By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Pelham Board of Education approved the hiring of two personnel for the accounting systems of the Pelham City School System during a March 14 special-called meeting.

The board unanimously approved Pam Phifer for the position of central office bookkeeper and Paula Thornton for the position of payroll bookkeeper.

With the assistance of Alabaster’s Chief School Finance Officer Sarita Tapscott, the Pelham Board of Education interviewed nearly 20 people for each of the two positions. Pelham’s Interim School Superintendent Dr. Tim Alford noted the depth of the applicant pool, 12 of who were from other districts.

“It’s very exciting that we’re already pulling from other districts,” said Pelham school system’s educational consultant Dr. Suzanne Freeman.

Alford commented that Phifer and Thornton stood apart from other applicants due to their “central office experience” and experience in the “specific roles and requirements” that they will be expected to fulfill in the new Pelham City School System.

Phifer is scheduled to start around April 1, and Thornton is expected to begin around May 1.