To keep you engaged while saving you time, I Vote Madison is now bringing you some of the highlights from Madison's Board of Education meetings. The videos displayed below each recap highlight will take you to the exact moment where the topic listed is discussed.
Mrs. Laverne Williams presented the 2023 budget for the first budget hearing. Members of the community can submit written comments about the budget prior to its final passage at the meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6th at 5:00 PM.
Michael Bailey presented a proposal to incorporate portable HEPA units into classrooms and called on the board to use the available ESSER dollars to pay for them. He noted that bipolar ionization, which is currently in use at some Madison City Schools, has not been recommended for use by the EPA, CDC or ASHRAE and that we should be focusing on removing airborne viruses from the air vs. adding ions to the air. The district currently plans to put bipolar ionization in the following schools when units are upgraded: Liberty Middle, Columbia Elementary, Rainbow Elementary, and Journey Middle.
Dr. Nichols presented the strategic plan to the board for approval. The strategic plan should be available online in the coming days. To view the strategic plan click here.
In The News: WHNT covered the release of the Madison City Schools strategic plan.
Dr. Nichols received his evaluation from the board earning a 3.95 average and 4.35 average in two separate categories (The evaluation items range from 1 to 5, with 1 being unsatisfactory and 5 being excellent). The board also voted to approve increasing his salary scale from the 7th highest paid Superintendent in Alabama to the 10th highest paid Superintendent.
Dr. Nichols' contract was approved for June 2023 to June 2025.
Board member Alice Lessmann was selected to serve as the Alabama Association of School Boards District 9 Director.
Another item of note is that this was School Board member Mr. Greg Hulsey's last board meeting. He has resigned since he and his family will be moving to Birmingham. Mr. Hulsey's final comments and farewell are at the very beginning of the Board Comments section of the meeting. That part of the agenda is timestamped on our complete YouTube video of the meeting.