By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Pelham Board of Education held its last meeting before the July 1 transfer date when all Pelham school facilities, excluding the Linda Nolen Learning Center, become property of the Pelham City School system, according to the separation agreement with the Shelby County School System.

The June 30 meeting focused on approving agenda items readying the buildings for the Aug. 7 start of the academic year, including flooring improvements, cleaning of all facilities and changing the locks at each school.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Coefield noted all interior work was on schedule to be completed for the start of school, except for signage at Pelham High School which he said was “the only thing that is really tight right now” with an Aug. 6 completion date.

Along with a transfer of property from the Shelby County School System to the Pelham City School System, employees of the Pelham Schools under the Shelby County School System will become employees of Pelham City Schools on July 1.

During the June 30 meeting, the School Board approved 15 personnel recommendations for bus drivers, technicians and faculty, from Coefield, Transportation Coordinator Floyd Collins and Technology Coordinator Derrick Waddell.

“We’ve all looked at their resumes,” Board of Education President Rick Rhoades said. “I’m very excited to see the team grow and (see) the quality of the people.”

Coefield noted the Pelham City School System still has “two principals that will need to be hired,” and said he believed this would be done in the coming Board of Education meetings.

In addition to staff, the School Board approved contracts for occupational therapy and physical therapy services for special education students, which Coefield said will happen on a yearly basis.

Finally, the School Board approved insurance coverage for all school vehicles, including the new Pelham City Schools buses that Collins confirmed are being painted and are parked at Valley Elementary School.

“You are going to like the results that you are going to see,” Rhoades said to those gathered at the meeting. “We’re going to do great things here.”