By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Pelham Board of Education approved five key hires and an adjustment to new Superintendent Dr. Scott Coefield’s contract during a May 27 meeting.

The School Board added five more very experienced individuals to the growing Pelham City Schools staff, approving the hiring of Derrick Waddell as technology coordinator, Holli Hicks as exceptional education and special education coordinator and Sevim Whitaker as ESL coordinator.

The Board of Education also voted to hire Pelham High School Assistant Principal Floyd Collins. Collins will serve the Pelham City School System as the transportation and career technical education coordinator.

“(Collins) is one of the great young educators in the Birmingham area,” Board of Education President Rick Rhoades said of the newly hired Collins.

Pelham High School Principal Robert Lavett was also hired during the May 27 meeting. Coefield explained the Pelham City Schools “worked out a deal” with Lavett, who is retiring, to work with the new school system as an advisor on a part time basis. Rhoades noted Lavett’s many years with Pelham High School will bring insight and knowledge to the new Pelham City School System.

“This is a huge step for us,” Rhoades said of the five key hires made during the May 27 meeting.

Additionally, the Board of Education approved an amendment to Coefield’s contract with Pelham City Schools, allowing him to start full-time on June 1. The original contract stipulated a July 1 start date. With the approved amendment to Coefield’s contract, the May 27 meeting was Dr. Tim Alford’s last as the interim superintendent.

“This has been a great opportunity for me,” Alford said. “The great part of this has been getting to know people in the community who I might otherwise not have known.”

Alford has served as the interim superintendent since Jan. 21. He will continue to serve the City of Pelham on the newly formed Commercial Development Authority, which he was appointed to during an April 8 City Council meeting.

“We have come an awfully long way from (the beginning),” Alford said. “I’m highly invested in the success of this system.”