From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Schools Board of Education released results of the 2020 Superintendent evaluation and for the first time in at least two years, Dr. Pattie Neill did not receive a 100%.
The score from the BOE was 96%, still a sign the board is happy with leadership of TCS. Neill was evaluated on six key areas: general responsibilities, instructional leadership, personnel administration, financial management, Chief Executive Officer and school/community relations.
Neill is in her ninth year as superintendent for TCS. She thanked the board for the positive review.
“I greatly appreciate this evaluation by the Board and your positive comments,” said Neill. “This Board has affirmed our collective success in the midst of countless challenges and disruptions to our norm. However, let me say that the rewards are plentiful. Our employee commitment and dedication during this school year have been amplified and observed by the entire community. Trussville employees are extremely resilient and adaptable, and I appreciate that this Board supported our efforts for the benefit of our students.”
After a challenging year, School Board President Kathy Brown, who led the evaluation, said Neill should be commended for her leadership during the global pandemic.
“Her reopening plan has been a model for other school systems and we have not only survived but thrived,” Brown said. “Dr. Neill and her team have gone above and beyond to continue to educate all students at the highest standards while nurturing and addressing the needs of every student. Dr. Neill supports our employees to perform at their very best, despite these very challenging and unprecedented times.”
The school system has been on a four-option plan in response to COVID-19. Neill developed the plan with the personal needs of families and students in mind. Jefferson County Health Officer supported the plan saying it was “creative.”
It is important to note that the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) reported last week that Trussville City Schools had 24 positive cases out of its approximately 4,800 students. In comparison, St. Clair County Schools, which has nearly double the number of students, also had 24 positive cases. St. Clair County Schools have been on an as-needed, six-stage plan. The SSCS system puts schools on online-only instruction when numbers of positive cases appear to be on the rise. In Jefferson County, 98 cases were reported among the system’s 101,000 students.
Oxford City Schools, which has just over 4,000 students, has been on a similar plan to TCS but has “alert stages” based on risk level. The school system reported 22 positive COVID-19 cases last week.
