Newton joined educators and community members at the Chicken Shack for an informal roundtable discussion.  Both men commented on the upcoming session.  Individuals and groups were allowed to state their concerns and needs. Specifically, yours truly covered the following educational concerns:

CRENSHAW COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2014

College and Career Ready Standards

The Alabama State Board of Education approved the adoption of the internationally benchmarked Common Core State Standards along with selected Alabama standards in November 2010.  By combining both Common Core and Alabama's standards, our state has adopted one of the most comprehensive sets of standards in the nation, ensuring students are prepared for a successful future in the ever-expanding global environment

Calendar Flexibility

We support the school systems’ development of school calendars that are flexible and based on the instructional needs of the students and local community needs including the option of the 1080 hour instructional school year.

Funding Needs

• Increase Other Current Expense (OCE) by $28 million. OCE has decreased by 27% since FY 08. OCE is state financial support for non‐certified personnel (school secretaries, custodians, cafeteria workers, and teacher aides) as well as funds to pay for utilities, operations, maintenance, and substitute teachers
• Increase Transportation Funding specifically, increase operations by $57 million (Transportation is currently funded at 80.66%) Increase Fleet Renewal by $10 million (Currently underfunded by almost $12 million)
• Increase salaries by a minimum of 2% ~$60 million
• Decrease Middle School Divisors from 20.45 to 19 @  $32.3 million (In lieu of loosing units, CCBOE would earn a portion of a unit)
• Return Children First Program Funding (Via the Tobacco Settlement, funds were to be used for safety and remediation. Since 2006, funds have been taken to support the General Fund. Said funds would be used to appropriately fund in-school suspension and alternative school persons as well as school nurses.
• Provide bond issues for infrastructure and/or 1:1 technology initiatives

Veterans, BHS Students, Principal Hawthorne, Mayor Sullivan and Yours Truly Join Senator Bryan Taylor (Center) and Representative Charles Newton (Center Right) at Brantley School's Veterans Day Observance

Reprsentative Charles Newton Thanks Those Who Have Served

BHS Choir Join Mr. Jim Head and Ms. Brittany Walker in
"America the Beautiful"

Clark Kilcrease Pins Veteran