The Alba-Golden School Board unanimously approved a contract and compensation package for newly-selected Superintendent Macie Thompson Monday. Thompson will report for superintendent duties effective July 1, 2022, providing a seamless transition with retiring Superintendent Dr. Cole McClendon, who vacates the desk on June 30.

In a unique set of circumstances, one of the district’s first tasks will be to fill the secondary and elementary school principal positions. Thompson had been serving as the secondary school principal, while the elementary school principal position also became vacant through action at Monday’s meeting. 

The current elementary school principal Kevin Wright requested official resignation from his principalship. Upon approval of his resignation, Wright was approved for a teacher’s contract. The rationale behind Wright’s desire to return to the classroom was simply a personal decision to return to teaching. 

The board also approved resignations from employees Conley Bland, Randy and JoAnn Colegrove, Encarnacion Fulcher, Brenda Kelley, Mike Moore, Cheryl Pipkin, Deanne Reynolds, Meredith Sanders and Wright. Seven of the resignations were for retirement. 

The board also approved a teaching contract for Glenn Borger for services as a teacher and coach for the upcoming school year. All contract approvals and resignations were accepted by unanimous vote of the board.

During briefing of safety and security issues, Director of Technology Michael Scott advised the board that the Wood County Sheriff’s Office intends to provide a law enforcement officer to the district effective at the start of the fall term. The Sheriff’s Office has committed to cover the salary and benefits for a full-time officer at Alba-Golden Schools. The district will be responsible for overtime/event pay. 

Scott explained that as Alba-Golden is the only school in the county which is not co-located with a municipal police department, the Sheriff’s Office is stepping forward to provide the law enforcement for the campus.

In other action, the board approved the Memorandum of Understanding with Tyler Junior College regarding the dual-credit program.

A host of recognitions started the meeting. Among them were basketball student-athletes, members of the one-act play cast, elementary school students of the month Eli Hill (April) and Addison Nichols (March), and secondary school students of the month Ryan Booth (April) and Abigail Inman (March).

There were no public comments before the board. Six trustees were present, with Chad Dailey the only board member absent.

The next regular school board meeting will be Monday, May 9. A special meeting will be convened May 12 to canvass the vote for the May 7 election.