PELHAM – Pelham High School’s Girls Indoor Track Team was recognized by Pelham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Coefield and the Board of Education for being the 2018 6A Indoor Track State Championship Runners-up.

The team had 33 All-State athletes and one individual state champion in Katie Strozier who won the 6A Indoor Track 800-meter State Championship and was the state runner up for the 6A Indoor Track 1600 meter.

The board also recognized the 6A Indoor Track 4-by-800 Relay State Runners-up. The four-person team consisted of Katie Strozier, Brooke Monti, Madi DuBose and Alex Wilkins.

“They lived up to their potential as a team and I couldn’t be prouder of that,” said head coach Marty Springfield.

Coefield also reviewed a proposed teacher compensation package.

“We want to do more and are looking at ways to make it happen,” Coefield said.

The proposal includes a pay increase for all teachers that is above the state teacher matrix and more academic related supplements for teachers, Coefield said. The extraordinary compensation for teachers and support staff would remain in place and an attendance bonus is being considered.

Coefield said he also plans to review the district’s policy concerning personal days and how those are funded. Coefield said he is working to develop a more complete proposal to present to the board.

“We are restructuring the whole thing, not just adding a percentage of pay,” Coefield said.

“It’s tricky to get these raises to be as impactful as they can possibly be,” BOE President Rick Rhoades said. “There are still a lot of questions to be answered but we are on the right track.”

In other business, the board:
-Approved 19 personnel recommendations from Coefield.
-Adopted textbooks for Fine Arts and World Language.
-Awarded a $53,000 bid to Gadsden Music Company on behalf of the PHS band with all funding provided by the PHS band program.
-Approved the Green and Gold Initiative as a pilot program for the 2018-19 school year. An annual evaluation and analysis will be presented to the board.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Pelham Oaks Elementary School.