The Pike County Board of Education hired 16 employees into the school system and accepted five resignations in addition to their new business items.

The board approved the employment of Sylvia Haslam as principal of PCES. Her effective date of employment will be July 1. Haslam was a principal and assistant principal in Barbour County and has spent the bulk of her career in Auburn City Schools.

“We have spent some time with her and believe that she will be a very good addition to our staff,” said Mark Bazell, Pike County School superintendent.

The board approved the employment of Renea Fielder, CNP worker at PCES; Elizabeth Rhodes, CNP floater at GES and GHS; Ethan Carroll, social studies teacher at GHS, Kristie Garner, English teacher at GHS; LaNell Schofield, math teacher at GHS; Lindsey Strube, Pre-K auxiliary teacher at Banks; Kelli Powell, fifth grade teacher at GES with a pending voluntary transfer of Ashley Kilpatrick; Lynne Dansby, first grade teacher at GES; Mrissa Milligan, first grade teacher at GES; Faith Maddox, English teacher at PCHS; Paul Kennedy, special education teacher at PCHS; Rebecca Lester, kindergarten teacher at GES.

The board also approved the re-employment of Gina Maxwell, CTE career coach with transfer to Virtual High School and Rachael Brooks, counselor at TPCT.

The board approved the resignations of Cody Carnley, third grade teacher at Goshen Elementary School; Marshall McGlaun, social studies teacher at Goshen High School; Emily Jackson, English teacher at Pike County High School; Leigh Anne Suber, special education teacher at Pike County Elementary School and Valorie Stroud, first grade teacher at GES.

Rochelle McKenny’s maternity leave was also approved.

Transfers approved include Beth Chancellor from PCHS to PCES special education; Laura Hixon, second grade, from GES to Banks, Ashley Kilpatrick from fifth grade teacher to third grade teacher at GES and Loretta Reynolds.

The board also approved permission to renew Henry Everett’s contract as music teacher for Banks.

In new business, the board approved the financial statements and bank reconcilements for May and approved the payrolls.

The board approved permission for a one year extension to the petroleum contract for diesel fuel and gasoline to Russell Petroleum Corporation for the upcoming school year.

The board also approved permission to award the garbage collection to Mark Dunning Industries, Inc., Triple “E” Services the contract for law services and Falls Facility Services the contract for custodial services.

The board approved permission to dispose of old computer equipment at TPCT.

The GHS men’s basketball team has been approved the permission to attend Bruce Pearl’s basketball camp June 25-27 in Auburn, and the GHS lady varsity and junior varsity cheer squads will be attending the UCA cheer camp in Auburn June 21-24.

The board approved for 18 employees to attend the Third Annual College and Career Readiness Standards Networking Conference in Atlanta July 12-15, Julie Simmons to attend the 2015 MEGA Conference July 20-24 and Sharon Denison to attend the National Academy Foundation’s NAF Next 2015 July 19-23 in Anaheim, Cal.

The board also approved the pay rate for summer school teachers to be the same as last year. The pay rate is $25 per hour. The teachers include Kristina Anderson, Rosalyn Pollard, Loretta Reynolds, Chris Saffold, Latonya Foster and Kathryn Dennis. Half the cost comes from the city and the other half comes from the Pike County Board of Education.

Bazell announced that they are actively searching for a new location for the Virtual High School.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Bazell also addressed issues with the education budget.

“It’s always nice to be able to take a deep breath when we have an education budget,” he said. “We cannot take a deep breath this year, though. There is no general fund budget. There is going to be efforts during the special sessions to divert funds from the education trust fund. We cannot let that happen. The education trust fund is not in wonderful shape. We are still funded at levels below 2008. They need to do something up there to solve the problems, even if it means generating some general revenues instead of robbing Peter to pay Paul, which is what they’ve been trying to do as long as I’ve been in Alabama.

“We can’t let them get into the education trust fund,” he continued. “Once that nut is cracked, it will be a sad day.”