Hartselle City School Board members heard reports from Martin and Cobey Construction Project Manager Jim Maynard on the progress of the new Hartselle High School being built on Bethel Road during the regular school board meeting held Monday, Jan. 14, at Crestline Elementary School.

“We need a few good warm days,” Maynard said.

The weeks-long cold rainy weather put the project slightly behind in paving and striping the asphalt around the school, he said.

The project is in the “punch list process” now in the academic wings, checking off the last details of the completed project, expecting a first final inspection soon. The above ceiling inspections were completed Jan. 10 for the stage, kitchen, band and choir areas, readying them for final work in those areas. The last areas to be completed are the auditorium and cafeteria, Maynard said.

Hartselle City Schools Superintendent Mike Reed said it is his “optimistic hope” to move furniture and students into the new school before the spring break holidays, which is March 25-29. The contractual date for completion of the new school is Feb. 7.

In new business, school board members voted to allow architects Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to proceed with gathering bids for a new heating and cooling system for the current high school. The system is projected to cost nearly $1.2 million. In August, seventh and eighth graders will move into the Sparkman Street Campus as the fifth and sixth graders will be located at the current Petain Street Campus, to be named Hartselle Intermediate School.

The new heating and cooling system is on a 27-item list of renovations for the Sparkman Street Campus. The school board created the list in coordination with the central office maintenance team during a walk through Friday, Jan. 11.

Superintendent Reed released a prioritized list of the top 11 repairs to be completed at the Sparkman Street Campus between 2013-2018.

The list includes: 1.) Install new heating and air unit, and after the roof top units are installed, removing all old unit piping and fan coil units, repairing all walls and paint; 2.) Clean all of the building, projected to cost $11,700; 3.) Paint halls and rooms as necessary, beginning with areas in need and most visible to the public; 4.) Install new front doors and hardware; 5.) Change out sinks and commode flush values in the north hall boys bathroom; 6.) Change out sings in the north hall girls bathroom; 7.) Change sinks in the front south end hall and lobby in the gym; 8.) Change out all fixture and flush valves in the boys bathroom across from the biology lab; 9.) Change out door for room 27; 10.) Change out entrance doors on Booth Street; and 11.) Paint the outside trim of the building.

In other business Hartselle City School Board members also approved the following items:

• To take Hartselle Junior High School advance band member to Cincinnati, Ohio, April 24-28 to perform at Kings Island.

• The following requests for permission to use school facilities: North East Softball Umpires to use the baseball/softball facility, as well as the J.C. Pettey Center on Feb. 2; Morgan County Umpires Association to use the baseball/softball facility, as well as J.C. Pettey Center on Feb. 9; Hartselle girls basketball program be allowed to use the J.C. Pettey Center, new high school gymnasium, and Hartselle Junior High School gymnasium, April 26 and 28 for a basketball tournament; Hartselle First United Methodist Church to use the F. E. Burleson Elementary gymnasium on Feb. 2; and Hartselle Baseball to use the Hartselle Baseball Building and the Hartselle High School gymnasium on Jan. 21 for the Hartselle Baseball Winter Baseball Camp.

• The request for bus services from Hartselle First United Methodist Church Feb. 2 for their “Discovery” weekend. The church will pay all fees and rates associated with the use of the buses.

• That Hartselle City Schools possibly participate in the Morgan County Emergency Management, Hartselle Police, and Hartselle Fire departments in an Active Shooter Drill, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 27 at F.E. Burleson Elementary School. This item allowed a safety committee to explore the options of the drill. An official vote for the drill could be brought before the school board at the next meeting. (See Page 1 for more on the active shooter drill and Hartselle City School safety plans)

• The transfer of Cindy Childers from the position of child nutrition worker at Hartselle High School to the position of child nutrition worker at Hartselle Junior High School, effective retroactive Jan.2, 2013.

• The transfer of Leesia Johnson from the position of Special Education teacher at Hartselle Junior High School to the position of Special Education teacher at Crestline Elementary School, effective Jan. 15, 2013.

• The resignation of Robin Smith from the position of instruction aide, based at the Central Office, effective Dec. 21, 2012.

• The employment for the following: Kathy Howard to fill the position of full-time bus driver, effective retroactive to Dec. 2, 2012, for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year; for JoAnn Johns, Cherie King, and Rebecca Romine to fill the positions of part-time Bus Aide, effective Jan. 15, 2013, for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year; and Amy Stadthagen to fill the position of Central Office Secretary/Receptionist, effective retroactive to Dec. 20, 2012.