BY BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – Pelham teachers have logged more than 3,000 hours of professional development this summer, said Pelham City School’s Curriculum Coordinator Shannon Bogert at Monday’s school board meeting.

Bogert said teachers at Riverchase Middle and Pelham High School received professional development in its Engineering, Health Sciences, Law academies. In addition, Bogert said teachers received Advanced Placement, Spanish for educators and strategic teaching training.

Bogert said this summer’s professional development was especially important because the new science standards under the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards take affect this school year.

The school system has invested more than $200,000 in new textbooks and lab kits for grades K-12, Bogert said.

“They’re so dedicated and enthusiastic about learning new things,” Bogert said at the meeting, which was held in the auditorium at Pelham High School. “Our teachers have sacrificed so much personal time to go above and beyond their job duties.”

Pelham Superintendent Scott Coefield also announced at the meeting that the board would begin budget discussion for the 2016-2017 school year in mid-August.