By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
LEEDS – The Leeds Board of Education recognized a nationally certified board teacher and shared updates regarding the district’s five year plan, which includes building a new elementary school campus among others.
Laura Delehanty was recognized for being nationally certified. She teaches 11th Grade English and AP Language and Composition at Leeds High School. She said she is originally from the Northeast, having lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin and even further north in Alaska before settling in Alabama.
“She is very impactful,” said Superintendent John Moore. “Her students think very highly of her. She’s very dedicated to her craft. Very dedicated to Leeds High School.”
Certification with the National Board requires a series of tests in academic areas and submission of portfolios for evaluation. It is said to be a particularly difficult feat to achieve.
“I appreciate being a part of Leeds,” Delehanty said. “The support that you guys give to the teacher, and I knew that from my interview, that this is a place that fostered creativity and innovation and my curiosity and my passion. I was feeling burned out at teaching and I no longer feel burned out at teaching.”
Following this was Chief Financial Officer Ryan Miller’s report on the fourth month of the fiscal year ending on Jan. 31. 46.6% of the general fund revenues and 80.48% of the local revenues were received, down 13.22% from this time in 2022.
The month was ended with an excess of revenues over expenditures in the general fund of $2,488,170. The unreserved fund balance was $6,634,076.
Afterwards, the board passed the items on its agenda before allowing Burke Wren, who is the Director of Elementary Education and Federal Programs, outlined updates that have been made to the district’s five year strategic plan.
A pamphlet was available detailing the different strategies for the district. Among the highlights were expanding the pre-k programs to eight Office of School Readiness (OSR) classrooms and two inclusiveness classrooms that includes special education.
At the high school, the district will provide programs that includes duel-enrollment and expanding career technology courses through the Academy of Craft Training, LHS Health Sciences, and JROTC.
An adult-to student advocacy program plan and training is being implemented in K-12. This includes the addition of mental health coordinators and EL teachers, as well as Big Brother/Sister and Pier Helpers for K-12 students.
Chrome laptops are purchased annually on a three-year replacement program for different grades. There are also school security measures with the Virtual Alabama School Safety System, visitor management systems, vape detectors and upgrades to surveillance.
As the population at Leeds Elementary School increases, more space is needed, Wren said. This has prompted plans for a new campus. Additionally there are plans for a new stadium and athletic complex at the high school. The plan also includes completion of renovations at Homer Smiles Stadium and Jerry Oxford Gymnasium.
As these projects are still in the planning stages, few additional details could be spared.
The meeting ended with the board going into executive session to discuss the good name and character of an individual.
In other business the council:
- Authorized declaring several Leeds Middle School band equipment as surplus,
- Approved a beverage contract, and
- Agreed to accept the money resulting from a national lawsuit against vaping company Juul.
The next meeting will be held on April 11, at 6:30 p.m., at the Leeds Board of Education Building on 1517 Hurst Avenue.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.