A 4 percent payraise for clerical and bookkeeper personnel, principal contracts and the employment of a host of assistant principals were highlights of the Thursday, June 16 meeting of the Shelby County Board of Education.

The board also unanimously rejected an overseas field trip for Vincent High students to Rome, Italy and Paris.

School Superintendent Evan Major said the trip involved a group of individuals led by a teacher. He changed his recommendation for the trip and asked that it be dropped for approval.

Major said the board is not saying the students cannot go on the trip, but the trip will not be school-sponsored.

The board went on to approve a field trip for Oak Mountain High School to Springfield, Mo. for environthon competition. However, board member Steve Martin abstained on that vote.

In other business, assistant superintendent of finance Gary Holmes said the 4 percent payraises approved by the board are effective July 1 for local school bookkeepers, local school clerks, central office typists, central office payroll clerks and central office chief clerks.

In addressing the payraises, Major said the school board was &uot;still trying to correct a wrong.&uot;

Previously the board turned down a 6 percent raise for such personnel.

Holmes said all education personnel will receive a 6 percent payraise approved by the State Legislature in October.

He confirmed that would result in a 10 percent overall increase for those given the 4 percent raise now.

In addition, substitute teachers, substitute bus drivers, substitute bus driver aides and substitute CNP associates were also given salary adjustments.

The board also approved renewal of principal contracts for Mary Wyatt, Mike Burns, Bob Lavett, Charles Smith, Wayne Williams, Michele Shepherd and Judy Simmons.

School Board president Dr. Lee Doebler voted against Wyatt’s contract but declined to comment as to the reason.

Assistant principals were approved including Kay Cooper for Inverness Elementary, Stephanie Sims for Vincent Elementary, Kerry Rush for Oak Mountain Middle, Frank Parker for Thompson High School, Brent Tolbert for Thompson Middle School, Patrick Kellogg

and David Seale for Pelham High School, Roxanne Brown for the School of Technology, Gene Rogers for Shelby County High School and Cristie Muehlbauer of Thompson Middle.

Cooper has 16 years experience in public education at the elementary level in Jefferson County and Hoover.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montevallo, a master’s degree

from Samford University and will complete her education specialist degree in educational leadership in July 2005 at Samford University.

She obtained her certification in school administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Sims has six years experience in public education all at the elementary level and previously served as a special education teacher at Meadow View Elementary. She also served as

acting administrator there on an as-needed basis.

She has a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from Auburn University and a master’s degree in educational administration from UM.

Rush has 15 years experience in middle school public education and previously served as a science teacher at Oak Mountain Middle School. She also previously taught science at Riverchase Middle School.

Rush graduated from Auburn with a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology and has a master’s degree in secondary science and an education specialist degree from UM.

She earned her doctorate

in educational leadership from Samford University.

Parker has taught in the Shelby County School System for 11 years, all at Oak Mountain Middle School.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in education from UAB.

Tolbert has 11 years experience in public education and previously served as band director at Fayette County High School.

He holds a bachelor’s degree

in instrumental music education and a master’s degree from the University of Alabama. He also received his administration certification from UA in May 2005.

Kellogg has seven years experience in public education at the high school level and previously taught at Pelham High.

Kellogg holds a bachelor’s degree in English as well as a master’s degree in education from Troy University.

He received his administration certification from UM.

Seale has 10 years experience in public education and previously taught at Mountain Brook High School.

The majority of Seale’s experience is at the high school level. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education language arts and a master’s degree in secondary education English from UA.

He received his master’s certification in school administration from UM.

Brown has 25 years experience in public education and served as assistant principal at Thompson High School for six years.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in school administration from UM.

She served on the Shelby County Safety Council and assisted with revisions of the Shelby County Student Code of Conduct.

Rogers has 21 years experience in public education and previously served as assistant principal at Shelby County High School.

He graduated from the University of Mississippi with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health, physical education and recreation.

He also holds an educational administration certificate from UM.

Muehlbauer has nine years experience in public education, all in the Shelby County School System and previously served as interim assistant principal at Thompson Middle School.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education administration from UM. She also received her education specialist degree in education administration from UM