Cullman City Council receives education report, moves on airport improvements

CULLMAN,

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Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday welcomed faculty and students from Cullman City Schools to celebrate achievements and get an update on happenings in the system.

Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff and Technology Integration Specialist Misty Waldrop introduced two students who recently won district competitions in the Governor’s App Challenge, a statewide computer programming competition. According to Kallhoff, “The goal of the challenge is to allow more students to gain recognition for their mastery and application of computer programming and design.”

The council presented certificates to:

• Elementary division winner Lauren Hughes, fourth grader from West Elementary, for her app “Presidential Brain Busters”
• Middle School division winner Kinslee Barnett, sixth grader from West Elementary, for her app “Daily Devotions”

Both won at the District 6 competition, and will represent Cullman on April 15, 2025, at the Alabama Computer Science Summit in Montgomery.

Kallhoff also gave an update on construction work in the system:

• High School STEM Wing: “You can now see the footprint of our new wing at CHS and its indention into the bank just south of the agriculture building and math building.”
• Cullman Intermediate School: “The unsuitable soil has been removed and good soil returned in its place. Now the contractors will begin the foundation for the gym/storm shelter for the campus.”
• Cullman Middle School: “Earlier this month we made the announcement that we will not transition our sixth grade to CMS in August. Although the contractors on that project are projecting to be completed in late July, it is not worth running a risk of them missing their deadline and us having to reverse six months of planning in two weeks. Once school begins in August, we will monitor their progress and adjust as needed.”
• Accreditation: Kallhoff announced that the system will complete the accreditation process it does every five years with Cognia. The superintendent added, “We have been working on this for a few months now, and it all concludes with a presentation to the team leaders from Cognia this week. I want to recognize Sharron Windham who has led us through the accreditation process since last summer. The accreditation process through Cognia requires systems to show evidence of six standards via surveys, assessment data, observation data and self-assessments.”
• Job fair: “This week, we host our second annual job fair. Administrators from all schools and the central office will be at Cullman City Primary on Thursday (March 20, 2025) from 3:30-5:30 to meet and greet people who may be interested in joining our winning team.”

Kallhoff also noted that spring break is next week, March 24-28, 2025, followed by state testing in grades 2-8. Schools will be out on Good Friday, April 18. That day was designated as a weather make-up day, but missed days this school year were either declared a state of emergency by Governor Kay Ivey or forgiven by the Alabama State Department of Education. Friday, May 2, 2025, is also a day off due to Cullman hosting the state track meet.

Airport improvements approved

The council turned its attention to the Cullman Regional Airport, hearing from Airport Director Ben Harrison and approving three resolutions concerning upcoming improvements. Harrison told the council that years of reconstruction projects are drawing to a close with one last item placed on the evening’s agenda, and that new construction is set to start soon after that.

The council approved resolutions for engineering contracts with Goodwyn Mills Cawood for apron reconstruction and the development of a new taxiway into a new multiacre parcel that will open up possible new development and expansion in the future. The council also authorized the mayor to negotiate with property owners around the airport to purchase air easements, removal of trees or lowering of tree tops along approaches to the runway.

The council also set a public hearing on April 21, 2025, at 7 p.m. for an ordinance to rezone the Coots property located on Marie Street Northwest from R-3 to R-4 Residential District, and approved resolutions to: 

• Assess the cost of demolishing and removing a dangerous structure at 1509 Bower Dr. SE
• Award the bid for a pickup truck to the lowest responsible bidder, Bill Smith GMC, in the amount of $50,457.50

The council also approved special event requests:

• From City Clerk Wes Moore to hold the State Track Meet at Cullman High School beginning on May 1, 2025, and ending on May 3, 2025
• From Joyce Nix of St. Bernard Prep School for the annual Bloomin’ Festival April 5-6, 2025

The Cullman City Council meets next at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2025, in the city hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.

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