PELHAM – Pelham-based Williford Orman Construction, with a bid of $735,490, was awarded the contract for exterior upgrades to Pelham High School at a Board of Education meeting on Monday, Jan. 30.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Coefield said work on the school is expected to begin in the next month or so and will take about four months to complete.

“There will be some disruption (to the school day), but nothing that we can’t work around,” Coefield said.

The project will consist of painting the school, improving signage and replacing the dumpsters with trash compactors.

The spot where the dumpsters currently sit is a high traffic area. Coefield has said the dumpsters, which sit out in the view of students and school visitors, are unsightly and have a bad smell.

The school board has $1 million set aside in its fiscal year 2017 budget to fund various projects throughout the district.

Coefield also recognized the district’s Teachers of the Year at the meeting. A Teachers of the Year reception was held prior to the meeting for the teachers, their families and other guests to enjoy.

Jennifer Church was named Pelham Ridge Elementary and District Elementary Teacher of the Year, Lee Short was named Pelham High School & District Secondary Teacher of the Year, Caron Riley was named Pelham Oaks Elementary Teacher of the Year and Alicia Melton was named Riverchase Middle School Teacher of the Year.

During the meeting, Coefield presented each of the teachers with a monetary gift to be used to purchase materials for the classroom, a Teacher of the Year plaque to be placed outside of their classrooms and second larger plaque to hang on the wall.

With January being School Board Recognition Month, Coefield also took the time to praise the board for always working hard and diligently for Pelham students and presented them with tokens of appreciation – a framed picture of the board and a long sleeve Pelham City Schools t-shirt.