BY STEVEN STIEFEL
FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — Lee County Superintendent Mike Howard’s contract was extended through June 2030 during the Board of Education’s Jan. 13 meeting.
Howard said the extension adds about a year and a half to his previous contract and was based on recent evaluations.
“They basically extended it for another year-and-a-half,” Howard said after the meeting. “It was based off of all the evaluations and everything we did last month, and pretty much everything else is exactly the way it was to begin with.”
At the board’s December meeting, Howard reviewed his performance since joining the district, and board members unanimously gave him favorable evaluations. He cited systemwide restructuring as a major focus, particularly changes at Smiths Station schools and the shift from community-based schooling to grade-based configurations.
Howard said the contract extension provides stability as the district prepares for major changes this fall, including school consolidation, which has drawn criticism from some parents. Rather than all schools having all elementary grades, for example, a campus will be designated to host all students from a particular grade level countywide.
“It’s always nice to know what you’re doing has been validated and that you truly are making a positive impact on the school system and the community,” Howard said. “To have a vote of confidence from the board is always good.”
Howard said most teachers affected by the forthcoming changes have already expressed their preferences for where they wish to be staffed.
“The teachers have already ranked their top four schools where they want to be, and about 95% of them got their first choice,” he said. “Some placements were delayed due to certification issues. Final staffing decisions depend in part on funding levels approved by the Legislature.
“Some certification issues prevented us from granting teachers’ first choice. We’re in a holding pattern on the unit count from the Alabama State Department of Education. They start the legislative session this week, so we’ll know once the budget is approved on the legislative side, that will let us know how much money we can expect for teacher units and everything else,” Howard said.
He said the extension, which took effect immediately, includes a salary increase with annual raises. Specific financial details will be released once the contract is finalized and filed.
One board member voted against the extension. No reason was given, and Howard said he was unaware of the member’s rationale.
Howard described Lee County as “a great place to work” and said recent changes are producing positive results despite occasional public criticism.
In other business, the Board:
• Approved the school seclusion and restraint monthly report for December.
• Approved human resource recommendations, including resignation and retirements, hires, transfers/reassignments/supplements, leaves of absence, suspensions and terminations. These details are not available to the public until the following month when the past meeting minutes are approved by the board.
• Approved the financial report and cash reconciliation for the month of November presented by Chief School Financial Officer Ken Roberts.
• Approved out-of-state and overnight field trips. These included:
– Smith’s Station Wrestling Team traveling to Final Four Duels Jan. 22-23 in Birmingham
– Smith’s Station Boys and Girls Soccer to the Golden Goal Tournament Feb. 6-7 in Sand Mountain
– Smith’s Station High Cheerleaders traveling Feb. 5-9 to the National Cheer Competition in Orlando, Florida
– West Smith’s Station Elementary traveling to the State Beta Convention Feb. 16-18 in Birmingham
– Smith’s Station High Wrestling traveling to the Super Sectional Tournament Feb. 6-7 in Montgomery and the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament Feb. 11-14 in Huntsville
– Smith’s Station High boys and girls soccer teams traveling to the Wiregrass Cup Tournament Feb. 27-28 in Dothan
– Smith’s Station Junior High field trips to the National Infantry Museum in Columbus on Jan. 29 and the National Beta Club Convention Feb. 16-18 in Birmingham
– Beauregard Elementary traveling to the 4H Science Center in Columbiana on May 6-8
– Smith’s Station High tennis team traveling to a match versus Northside on April 8 in Columbus
– Smith’s Station High School golf team tournaments in LaGrange, Georgia and Mobile in March
– Beauregard third grade field trip to McDowell Farm in Nauvoo, Alabama, from March 5 to 6
– Beauregard fourth grade field trip to Gulf Coast Explorers on April 29 through May 2 in Gulf Shores
– Beauregard fifth grade field trip to Space Camp in Huntsville on March 16 through 18
– Beauregard High Track team state track meet April 29 through May 2 in Gulf Shores
– Smith’s Station High junior varsity soccer traveling to the Brookstone Tournament Feb. 20 in Columbus
– Smith’s Station High varsity soccer traveling to the Calvary Tournament Feb. 20 in Columbus and
– The Smith’s Station High golf team traveling to tournaments March 6 through 7 in Bainbridge, Georiga, and March 15-17 in Helena, Alabama.
