Construction of a new Priceville High School could come sooner than later if the Morgan County Board of Education accepts the advice of a company that leads the state in K-12 school construction management.

Volkert, Inc. executives Leon Barkan from Mobile and Phillip Russell from Birmingham briefed the school board on the services offered by their company and urged them to opt for a facilities assessment and 10-year capital improvement plan. The presentation was made at a work session Thursday night.

“If you believe your tax growth is stable and you need a new school, you’d be foolish not to start the project today,” said Russell. “It’s a good time to borrow money. The Birmingham School System received a 2.9% quote on a bond last week. And construction costs are cheaper now than what they were three or four years ago.”

A new high school in Priceville received a shot in the arm last month when the town council voted to deed the county a 36-acre school site adjoining North Park. The gift comes with a condition that the school is built within five years.

Russell said the development of a capital improvement plan would require about three months and would include a detailed assessment of all 18 schools in the county system, a demographic study and a marketing campaign aimed at generating public support.

“We’d come back with a preliminary and make recommendations for the capital plan.” Russell pointed out.

He said the cost of the study would be between $70,000 and $80,000.

In another matter, the board approved $100 for each teacher in the school system to be used as teacher fee money. It will be distributed through Jan 10, 2012.

“When we are blessed with money to spend, we’re happy to put it back into the classroom,” said Superintendent Bill Hopkins.

The board acted on other matters as follows:

• Approved bank reconciliations for November, 2011.

• Approved expenditures for the month ending November 20, 2011.

• Approved special education transportation contract with Richard Stover, effective Dec. 15, 2011. He will provide transportation to school for an eligible student each day the child attends school. For such services he will be reimbursed $.555 per mile.

• Approved affidavit of Alabama Immigration Law compliance by the Morgan County Board of Education.

• Approved out-of-state field trip request from Brewer High School to allow approximately 30 baseball team players to travel to Niceville, FL to attend a baseball training camp Feb. 7-11.

• Approved out-of-state field trip request from Brewer High School to allow approximately 13 cheerleaders to travel to Orlando, FL to attend the National High School Cheerleading Championship competition.

• Approved special education transportation contract with Keri McCutcheon, effective Dec. 21, 2011. She will provide transportation to school for an eligible student each day the child attends school. For such services she will be reimbursed $.555 per mile.

• Approve payment of $750 to Shelton-Hunter, Inc. for renewal of fidelity bond.

• Approved payment of $2,076 to Shelton-Hunter, Inc. for renewal of employee dishonesty bond.

•Approved a contract for services with Applied Behavioral Concepts, Inc. for consultation and onsite services and para-professional training, effective Jan. 6, 2012.

Personnel items recommended by Principal Bill Hopkisn and approved b the board are listed as follows:

•Approved request for educational leave of absence without pay for Derek Blagburn, countywide SPE aide, effective Jan. 3, 2012, through Apr. 27, 2012.

• Approved Billy Lamb as a countywide bus driver, effective Dec. 16, 2011. He is replacing Kenny Allen who retired.

• Accepted the resignation of Richard Templeton, a teacher and coach at Falkville High School, effective Dec. 21, 2011.

• Accepted the resignation of Brent Vest as head football coach at Falkville High School, effective Nov. 2, 2011.

• Approved the transfer of Julie Kelsoe from counselor aide to secretary (10 months) at Falkville High School, effective Jan. 13, 2012. She is replacing Sylvia Halbrooks who transferred.

• Revised the employment status of Jeremy Holloway to show him replacing Gerald Holmes at Falkville High School, not Patty Annerton as was approved at the Nov. 6, 2011 meeting.

• Revise the contract length of Sandra Holmes form 10 to 12 months, effective Jan. 13, 2012.

• Approved a request for a catastrophic leave of absence (as needed) for Nicole Posey, a teacher at Priceville Junior High School, effective Oct. 17, 2011.

• Approved the transfer of Michelle Hogan from bus side at Sparkman School to countywide bus driver, effective Jan. 13, 2012. She is replacing Rose Marie Dobbins who resigned.

• Approved an application for continued salary in lieu of sick leave for Helen Whisenant. A bus driver/SPE support staff at Sparkman School for 45 days, from Oct. 14, 2011, through Dec. 21, 2011. She was injured on the job.

• Approved the transfer of Tammy Lewis from CNP worker to assistant CNP manager at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Dec. 16, 2011. She is replacing Debbie Seal who transferred.

• Approved a coaching supplement contract with Penny Phillips, effective for the 2011- 2012 school year as assistant soccer coach at West Morgan High School.

• Approved a coaching supplement contract with Diona Fowler, effective for the 2011-2012 school year, as an assistant soccer coach at West Morgan High School.

• Approved a coaching supplement contract with Melanie Dickerson, effective for the 2011-2012 school year, as assistant basketball coach at West Morgan High School,

• Approved a coaching supplement contract with Sarah Denard, effective for the 2011-2012 school year, as assistant softball coach at West Morgan High School.

• Approved Robert Nobinger as a mechanic at the Central Office, effective Jan. 3, 2012. He is replacing Cecil Bomar who resigned.

• Approved Brandon Riggs as end user computer technician/trainer at the Central Office, effective Jan 13, 2012, and for the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year. This is a new position.

• Approved Randy Knighten as a mechanic at the Central Office, effective Jan. 13, 2012. He is replacing Gary Lemmnond who resigned.

• Approved Tina Nelson as a CNP worker at Eva School, effective Jan. 13, 2012, She is replacing Cindy Roberts who transferred.

• Accepted the resignation of Beverly Moore as CNP manager at West Morgan High School, effective Feb. 1, 2012.