Alabaster BOE meeting ‘productive’

Published 3:19 pm Tuesday, July 9, 2013

By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

The Alabaster Board of Education approved more renovations and projects at Monday night’s meeting.

Wayne Vickers, the school district’s superintendent, said $30,000-$40,000 worth of renovations was approved regarding air-conditioning systems throughout the school system. These renovations mainly include preventative maintenance and some replacement of parts, he said.

“We wanted to make sure we have all of those air-conditioning issues met before school starts and before the heat of summer,” Vickers said. “We’re making sure it’s in optimal working condition.”

The school board also approved an additional $120,000 of renovations to paint corridors, upgrade restroom facilities and replace carpet, Vickers said.

Besides renovations, the school board also approved textbook adoptions for the

upcoming school year, a new phone system, a temporary network support system and an agreement to provide the remaining funds for new band uniforms.

“Our band has been working to raise funds for new uniforms, and we decided to assist them so they could go ahead and get the uniforms (before school starts),” Vickers said.

Despite the extra money spent on renovations and other projects, Sarita Tapscott, the school board’s chief financial officer, said revenue has been coming in as scheduled, if not a little more than expected.

“At the end of September, based on our expected expenditures and revenue, we should have about $2.9 million left in the bank at that point,” she said. “It’s not a big reserve, but we’re working towards that. We are not having to spend all of it, and we are very grateful.”

The meeting was “very well-attended,” according to Vickers, who said about 50 people came to the meeting.

“I’m so proud of the work that has been done so far,” he said. “We felt like it was a very productive meeting. We accomplished a lot.”