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5 teachers hired, 2 reassigned

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Albany News

By Melinda L. Lucas

Seven positions were filled with five new hires and two reassignments during Monday’s regular Albany school board meeting.

Also on the agenda was an explanation of recently received STAAR and EOC test scores from district testing coordinator Leigh Lowe. Those results are detailed in a separate article in this issue.

Staff Assignments

Before going over recommendations for various staff positions, superintendent Jonathan Scott informed the trustees about several resignations that had been submitted since the May board meeting, including Kimberly Hill and Dee Dee Waggoner at the secondary campus, and Sarah Moore and Logan Kinder at the elementary.

Hill’s letter had been given to Scott that morning and the others earlier in the month.

All four resignations were accepted with regrets.

The board then heard recommendations for new teachers, offering all five one-year probationary contracts in a single motion

New Nancy Smith Elementary principal John Gallagher presented candidates for vacancies at his campus, including a couple of reassignments from within the current staff. 

Susie Beard, who has been teaching junior high social studies, will take over as elementary counselor.

Longtime elementary instructor Kenzie Fair-child, who moved to a high school FCCLA position several years ago, will return to a second grade classroom.

The reassignments did not require board action.

Gallagher recommended that Albany native Audrey Faith be hired for Pre-K and Heather McClure of Clyde for third grade.

At the secondary level, Melanie Turner of Lamesa was hired to teach English/Language Arts and theater, while Jamie Wilson of Whitewright will instruct junior high history and assist with girls sports.

In addition, Richard Murrow of Cross Plains will take over as band director.

Scott commented that there are still a few vacancies to be filled, including Hill’s and Fairchild’s, but he said Tuesday that Beard’s teaching position will be “absorbed” and reassigned to other staff members.

School Finances

Scott reported to the board that he and other superintendents across the state “are still scratching their heads” about financing details in the recently approved House Bill 3.

“At a Region 14 workshop last week, there were about 50 people trying to figure this out,” said Scott. “As we fill out the template, none of us are very confident in the numbers.”

He explained that the legislature cut the local AISD tax rate from $1.04 to 97 cents per $100 valuation, and that districts will have to transition immediately from prior year value to current year tax values, which will be “tricky.”

“We would also have to do an efficiency audit if we decided to ask voters for a Tax Ratification Election (TRE), but the new law doesn’t allow for districts to ask for a TRE for at least a full calendar year, and we have no idea what an audit would involve,” said Scott.

The superintendent commented that the long overdue salary package is good for teachers.

“Theoretically, TEA will fund this, but nobody knows for sure how,” said Scott.

He added that the raise for teachers, nurses, counselors, and librarians increases proportionally based on years of experience, with the scale ranging from zero years to 20 years.

“All steps on the scale received an increase, but we are still working on how this will impact those with 20-plus years,” said Scott.