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The Chambers County School Board had a busy meeting on Wednesday to wrap up the 2024-2025 school year. 

With the recent grade realignments–incorporating J.P. Powell Magnet School’s 7th and 8th grades into LaFayette High School–and retirements, the board has to make personnel changes official. CCSD Superintendent Dr. Sharon Weldon said that the majority of teachers leaving are retiring rather than taking jobs elsewhere. 

“We posted our jobs a little bit earlier this year than we have, and we’re just trying to stay on top of that so that we can get that taken care of,” she said.

The board approved around six pages worth of personnel changes 5-1, with board member Reco Newton being the only member to oppose the recommendation.

Weldon also recommended hiring legal counsel for the Special Education Department. 

“When we are dealing with things in special Education, the laws are so different, so specialized…The state has advised us to look at the possibility of letting our special education issues that we have that come up be funneled through an attorney,” Weldon said. 

The CCSD attorney, Bob Meadows, asked the board to approve the recommendation, saying, “It’s in the best interest for the board system.”

According to Weldon, the special counsel would focus solely on the special education department, while Meadows would still be over other school matters. She included an attorney from Montgomery who specializes in the field. The attorney would not be on retainer but would be paid per hour for their services when needed. 

“She would be available, not just for when we have due process hearings…but we would also be able to get with her to provide some professional development for our teachers, our administrators.”