Two More Band Directors Kicked to the Curb

Lest any of our readers think Muscle Shoals is the only school system to generate parent complaints, today we bring you news from the Franklin County System where two band directors have been "non-renewed." According to parents, these two directors were about to receive tenure, but were suddenly let go by the board. Pictured above is Callie Henderson, band director at Tharptown for the past three years.

As with the Muscle Shoals coach there is a Change.org petition to rehire Mrs. Henderson, who is about to receive a master's degree in music education at UNA. According to both parents and students, Henderson is the best thing to ever have happened to the music program at Tharptown. Unfortunately, the board disagrees.

Also getting the sack is Jimmy Johnson III, band director at Vina High School:

We think we see the problem; these two should have been coaches who physically abused their spouses in order to have job security. We live in strange times...

Franklin County Economic Grants: How Fair?

Franklin County now has a new state senator. Let's hope he will address this issue. Below is a list of grants from earlier this year that were filtered through the Franklin County Economic Development Commission. Per Roger Bedford in March:

While on the subject of grants, it was certainly a pleasure to be in Red Bay and Russellville on Friday to present Franklin County TVA in-lieu of tax service grants. These grants are applicable to all of Franklin County and it is a pleasure for me, working with Johnny Mack Morrow, to have presented over $750,000 worth of grants in Franklin County alone.

We recently awarded Red Bay High School’s baseball program $600, Red Bay High School’s softball program $1,000, Vina High School’s softball program $500, Red Bay High School’s weight room project $2,000, Pleasant Site Fire Protection Authority $512.50, Phil Campbell Elementary $500 for a teacher workshop on behavioral disorders, Belgreen High School $500, East Franklin Jr. High $500, Red Bay High School $500, Tharptown High School $1,000, Vina High School $500, Belgreen High School’s softball program $1,000 and Russellville West Elementary $2,400 for the purchase of iPads to be used in classrooms.

Many feel that Russellville and Red Bay have received the lion's share of grants (a newer list will be posted soon), while Phil Campbell, Vina, Belgreen, etc. have higher poverty levels. Some of these grants are tax-based and therefore would be pro-rated by population numbers. Others would not.

We are accepting comments on this and hope that Sen. Stutts will now assist these smaller communities in acquiring any grant money for which they and their schools are eligible.

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While on the subject of Franklin County Schools...

Sonny Tibbs Convicted of Sex with Student

The second indicted Vina coach Brian Keeton is said to be refusing a plea deal and awaiting trial.



Shoalanda

A "Judgement" on "Heroine"

A Shoals Heroine Being Used?

Several readers regularly kid the bloggers here at Shoalanda, as well as our friend at O.B.'s Corner, about our critiques of the TimesDaily. We usually call it the TotallyDecatur, while O.B. prefers the moniker TimesFaily. The latter certainly works in the spelling department.

Earlier this week the TD treated us to a story on the rise of heroine use in the Shoals, while today a sportswriter announced it was judgement day at the University of Alabama. Does our local rag need better spellers or better proofers?

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Honest answer now...how many of you feel safer now that Franklin County teachers are armed? That's what we thought. Honest answer again...how many of you teachers out there have ever wanted to kill a student? Yep, we were right again.

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The School Resource Officer at Hibbett Middle School has made the news. Why, oh, why are they called "resource officers?" Wouldn't they be more effective if dubbed "Ya better do what I tell ya or get 120 volts below the belt officers?"

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Fund for Kerry Gilbert

Shoalanda