By KATIE MCDOWELL/Lifestyles Editor

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Randy Fuller addressed pending state legislation that could affect county schools during the Shelby County Board of Education’s May 7 meeting.

Fuller said the school system was carefully monitoring several items being considered by the state, including pay raises for educators, the budget and the Alabama Accountability Act. The legislative session is expected to end Thursday.

Fuller said the state has yet to pass a budget for the Education Trust Fund, which has prevented the Shelby County School System from hiring new teachers, among other actions.

“It’s been a difficult time, I think, for everyone,” he said.

However, the state is considering a 2 percent raise for public school employees.

Fuller also said the school system plans to present the board with a new safety/security plans in a few weeks. Dr. Lewis Brooks has led the committee working on the plan.

Fuller said creating a new plan has been challenging because of the number of schools, law enforcement agencies and governmental groups involved in the process. He said Brooks has attempted to meet with each group individually.

Fuller also said an architect is reviewing looking at the entrances for each school and that the Alabama Building Commission must approve all changes.

Fuller said they hope to begin implementing the process throughout the school during the summer, depending on when the council approves the plan.

“We’re real confident so far with the progress we’ve made,” he said. “We think we’ll be a model from this point on.”