Cherokee County Board of Education Reviews Audit, Approves Personnel Actions and Budget Items
CENTRE — The Cherokee County Board of Education met in regular session Monday afternoon at the Central Office in Centre, addressing a variety of personnel matters, budget items, travel requests, and operational business while also recognizing retiring employees for their years of service.
The meeting was held May 11 at the Cherokee County Board of Education Central Office on Armory Road. Board members followed the standard agenda format, including an opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, roll call to establish a quorum, and approval of the meeting agenda.
Board members approved minutes from meetings held April 28 and April 30 before hearing a presentation of the Fiscal Year 2025 audit report from Samanda Pearson, Audit Manager with the County Audit Division of the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.
The board also received an update regarding the Cenergistic Energy Program and approved the 2026–2027 energy savings budget for Cedar Bluff School.
Among action items approved during the meeting was the acceptance of a bid for a new truck for the maintenance department. The board approved a bid from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet in the amount of $68,336.50, identified as the lowest responsible bidder.
Travel requests were also approved, including Cherokee County High School’s golf team, led by Caleb Hays, to travel to Blackberry Trail Golf Course in Florence on May 3 and 4. Board members also approved travel for the Sand Rock FFA organization, under the direction of Will Dodd, to attend an event at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel in Montgomery June 9 through June 12.
A large portion of the meeting focused on personnel actions, including retirements, resignations, transfers, placements, and new positions.
Among retirements approved were Patricia McHan, a child nutrition worker at Centre Middle School with 12 years of service, effective June 1, and Tara Blanchard, Special Education Coordinator, who will retire effective August 1 following 34 years of service with the Cherokee County school system.
The board also accepted several resignations, including Beth Coggins, special education teacher at Centre Elementary School; Dana Kelley, mathematics coach for Centre Elementary and Centre Middle schools; Jesse Hitchcock, special education paraprofessional at Centre Middle School; Brenda Peek, child nutrition worker at Gaylesville School; and Sidney Ashley, health science instructor at the Cherokee County Career and Technology Center.
Certified personnel placements approved included Shane Browder as assistant principal at Cedar Bluff School effective August 1, Sydney Skelton as an English teacher at Cherokee County High School, and Dillon Terry as a history teacher at Cherokee County High School pending certification.
The board also approved certified and classified transfers, summer placements for schools throughout the county, professional development requests, and a leave of absence request for Spring Garden School bus driver Candie Ledbetter.
Additionally, the board approved the creation of a new middle school teaching position at Centre Middle School funded through Title and local funds.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the board recognized retirees from the 2025–2026 school year for their service and contributions to Cherokee County Schools.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Cherokee County Board of Education is set for Monday, June 8, at 4 p.m. at the Central Office in Centre.
