Board of Education

An email alleging a bomb threat to the Fayette County School System on Monday, Nov. 30 has caused a complete shutdown of the school system pending further investigation of the incident. Fayette County Superintendent of Education Jim Burkhalter issued the following statement on Tuesday, Dec. 1. “I received an email Monday morning concerning a threat to the schools. After consultation with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office, we decided to dismiss the schools. The buses were back and ready to transport the students home at 10 a.m.

The Fayette County Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting on Nov. 10. Board member Keith Madison was absent with all other board members present. Prior to the beginning of the meeting, newly-elected board members Brenda Webb of District 4 and Julie Stough of District 5 were given the oath of office by Fayette County Probate Judge Mike Freeman. This was their first meeting to participate in as board members.

Julie Stough and Brenda Webb took their oaths of office prior to the Nov. 10 Fayette County Board of Education meeting. Stough is the new member from District 5 and Webb is representing District 4. Details of the Nov. 10 meeting will be presented in next week’s The Times-Record.

The Fayette County Board of Education passed its budget for fiscal year 2021 during its Sept. 15 meeting. Board President Tom Hubbert was absent from the meeting, with Superintendent Jim Burkhalter and all other board members in attendance. Board Vice-President Sam Sullivan presided over the meeting in the absence of Hubbert. Prior to the meeting, a budget hearing was held. This was the second hearing for the proposed budget that was held by the board, with a previous hearing held at Berry High School on Sept. 10.

The Fayette County Board of Education discussed coaching supplements for the upcoming school year during a work session prior to its Aug. 4 meeting. Prior to the work session and subsequent meeting, John Aaron took the oath of office as the board’s District 1 representative, replacing Waldon Tucker who resigned from the board earlier this year. The board tabled a motion at its last meeting to cut the coaching supplements by 50 percent if the teams did not play this year.

The Fayette County Board of Education selected John Aaron to fill the vacancy left on the board by the resignation of Waldon Tucker in District 1 during its July 21 meeting. The action was taken at the conclusion of the board’s regular agenda and before the meeting was adjourned. Board Member Keith Madison was absent from the meeting, with the remainder of the board members present.

The Fayette County Board of Education voted 4-1 at its June 25 meeting to hire former Fayette County High School football coach and former BOE member Waldon Tucker as the new FCHS varsity football coach. All current members of the board were present for the meeting. Board Member Keith Madison opposed the hiring of Tucker, while the other board members supported the motion. Tucker resigned his position on the Fayette County Board of Education during a special-called meeting on Monday, June 22.

Waldon Tucker, Fayette County Board of Education member from District 1, resigned from his position on the local school board at a special-called meeting on June 22. Tucker was not present at the meeting, but the remaining board members were in attendance. The only order of business on the agenda was Tucker’s resignation from the board. A letter presented to the board members from Tucker and dated June 18 stated the following: “Dear Mr. Burkhalter and Fayette County Board of Education Members, I am resigning my Fayette County Board of Education seat for District 1 effective June 22, 2020.

The Fayette County Board of Education announced graduation dates for seniors at Fayette County schools during its May 12 meeting. Board Member Tim Fields was absent from the meeting, with all other board members in attendance. The tentative schedule for graduation is as follows: • Berry High School - Thursday, June 4 at 7 p.m. • Hubbertville School - Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m. • Fayette County High School - Thursday, June 11 at 8 p.m. All graduations are scheduled to be held in the schools’ football stadiums in an effort to abide by COVID-19 guidelines.

The Fayette County Board of Education approved several personnel changes and contracts at its April 21 meeting. The meeting was held in the Fayette Elementary School lunchroom so that safe distancing and other recommendations that are in place dur to the COVID-19 pandemic could be followed. All board members were in attendance for the meeting, along with Superintendent Jim Burkhalter, Assistant Superintendent Mary Raines and Chief Financial Officer Julie Chaffin.