By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Pelham Board of Education approved the hiring of three principals to serve the Pelham City School System during a July 14 meeting.

Robin Hollingsworth was hired to a three-year contract as principal of Valley Intermediate School. Hollingsworth became principal of VIS in Feb. 2014 when former principal Debra Payne Martin was named the school improvement and federal programs supervisor for the Shelby County School System.

Deberah Miller was hired as the principal at Valley Elementary School, replacing Linda Campanotta, who was named principal of Shelby County School System’s Vincent Elementary School.

Miller has extensive experience in the Bibb County School System and Tuscaloosa County School System, serving as an elementary school teacher, a reading coach, an assistant principal and most recently as principal of Arcadia Elementary School in Tuscaloosa.

“I’m very excited to be here and I appreciate the opportunity,” Miller said.

Riverchase Middle School Assistant Principal Susan Hyatt was named principal of RMS, replacing Charles Smith, whose retirement was announced during the July 14 meeting. Smith served as principal of RMS for 21 years.

“It has been the highlight of my career,” Smith said of his time with RMS. “I know that great things are going to happen there (at RMS) and I’m excited about that…There are good things coming for Pelham.”

The Board of Education also hired Julie Stevenson as the lead nurse for Pelham City Schools.

“We continue to be impressed and excited by the caliber of people that have chosen to join us,” Board of Education President Rick Rhoades said. “You have made a good decision, and we won’t let you down… We are very excited to have each of you here.”

In addition to hiring personnel, the Board of Education adopted the Shelby County School System’s policy manual, with several changes to financial management section. The decision is “similar to what Alabaster did,” Pelham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Coefield said, noting the policy manual would be used while the school system works on creating its own.

“Boards can always amend their policy,” Coefield said to the BOE. “Don’t be worried that we’re having to adopt something that doesn’t belong to us.”