Enrollment data, the filling of two administrative positions and approval of a course of a math study were highlights of a recent Shelby County Board of Education’s meeting.

Prior to the meeting, however, board members, co-workers, family and friends held a farewell reception for outgoing Superintendent of Finance and Custodian of School Funds Jim Davis.

Davis is retiring after 23 years of service.

School Board member Trey Ireland said of Davis, &uot;He is what has made us financially sound. He has been the driving force.&uot;

Shelby County Property Tax Commissioner Annette Skinner said Davis has been her dearest friend for 22 years. She said every September for the past 21 years he has asked her how much money the school system was going to get.

Her response, she said, has been that she did not know.

Now upon his retirement she

said, &uot;We are losing a great man.&uot;

In addition to numerous gifts, Davis was presented with a state Senate resolution signed by Gov. Bob Riley. And during the meeting, Davis also was presented with a resolution from the Shelby County

Board of Education.

The latest school enrollment data for Shelby County Schools shows the Pelham school community experienced the largest increase by the numbers, but the Chelsea school community experienced the highest

increase by percentage.

According to Major, the school system saw an increase in enrollment from the 40th day of the 2003-04 school year through Aug. 25 from 22,750 to 23,658 or an increase of 908 students.

Ireland broke the data down ranking school communities by total enrollment, by percentage of increase and by total enrollment.

By community, Pelham grew by 301 students; Chelsea grew by 243 students; Thompson grew by 223 (not counting the Linda Nolen Learning Center, plus seven); Calera grew by 117; Oak Mountain grew by 44; and Columbiana grew by 32.

Two areas lost students including Vincent, 12, and Montevallo, 47.

Major said, however, from the end of school through Aug. 25, the school system has seen an actual enrollment increase of a little more than 1,000 students.

According to Ireland’s analysis, Chelsea grew by 11.7 percent; Calera, 10.7 percent; Pelham, 6.6 percent; Thompson, 4.4 percent; Columbiana, 1.5 percent; and Oak Mountain, 1 percent while Vincent fell by 1.2 percent and Montevallo fell by 3.3 percent.

Overall increase systemwide is 4 percent.

Ranked by percentage of total school system enrollment are Thompson’s 5,290 students accounts for 22 percent; Oak Mountain with 5,199 accounts for 22 percent; Pelham with 4,843 accounts for 21 percent; Chelsea with 2,324 accounts for 10 percent; Columbiana with 2,177 accounts for 9 percent; Montevallo with

1,374 accounts for 6 percent; Calera with 1,209 accounts for 5 percent; Vincent with 975 accounts for 4 percent. Students in unique situations number 267 and account for 1 percent of Shelby County’s total enrollment.

Changes in enrollment by individual schools from the 40th day of 03-04 through Aug. 25 were:

Calera High, 550 to 622, plus 72; Calera Elementary, 542 to 587, plus 45; Chelsea High, 573 to 636, plus 63; Chelsea Middle, 494 to 502, plus 8; Chelsea Elementary, 1,014 to 759, minus 255; Linda Nolen Center, 51 to 58, plus 7; Columbiana Middle, 557 to 492, minus 65; Creek View Elementary, 876 to 866, minus 10; Elvin Hill Elementary, 546 to 562, plus 16; Helena Elementary, 606 to 639, plus 33;

Helena Intermediate, 567 to 587, plus 20; Inverness Elementary, 657 to 641, minus 16;

Meadowview Elementary, 867 to 857, minus 10; Montevallo High, 426 to 391, minus 35; Montevallo Middle, 340 to 335, minus 5; Montevallo Elementary, 655 to 648, minus 7; Mt. Laurel Elementary, 427; Oak Mountain High, 1650 to 1682, plus 32; Oak Mountain Middle, 1,254 to 1,247, minus 7; Oak Mountain Intermediate, 784 to 826, plus 42; Oak Mountain Elementary, 810 to 803, minus 7; Pelham High, 1,112 to 1,205, plus 93; Riverchase Middle, 1,062 to 1,133, plus 71; Shelby County High, 595 to 639, plus 44; Shelby Elementary, 251 to 266, plus 15; Thompson High, 1,299 to 1,377, plus 78; Thompson Middle, 1,223 to 1,310, plus 87; Thompson Intermediate, 802 to 880, plus 78; Valley Elementary, 617 to 657, plus 40; Valley Intermediate, 578 to 622, plus 44; Vincent High, 518 to 512, minus 6; Vincent Elementary, 469 to 463, minus 6; Wilsonville Elementary, 196 to 218, plus 22; and unique situations,

unchanged at 209.

In personnel matters, in the absence of board member Allen Rice, the school board approved the employment

of Donna Dickson as student services coordinator to fill the position

formerly held by Ken Mobley.

Dickson previously served in the capacity of student services supervisor.

In that capacity, according to Major, she serves as attendance officer, liaison for Juvenile Court and implemented a computerized student management program.

She served as a business education teacher, administrative assistant and assistant principal at Montevallo High School for 12 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Montevallo. She is also an adjunct instructor at the University of Montevallo teaching administrative applications of technology.

The board previously approved Mobley as principal for Calera Middle/High.

Dickson said when she started at Montevallo High School in 1987, she thought she would retire there.

&uot;God had a lot of different doors open,&uot; she said.

She also said Shelby County is full of talented, impressive people such as the man she replaces. She acknowledged her husband and family for their support. And she said every child should be treated &uot;firmly, fairly and with reason.&uot;

In another personnel matter, the board approved the appointment of Missy Brooks as assistant principal for Thompson High school.

According to Major, Brooks taught for 13 years at both the the middle and high school level and sponsored a variety of organizations. She previously taught English at Oak Mountain High School.

Brooks holds a bachelor’s degree in English and earth/space science from the University of Alabama. She obtained a master’s degree in secondary English from Troy State University and her education administration certificate from the University of Montevallo.

In another matter, the board approved a Shelby County course of study and curriculum guide based on the Alabama course of study for mathematics for kindergarten through fifth grade