April Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update April 2026 Staff and Student Spotlight At the April meeting of the Cullman City Schools Board of Education, we had the opportunity to celebrate several outstanding individuals who represent the very best of our school system. We honored Dr. Page on his retirement after 13 years of dedicated service as principal of West Elementary and 35 years in the field of education. His leadership has made a lasting impact on countless students, staff, and families. West Elementary School staff members Misty Murphy and Julie Ray were recognized for their commitment and the positive difference they make each day for students. Additionally, we celebrated 6th grade student Ava Hutson, who serves as an excellent role model for her peers through her character and example. We are proud of each of these individuals and grateful for the way they represent Cullman City Schools so well. Thank you to our partners from AmFirst Cullman who sponsor our employee recognition program.   Administration Moves for the '26-27 School Year At its April meeting, the Cullman City Board of Education approved two important administrative moves that will help position the district for continued success and a smooth transition into future school configurations. Dr. Chad Shannon has been named principal of West Elementary School for the 2026–2027 school year. This upcoming year will mark the final year of operation for West Elementary, as West and East Elementary Schools prepare to combine for the 2027–2028 school year to form Cullman Intermediate School. A proud product of the Cullman City School System, Dr. Shannon currently serves as assistant principal at Cullman Middle School, where he has built a strong reputation for leadership, organization, and a commitment to student success. In a related move, Nic Gragg, current assistant principal at East Elementary School, will transfer to Cullman Middle School in the same role, effective July 1, 2026. Gragg’s experience at the elementary level will bring valuable perspective and continuity to the middle school administrative team.   Special Olympics Earlier this month the Cullman City School System hosted a Special Olympic track and field day for some of our most important students. The event took place on Tuesday, April 7th and was a huge success.   Lacy Cameron and Special Guests Lacy Cameron, 5th grade Teacher at East has been selected as one of the 16 finalists for the Alabama Teacher of the Year. Earlier this month, the current Alabama Teachers of the Year, Katie Collins and Aubrey Bennett dropped by Mrs. Cameron’s classroom for a visit. It was such an honor to meet them! They have represented Alabama so well this year!   A huge thank you to our students, employees and families who attacked the ACAP (Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program) with enthusiasm and confidence. It is great to have the spring 2026 administration of ACAP behind us and we cannot wait to get the results. Personally, I am not a fan of an accountability system in which we measure success based on how a group of students perform on a series of summative exams administered over a two week period, but this is the system we have and each spring our students and employees attack it head-on.   Safety and Security As a reminder, all visitors on any of our campuses must report to the front office. There are no exceptions to this rule. We want our schools to be some of the safest in Alabama and to do that it takes everyone pitching in.   Summer Camps at the Agriplex We Want Your Feedback! Scan the QR code below or click here to pick your Top 3. CCS Commitments With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs Tech Check Cullman City Schools was well represented at the 2025-2026 Governor's App Challenge that took place on April 13th at the Computer Science Summit in Montgomery, Alabama. John Harding from West Elementary represented the Alabama District 6 Middle School division, and Henry Hackbarth, also from West Elementary, represented Alabama District 6 Elementary School division. They both did an incredible job presenting their apps and confidently answering questions from the judges.  A big congratulations to Henry Hackbarth for earning 2nd place in the Elementary Division at the State Level! We are so proud of their hard work and dedication. The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of February is 1) 41.7% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 52.8% while expenditures were at 3) 40.9%. Our total net operations were 4) $4.5 M. Total assets were 5) $16.3 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $16.3 M which brings us to 7) 4.57 months of reserves. Newsletter Podcast Next Update: May 2026 National Teacher Appreciation Week is the first full week of May (4th - 8th). I encourage everyone who reads this newsletter to take three minutes to email a teacher, send a note or place a phone call to just say “Thank you for choosing to be a teacher. I appreciate you caring for and loving other people’s children as if they were your own.” Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Tuesday, Apr 28 2026

March Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update March 2026 Newsletter Podcast Staff and Student Spotlight In the March meeting of the Board, we recognized a Cullman High School teacher of special education who is a huge advocate for her students, a front office worker who greets visitors with a smiling face, as well a student in 12th grade who shows kindness in the halls and classrooms but collects RBIs on the softball field. A huge thank you to our partners at AmFirst, who sponsor our certified employee and support staff recognitions.   National School Social Work Week The first week of March was National School Social Work Week. School social workers act as a crucial link between home, school, and community by providing crisis intervention, mental health support, and advocacy. In certain situations, they are the vital connection between families and school resources to remove non-academic barriers preventing students from achieving and promoting equitable access to services as well as advocating for student well-being. In Cullman City, we are fortunate to have Chloe Barnette as our Social Worker.   Basketball Congratulations to our Boys Basketball program for their exciting run to the AHSAA Championship game! The team had a great season and we are proud of them. Thank you to the coaches, players, parents, students and community who represented our school system so well during our two games in Birmingham earlier this month.   Job Fair On March 19th, we hosted our third annual Job Fair for the Cullman City School System. Four years ago, we decided instead of paying to go to regional job fairs with little results, we would start hosting our own job fairs.  Each year the number of applicants has increased. We have hosted this at CHS and CCPS, however, this year the job fair was located at the new Cullman Middle School. Alabama State Department of Education reports indicate that there are over 800 vacant teaching positions statewide with just over 3,000 teachers working with an emergency certificate. The demand outweighs the supply, therefore it is important we host events like this to get the best educators possible for the 3,200 students we serve.   TVA STEM Grant Thank you Cullman City Primary School and STEM Teacher, Anna Anderson, for taking initiative to secure grant funds from TVA. The Tennessee Valley Authority and Cullman Power Board have been great partners in fulfilling our STEM vision of Exposure, Exploration and Application with our students beginning as early as age 5 all the way up to Cullman High School graduates. Read more in this article by The Cullman Tribune.   Soccer Locker Room Bid The low bid on this project came in very high over our budget. As a reminder, this project is in partnership with the Soccer Boosters, who are committed to funding a portion of the work. In recent Board actions, the bid was rejected and now we will work with the Soccer Boosters and the Architect to see how we can reduce the scope of the project and determine if we want to rebid in an effort to get within our budget.   ACT State Monitoring Earlier in March, CHS administered the state administration of the ACT. During this administration, we were monitored by the State Department of Education. The ACT administration was extremely smooth and the ALSDE representative was very complimentary. A big thank you to Sharon Windham, our System Testing Administrator, Principal Tuggle, Assistant Principal Aimee Bates, and the entire CHS Faculty and Staff.   Principal Contracts Congratulations to Mrs. Tuggle and Dr. Shaddix on their contracts that were approved in the March Board meeting. These leadership decisions position our school system well for the future. Both of these administrators bring valuable experience and leadership to our district, and their unique strengths will help us continue providing a high-quality education for our students. Read more in this article by The Cullman Tribune.   Cullman Theatre After recently competing in the Alabama State Trumbauer Secondary Theatre Festival, Cullman Theatre once again is a state champion. Cullman was given the highest award in the state by being awarded a Best In Show and being selected to represent the state of Alabama at the Southeastern Theatre Festival. The award was presented after Cullman’s performance of “Suite Surrender” in the State One Act Festival. Cullman theatre students also won numerous other awards including Best Ensemble. Our theater program has won this honor the last three out of four years.  Congratulations to the students who placed in individual events among the top three in the state in their category:  Cadan Fales, 2nd in Musical Theatre Comedic Varsity  Avery Lane Green, 1st in Musical Theatre Dramatic Varsity  Anne Lunsford, 1st in Musical Theatre Dramatic Novice, and  Emmaline Powell - 2nd in playwriting.  The following students were named to the All State All Star Cast: Cadan Fales, Avery Lane Green, Lily Abbott, Dylan Tisdale, and Mary Atchison.   Construction Updates CCS Commitments With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs Tech Check Governor's App Challenge Elementary Winner: Henry Hackbarth, 4th grader from West Elementary App Title: American History Middle School Winner: John Harding, 6th grader from West Elementary App Title: American Trivia Several Bearcats worked hard this year on the Governor's App Challenge. They developed their own app ideas and then created those apps for judging. Henry and John won at their school level and then won in their divisions for Cullman City Schools.  Their apps went on to the Alabama School District 6 competition. Both of these students won at the District 6 level as well. They will now compete on April 13th at the Alabama Computer Science Summit in Montgomery. The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of January is 1) 33.3% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 45.9% while expenditures were at 3) 33.9%. Our total net operations were 4) $4.7 M. Total assets were 5) $16.4 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $16.4 M which brings us to 7) 4.72 months of reserves. Next Update: April 2026 Spring Break Spring break is March 30th through April 3rd. It is my hope that our students, employees and families enjoy their week off and my prayer that everyone returns safely the Monday after Easter. Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Thursday, Mar 26 2026

February Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update February 2026 Newsletter Podcast Staff and Student Spotlight In the February Cullman City School System meeting of the Board, we honored a young lady who is a model student, a teacher assistant who goes above and beyond and a veteran teacher who has dedicated her career to East Elementary.   2026 State Superintendent’s Visual Arts Exhibit Winners The Cullman City School System was honored to have two winners in the 2026 State Superintendent’s Visual Arts Exhibit. Jesse Tanner, 2nd Place in the 3rd and 4th grade 2-dimension division. Acrylic Painting titled…My Best Friend Kayleigh Tanner, Best of Show Elementary 2-dimension division. Acrylic Painting titled…My Favorite Place   Governor’s App Challenge Once again, our students are participating in the Governor's App Challenge. The Alabama Governor's App Challenge is a statewide computer programming competition for Alabama students. The goal of the Challenge is to allow students to gain recognition for their mastery and application of computer programming and design. Our school-level winners are now in the mix for state-wide recognition. Thank you to Mrs. Misty Waldrop for leading this effort. East Elementary School Olivia Johnson The K-5 winner is Olivia Johnson with her app Animal Functioning Facts. Marika Podnecky The 6-8 winner is Marika Podnecky with her app Cooking Fun. West Elementary School Henry Hackbarth The K-5 winner is Henry Hackbarth with his app American History. John Harding The 6-8 winner is John Harding with his app American Trivia.   School Counseling Month School Counselors Amplify Student Success is the 2026 School Counseling Month theme. In a system full of strong student success, we certainly have our counselors to thank. I encourage everyone to take a moment and reach out to a school guidance counselor with a message of appreciation and gratitude. In the February ALSDE Board of Education meeting, the State Board recognized Cullman City Primary , West Elementary, Cullman Middle and Cullman High Schools' Counseling Programs as 2025 Alabama School Counseling Programs of Distinction.   School Attendance We are in a long stretch of school with no breaks. This stretch of instructional time is vital for us to get ready for the upcoming ACT and ACAP administrations. I strongly encourage our students and families to keep school attendance as a top priority during this pivotal stretch of our school year. Our families have done a tremendous job over the past four years with reducing the chronic absenteeism rates in our school system. This is an area where we want to keep the trend moving downwards. Chronic Absenteeism (18 or more missed days) 2022- 13.78% 2023- 9.72% 2024- 8.33% 2025- 8.27%   Career Technical Education Month Students in Cullman City Schools are earning industry-recognized credentials and gaining real-world skills in high-demand fields such as Animal Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Marketing, Teaching & Training, Food, Wellness & Dietetics and Health Science. These opportunities allow students to graduate with a competitive edge and a clear pathway to the workforce or postsecondary education. Percentages of Cullman High students enrolled in Career Technical Education programs have been strong over the last 4 school years. 2025–2026: 65% 2024–2025: 74% 2023–2024: 68% 2022–2023: 61% Our School Board has made substantial human capital and brick and mortar investments in Career Technical Education over the past four years. For more information on our CTE programs check out the video below.   CCS Job Fair CCS Commitments With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs Tech Check Order Up! Cullman City Serves Up a Five-Star Day of Learning for ALTIC! The ALTIC (Alabama Technology Integration Coaches) cohort recently enjoyed a five-star professional learning experience at Cullman City Schools, where the primary "special" on the menu was serving teachers through innovation and meaningful relationships. The "Now Serving" theme of the February 11th visit emphasized that quality service and relationship-building are the essential ingredients for successfully integrating technology into instructional practices.  From the moment the "Guest Checks" were handed out, it was clear this wouldn't be your typical professional development. Our phenomenal "Servers" for the day, Michael Fowlkes, Misty Waldrop, and Sharon Drake, curated a professional menu designed to nourish the mind and spark classroom innovation. The offerings featured a rich variety of "servings," ranging from MagicSchool Student Rooms and STEM-powered classrooms to a firsthand look at Cullman’s impressive interactive Piano Lab and student-led tech presentations.  The classroom visits allowed the ALTIC group to see the meaningful technology integration that takes place in CCS classrooms each day. Between a delicious lunch sponsored by @MagicSchool and an afternoon focused on Meaningful PD Planning and AI Literacy, the cohort explored how to make professional growth more accessible, engaging, and ongoing for the educators that they SERVE. Cullman City Schools was honored to be a part of the certification journey for the 2025 ALTIC cohort. The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of December is 1) 25% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 32% while expenditures were at 3) 26.25%. Our total net operations were 4) $2.2 M. Total assets were 5) $13.9 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $13.9 M which brings us to 7) 4.00 months of reserves. Next Update: March 2026 Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Saturday, Feb 28 2026

January Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update January 2026 Newsletter Podcast 2026-2027 Cullman City School System Teacher(s) of the Year The Cullman City School System recently named their 2026-2027 Elementary and Secondary Teacher(s) of the Year. Congratulations ladies and thank you for representing your schools, our school system and the Cullman community so well. Elementary - Lacy Cameron (East Elementary) Secondary - Michelle Greenlee (Cullman High) Our two teachers of the year will now submit their applications to the ALSDE by the end of this month and hopefully be selected as one of the 16 finalists for the 26-27 Alabama Teacher of the Year. Thank you to Burke's Florist for providing the beautiful bouquets for our Teachers of the Year.   NBCT The Cullman City School System recognized 5 more teachers who recently achieved National Board Certification (NBCT). Nicole Heptinstall - East Elementary School - Certification in Literacy: Reading-Language Arts-Early and Middle Childhood Loren Heatherly - East Elementary School - Certification in Literacy: Reading-Language Arts-Early and Middle Childhood Hannah Hunt- East Elementary School - Certification in Literacy: Reading-Language Arts-Early and Middle Childhood Tayler Davis - West Elementary School - Certification in Literacy: Reading-Language Arts-Early and Middle Childhood Tasha Meyer - Cullman Middle School -Certification in Library Media Specialist: Early Childhood through Young Adulthood (not in the photo) Included in this picture is Lindsay Brannon, Director of Academic Affairs, who is a NBCT and Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff, who completed the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program in February of 2024. In addition to a $5,000.00 annual supplement from the Alabama State Department, the Cullman City Board of Education offers an additional $5,000.00 for NBCTs. Alabama ranks 7th in the nation for percentage of National Board Certified Teachers (just under 4,000 total teachers). Cullman City is one of four school systems in Alabama to reach the 20% threshold of NBCTs, which is shared with less than 50 school systems nationwide.   Board Appreciation Month In the January meeting of the Board, we celebrated School Board Appreciation month. Each school (principal) presented a token of appreciation to our school board members. The definition of an effective school board is one that functions in a governance role, collaborating with their respective superintendent to craft a vision and goals to guide the superintendent and his/her staff in the effective education of all the system’s students. The Code of Alabama defines a school board as a “legally constituted body” that governs a local school system, promotes student learning, and prepares students to be college and career ready. In the Cullman City School System, we are blessed to have an effective school board, one in which its members function as ⅕ of a whole, and establishes a vision and strategic map to guide the work of the school system employees. Thank you Cullman City School Board for setting the vision, providing the road map and allowing us to do the work to position our school system as one of the top performing systems in Alabama.   Attorney General’s 2025 Safe School Award For the second consecutive year, Cullman City Primary is the recipient of the Alabama Attorney General’s Safe Schools Award. CCPS will join a handful of other schools as recipients of this prestigious honor. In early March, Attorney General Steve Marshall and his team will visit Cullman City Primary to present this award to Dr. Shaddix.   $50,000.00 Grant for Summer Learning (STEM Camp) We were recently notified that we are recipients of a $50,000.00 summer learning grant. These funds will be used to host a summer STEM camp in partnership with the Cullman Parks and Recreation team. A big thank you to Lindsay Brannon, Director of Academic Affairs, for leading grant writing efforts and securing these funds. Back in 2022 we set a vision for STEM Education in the Cullman City Schools System. Vision: Produce graduates prepared for STEM related occupations and/or post-secondary programs of study that will positively contribute to area industry needs. Mission: To immerse students in collaboration, problem solving, reasoning, and higher order thinking skills through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities. Construction Updates Cullman Middle School A huge thank you to our Board and many guests who joined us on January 11th to cut the ribbon on Phase II of CMS.  There are a few punch list items that are ongoing and some fencing being installed that was outside of the original scope of work. In the near future, we will present a plan to the Board of Education on addressing the original CMS gym, built in 1936, and the wings to the original building which were recently vacated by the 7th grade teachers as we prepare to move over 6th grade programs to CMS. CCS Commitments With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs Tech Check Innovation and learning in the classroom begins with the empowerment of our educators. During our January Professional Development day, the Technology Integration team had the privilege of leading several high-impact sessions designed to transform teaching and learning across the district. Teachers learned to use the online training tools for ACTP to ensure students are strategically prepared for upcoming state assessments. They also explored how MagicSchool Student Rooms can provide real-time writing feedback to build confidence in our youngest learners. The team rounded out the day by maximizing the potential of iPad integration, a session that saw immediate results as teachers began implementing these new strategies in their lessons the very next day. CCPS learned how to use Gemini as a teacher. Teachers at West implemented the new tech strategies the next day. The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of November is 1) 16.67% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 15.6% while expenditures were at 3) 18%. Our total net operations were 4) -$1.1 M. Total assets were 5) $10.7 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $10.7 M which brings us to 7) 3.06 months of reserves. Next Update: February 2026 Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Thursday, Jan 29 2026

December Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update December 2025 Newsletter Podcast Congratulations to our 5 Teachers of the Year!   Cheer State Champions Congratulations to our Junior Varsity and Varsity State Champion Cheerleaders and Best of Luck at Nationals in late January! This season has been extraordinary, and each young lady has played an important part in building these teams to state champion caliber cheer squads. We are proud of all of them for their commitment, their drive, and the way they represent Cullman Cheer. A huge thank you to our coaches who sacrifice their personal time to commit to what is essentially a ten-month season from try-outs in late March all the way through Nationals in late January.   Board Approved 2026-2027 Academic Calendar During the December meeting of the Board, the 2026-2027 academic calendar was approved. First Day of School- Tuesday, August 11th Opportunities for Family Vacations without Missing School are… September 7th- Labor Day 3-day Weekend October 9th (½-day) - October 13th- Fall Break Full Week for Thanksgiving Two Full Weeks for Christmas January 18th- MLK Day 3-day Weekend February 15th- Presidents Day 3-day Weekend Late March- Full Week for Spring Break May 7th- Track Day 3-day Weekend Last Day of School- May 27th (11:30 Dismissal)   Cafeterias are Near Perfect on Recent Health Inspections Health inspections were recently conducted in all of our cafeterias. All five kitchens scored a 97 or greater and CHS scored a perfect 100. I want to thank all five of our managers and certainly Mrs. Camille Wiley, our Child Nutrition Program Director.   Levels of Awareness (Safety) For consistency with safety measures, all Alabama Schools operate under the levels of awareness listed below. It is important to know that if a school goes into Heightened Awareness, it does not mean that school is in Lockdown. Actually, by reading the description, many feel that schools should always operate in Heightened Awareness. Take time to review the levels of awareness listed below. Construction Updates CCS Commitments With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs Tech Check 🎄‘Tis the Season for Security 🤖 The smell of gingerbread, the sparkle of lights—it's the most wonderful time of the year! But while we're decking the halls, cyber grinches are busy trying to sneak their way into our digital lives. The holiday season brings a huge surge in phishing scams. These digital criminals use the happy chaos of the season to distract us and trick us into giving up our login credentials. They want to steal your identity and attack your accounts, which is why we're sharing this essential reminder for all our parents, teachers, and community members. The Critical Rule: Keep Personal and Professional Separate Do not use your work or school email address for any personal holiday shopping, package tracking, signing up for store newsletters, or making charitable donations. Why? Maintaining this separation prevents criminals from exploiting your work address to gain access to your sensitive personal and financial details. 🎁 3 Tips to Stop the Scams and Keep Your Identity Safe 🎁 Stay vigilant and check your list twice! Here are the sneakiest scams and what to do about them: 1. Beware of "Unexpected" Delivery Alerts The Scam: You receive an email or text (often on your personal phone or sent to your work email) claiming a package is delayed, requires a small "re-delivery" fee, or needs an urgent address update. The link takes you to a fake website designed to steal your credit card numbers or login credentials. The Action: DO NOT click any link! If you aren't expecting a package, it could be a scam. If it's a personal delivery, go directly to the retailer's or carrier's official website (e.g., Amazon, FedEx, UPS) and manually enter your tracking number there. 2. Verify Any Urgent Requests from "Colleagues" (This tip is especially critical for our teachers and staff!) The Scam: Scammers impersonate co-workers, administrators, or colleagues, urgently asking you to click a link to review a "confidential holiday document" or log into a new system. These links are engineered to steal your login credentials. The Action: Look closely at the sender's address. Does it look slightly off or contain misspelled names or businesses? If you click and are prompted to sign in, always double-check the URL to ensure it is an official, verified sign-in page. 3. Recognize Social Engineering for Financial Gain The Scam: Emails sent to either your work or personal address that ask you to purchase gift cards, send a cryptocurrency payment, or provide personal ID numbers for a "prize" or "charity." These are direct attempts at financial theft. The Action: NEVER provide personal financial details or login information in response to an unsolicited email. If an offer seems unrealistic or requires unusual action (like buying gift cards for the boss), it's a trap. Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably belongs on the Naughty List. Happy Holidays! Stay cyber safe this season! The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of October is 1) 8.33% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 5.5% while expenditures were at 3) 9%. Our total net operations were 4) -$1.5 M. Total assets were 5) $10.2 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $10.2 M which brings us to 7) 2.94 months of reserves. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! My Christmas Wish for You I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. My wish is that our students and employees spend time with their families during this break, get much needed rest and come back ready for an epic 2026. Life is too short and we all stay extremely busy…so when we do get a break, it is important that we spend it with the people we love the most. Next Update: January 2026 Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Wednesday, Dec 17 2025

November Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update November 2025 Newsletter Podcast Staff and Student Spotlight In the November meeting of the Board we recognized Cullman City Primary School employees and a student with two things in common…kindness and caring for others. These are characteristics that help shape the positive school culture at CCPS.   State Report Cards State report cards were released last week. I am pleased to share that the school system received a 96/A, which is the highest grade since the state report cards began in 2018. As a system, we improved in every measurable category from last year’s historic report card. East earned a 99/A, CCPS, CMS & West all earned a 96/A. The high school slipped two points from a 91 to an 89, however they recorded their best Graduation Rate at 97% and College Career Readiness Rate at 96.3%. Academically our system is in very good shape, however we can’t rest on our laurels because we still have margin to improve. With the administrators, teachers and support staff we have in place I have no doubt we will continue to close gaps and maintain our status as one of the best school systems in Alabama. This performance is worth celebrating. I strongly encourage you to text, email or write to a teacher to congratulate them on contributing to a winning team and some of the highest scores ever recorded in the Cullman City Schools.   A+ College Ready School of Excellence Cullman High School has been recognized as an A+ College Ready School of Excellence. This recognition underscores exceptional academic performance, robust leadership, and a steadfast commitment to delivering quality education. It serves as a testament to Cullman High School’s unwavering dedication to providing exemplary instruction, raising instructional rigor, and promoting student success. Cullman High School was one of four high schools in the state to achieve this accolade by surpassing individual teacher goals regarding qualifying scores on the spring 2025 Advanced Placement examinations. Click this link to read more from AL.com.   School Bus Inspection The eleven school buses in our fleet were recently inspected by the Alabama State Department of Education. We are pleased to report that no deficiencies were reported as a result of the inspection. The 2024 state average for deficiencies was 0.9%. We want to thank Mr. Ryan Waters, whom we contract with for school bus maintenance and mechanics, for keeping our buses in shape and safe for our students who take field trips or participate in off-campus extracurricular activities.   Cullman City Schools Construction Updates   With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs   Tech Check Continuing a Tradition: Cullman City Technology Shapes Alabama's DLCS Standards A huge shout-out to our very own Misty Waldrop, Technology Integration Coach, and Anna Anderson, CCPS STEM Teacher, for their exceptional work serving on the DLCS (Digital Literacy and Computer Science) Task Force Committee! Together, they played a crucial role in representing both Cullman City School District and educators statewide on the new standards. For over a year, Misty and Anna dedicated their time serving on the task force committee to enhancing and refining the DLCS curriculum standards, ensuring our students are getting the cutting-edge education they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world. On November 13, 2025, Misty Waldrop presented the framework proposal at the Alabama State Department of Education meeting to Board Members and State Superintendent, Dr. Eric Mackey. Misty and Anna's achievement and role with DLCS echoes a fantastic history within our technology team! Seven years ago, Aimee Bates, Assistant Principal of Cullman High School and former technology team member, also served on this very same task force that established the state's original curricula. This incredible coincidence highlights a powerful trend: for years, our team has been deeply dedicated to improving educational technology for the entire state of Alabama!    The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of September is 1) 100% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 104% while expenditures were at 3) 101%. Our total net operations were 4) -$2.0 M. Total assets were 5) $11.8 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $11.8 M which brings us to 7) 3.24 months of reserves.   Happy Thanksgiving Our students and most employees are out of school and work during the week of Thanksgiving. I hope everyone takes a moment to reflect on what he or she is thankful for. After my religious freedoms, spiritual beliefs and love for my family it is my profession for which I am thankful. I am extremely grateful for the 3,200 students we have an opportunity to influence, teach and guide. I am indebted to the employees with which I am able to serve and lead. Finally, I am thankful for our Cullman City School System families and stakeholders who provide the support and resources our students and employees need to be successful. Happy Thanksgiving, Bearcats! Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Thursday, Nov 20 2025

October Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update October 2025 Newsletter Podcast Staff and Student Spotlight At the October Board Meeting, we recognized employees and students from Cullman Middle School. The recognitions included Mrs. Kylie Bates for her outstanding contributions as an 8th grade math teacher, Mrs. Jana Grimes for her dedication as an instructional assistant in our special needs classroom, and 8th grade student, Bella Moore, for her leadership, kindness and positivity. The CMS FFA program, under the leadership of Mr. Lucas McCollum, was recognized for earning the prestigious Gold Chapter Award at the state level as well as the 3-Star National Chapter Award. Congratulations to Will Cupp, Parker Morrison, Kole Nalley, Owen Murphy, and Elijah Dingler for this outstanding achievement!   Attendance Awareness September was a crucial month in terms of student attendance rates and its impact on funding for the following school year. The ALSDE uses the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) rates for the 20 days after Labor Day in their funding formula for the next school year. Our students had great attendance in September. The school with the best September ADA was Cullman Middle School at 97.4%. The grade-level with the best September ADA was 5th grade at West Elementary School at 98%. Thank you teachers for making your classrooms and lessons engaging and thank you parents and families for making school a priority.   Employee Incentive Resolution Last month, we closed our fiscal year meeting the expected three months of reserve and certainly far ahead of the state required one month reserve. Unfortunately, this school year is the first in a few years where our employees were not granted a state raise by the Alabama Legislature and Governor. Taking this into consideration, the Cullman City Board of Education has approved a resolution to provide one-time incentive payments to all employees, recognizing their continued commitment, dedication, and exemplary service to the students of Cullman City Schools. The approved incentive provides all full-time employees with a one-time payment of $1,000 and all part-time employees with a one-time payment of $500. These payments will be included in the November payroll, arriving just in time for the holiday season. The incentive resolution serves as a fitting conclusion to the outgoing Board’s tenure, one defined by strong financial stewardship, employee support, and a clear commitment to the success of Cullman City Schools. Thank you to our Chief School Financial Officer, James Brumley, for finding the $475,000.00 needed to fund this incentive, and thank you to our Board of Education for pushing us to make this happen before the Christmas break.   Two New Policies Adopted 1) Vape Awareness, Education and Prevention Program Policy - In the 2025 Legislative Session, a law was passed mandating each school system to implement a Vape Awareness Policy which includes a process for reporting vaping on campus and an awareness/prevention program. 2) Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy - this policy simply says that our school system acknowledges the use of AI in our schools. We understand AI may be used to improve learning outcomes, personalize instruction, and provide access to a broad range of educational resources. However, the school board also recognizes the potential risks of using generative AI, such as inherent bias, plagiarism, or the impact its unguided use might have on the development of students. The policy allows for the superintendent to develop appropriate guidelines, safeguards and guardrails for the use of AI. The Cullman City Schools award-winning Technology Department will take the lead on the guidelines, which will be incorporated into the student code of conduct.   Sixth Grade Move Put On Hold The decision has been made not to move sixth grade from East and West to CMS this school year. Our hopes were that we could make the sixth grade transition to CMS during the Christmas break and give our employees and families a two-month notice to prepare. However, we are not completely convinced that First Team Construction will be able to hand over the keys to the second and final phase of this project in enough time to make this move as seamless as possible. Once the second phase of the project is complete, current teachers and programs at Cullman Middle School will make internal moves to fully occupy both phases of the new facility.  When we return from Christmas break, it’s important that we do not disrupt the flow of school; our students and teachers are focused on mastering essential standards needed for high-stakes testing, and maintaining consistency for them is imperative. On behalf of the Cullman City Board of Education, we extend our appreciation for the patience and understanding of families and staff as the district completes this significant multi-phase construction project. We apologize for any inconveniences this delay may cause, but we feel it is important to move only when we can guarantee construction is concluded. Current sixth grade students at East and West will be able to enjoy both phases of the new middle school when they move to CMS in August of 2026. Next year, our current fifth grade students will become the first sixth grade class to walk the halls of Cullman Middle School in nearly 20 years.   Board of Education The October meeting of the Board was the last meeting for Board members Jason Neal, Chris Branham and Amy Carter. We appreciate their willingness to serve the Cullman community and the students of the Cullman City School System. These three were part of a board that laid a foundation for systemic change that will drive the progress of our school system for many years to come.   Cullman City Schools Construction Updates Cullman Middle School Phase II High School CTE/STEM Wing   With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs   Tech Check Congratulations to our own, Misty Waldrop, Technology Integration Specialist, for recently being awarded the 2025 Emerging Leader Award!  Cullman City School District is thrilled to honor Misty Waldrop for earning the 2025 Emerging Leader Award! This award, given by the Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology (ALET), recognizes an "up and coming" member whose dedication, creativity, and support create a significant impact on teaching and learning with technology—and Misty is the perfect example. Her “Engage, Educate, Empower” approach supports teachers, parents, and even the local community members, demonstrating incredible educational technology leadership qualities. Misty is a team player who inspires growth and turns vision into results. We are incredibly proud to have her dedication and vision at Cullman City School District!    The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of August is 1) 92% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 95% while expenditures were at 3) 90%. Our total net operations were 4) -$1.1 M. Total assets were 5) $12.7 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $12.7 M which brings us to 7) 3.55 months of reserves.   Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Thursday, Oct 23 2025

September Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update September 2025 Newsletter Podcast Attendance Spotlight Did you know that September is Attendance Awareness month in our schools?  Here are some national statistics in relation to the importance of school attendance. As many as 7.5 million students nationwide miss 10 percent of the school year with excused and unexcused absences every year. That’s 135 million days of school. Research shows missing 10 percent of school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects students’ academic performance – this can be as little as just two days a month. The academic impact of missing school is the same whether the absences are excused or unexcused. Over 8 million U.S. students miss nearly a month of school each year. Absenteeism and its ill effects can start early. Nationally, 1 in 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent. Poor attendance can influence whether children are reading proficiently by the end of third grade. By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator if students may eventually drop out of high school. In Cullman City, we started the school year with exceptional attendance rates. The grade-levels with the best attendance rates in August for each school are indicated in the table below. A huge thank you to our parents for making school attendance a priority and our teachers for making their classrooms, lessons, activities and instruction engaging and fun.   Capital Plan In the September meeting of the board, the 2025-2026 Capital Plan was approved. The number one priority on the plan is fixing the sinkhole on the CHS Baseball field (more details below). From there, the priority will be completing the CMS and CHS projects and continuation of the CIS project. Sprinkled in the plan are smaller projects submitted by each school that can be addressed if funds are available.   Safety and Growth Plan Construction continues across our school system as we make our campuses safer and prepare for growth in our city and surrounding area. Thank you to our students, employees and families for patience as we invest in our future.   STEM Day at Cullman City Primary Another successful STEM day at Cullman City Primary School. Thank you to STEM Teacher, Anna Anderson, and the faculty and staff across our system who made this a special event. Also, thank you to the many parents and community partners who helped provide STEM exposure and exploration to our youngest Bearcats. STEM activities and events support our mission to immerse students in collaboration, problem solving, reasoning, and higher order thinking skills through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics activities.   Sheriff’s Office Donation A big thank you to Sheriff Matt Gentry and the Cullman County Sheriff's Office for the recent donation for our special needs programs. Our special education department will use this donation to support independent living activities and lessons. Our teachers and instructional assistants do an exceptional job providing real life experiences to our students with special needs in an effort to prepare them for the goal of independent adult living.   Cullman City Schools Construction Updates Cullman Middle School Phase II Cullman Intermediate School Current West Elementary School Campus High School CTE/STEM Wing Baseball Field We have a sinkhole on the baseball field near the dugout on the first base line. We have already spent just over $10,000.00 trying to fix it with some of our local partners, but unfortunately they were not able to reach the impacted area. There is a vertical pipe that was installed with the field turf project in 2018/2019 that connects with a horizontal pipe that was installed over 50 years ago. The connection is approximately 15 feet deep and was installed poorly by the subcontractor during the baseball field turf project over 6 years ago. Because of the complexity of this issue, the Board declared it as an emergency project at our September 11th meeting. By doing so, we can contract with an architect immediately and bypass the process of  multiple weeks of state approvals. The approved architect will develop a scope of work and secure three bids to fix the problem. Again, by doing this we save several months that would have been tied up with the Division of Construction Management and the advertisement and bid process which is generally required by law. Our goal and plan is to get this fixed before baseball season starts. Effective immediately, the Cullman High baseball field will be off limits until further notice.   With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs   Tech Check This month our Tech Integration Specialists, Misty Waldrop and Sharon Drake, had the opportunity to lead a station at the CCPS STEM day that took place on September 12th. They led an unplugged coding station that covered key Digital Literacy and Computer Science standards. The fun and interactive activities provided students the opportunity to exercise and grow their computational thinking skills. These activities directly align with our district's goal of preparing students for a technology-driven future. The technology department was excited to collaborate with the dedicated STEM team at the primary school to facilitate a wonderful day of learning for our students.   The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of July is 1) 83% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 87% while expenditures were at 3) 82%. Our total net operations were 4) -$459k. Total assets were 5) $13.4 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $13.4 M which brings us to 7) 3.74 months of reserves.   Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Wednesday, Sep 24 2025

August Superintendent Newsletter

CCS System Update August 2025 Newsletter Podcast Smooth Start to the 25-26 School Year We are off to an incredibly smooth start to the 2025-2026 school year. This smooth start is not by chance or by luck…but instead it is a testament to the preparation put forth by our employees, the resilience of our students and the ongoing partnership from our families.  Read about our smooth start in this article by The Cullman Tribune. The Cullman City Schools System welcomed back approximately 3,200 students on Wednesday, August 6th with smiles, encouragement, and high expectations for continued success. The two largest grade-levels this year are 8th with 266 students and 10th with 256 students. The average across all grade-levels is 238 students per level.   Teacher Institute All employees gathered on August 4th to begin the new academic year. Several departments, grade-levels and teachers were presented with “Mover and Shaker” awards for 2024-2025 statistical accomplishments. To cap off the event, we were inspired by our guest speaker, Timothy Alexander, who taught us that we don’t need it to be easy. We just need it to be possible. Thank you, TA, for a great start to our school year! Thank you to AmFirst for sponsoring breakfast at Teacher Institute! We are so thankful for all you do for Cullman City Schools!   School Board Recognition Congratulations to Board Members Chris Branham, Cheryl Harrison, Amy Carter, Jill Bradberry and Jason Neal (not in photo), who met the 24-25 school year training requirements of the School Board Governance Improvement Act of 2012. In the August Board meeting they were presented with a certificate from the Alabama Association of School Boards. This 2012 Act was established to enhance the effectiveness of public education governance in Alabama by establishing training requirements, stewardship standards, and accountability measures for local school boards. This law establishes the School Board's role as governance, providing the vision for the school system and its students, and ensuring that system personnel have the resources they need to achieve that vision.   Test Scores Are Released Congratulations to the students, teachers and families for their outstanding academic performances last school year. Collectively, the Cullman City School System remains one of the top academic school systems in Alabama. Out of the 138 school systems and 11 operating charter schools, here is how we ranked:   Cullman City Schools Construction Updates Construction continues at Cullman Middle, Cullman High and West Elementary as the school system is in the middle of a safety and growth campaign to prepare for inevitable growth and ensure our campuses are safe learning spaces for our students and employees. As evidenced in this 10 year school revenue (property tax) chart, now is the time to address safety and growth for today’s students and the future students of the Cullman City School System. Cullman Middle School Phase 2 Roof shingle installation continues and weather permitting it will be complete by the last week of August. Brick install also continues and all brick should be complete by the end of August as well. Block fill, paint, duct work, wiring and trim work is taking place on all three levels inside of phase two. Up next will be the delivery and installation of casework, flooring, the elevator, more concrete and asphalt work and the landscaping. Cullman Intermediate School Wyatt Construction and their crew worked 12 hour days for the 14 days leading up to school starting preparing the interior renovations on the third grade hall at West. Those students and teachers returned to updated floors, fixtures, lighting, bookshelves, whiteboards, cork boards, painted walls and casework in their classrooms.  A huge thank you to Hayden Faulk and his team for their support at West this summer making sure that campus was ready for students on August 6th. Now the focus has shifted back outside on the construction of the gym/storm shelter and the main building. An area of immediate focus is a temporary walkway and covered shelter between the STEM lab/library hall and the existing gym. High School CTE/STEM Wing Eidson & Associates continues to stay on schedule with our Career Technical Education/STEM wing and should be completed by the end of the 25-26 school year.   School Resource Officers Over the summer, the Cullman City School Board partnered with the Cullman City Council to ink an agreement for School Resource Officers. Now, each campus has two dedicated SRO’s who will work with administrators and staff with safety being the number one priority. I am grateful for the collaboration between key stakeholders and the strong working relationship with Mayor Jacobs and the City Council. The Cullman City Board of Education and the Cullman City Council work hand in hand to keep our students safe and provide our schools with the resources to sustain excellence.   United Way Donation We recently received a monetary donation from United Way of Cullman County for school supplies. We are so grateful for the partnership and many of our students will benefit from this generosity.   With the recent passing of the CHOOSE Act, it is important to remember why the Cullman City School System remains the best choice for the best education! Here are five quick reminders… Literacy Act In May of 2019, the Alabama Literacy Act was enacted. The Alabama Literacy Act was established to improve the reading proficiency of public school kindergarten through 3rd grade students and ensure that those students are able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade. One requirement is for 3rd grade students who are not reading at grade-level, as indicated on the ACAP, to be retained in third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers will provide parents feedback on how their children are progressing in reading using benchmark tools like DIBELS and iReady. Third grade students who do not meet the score on ACAP will be required to attend a mandatory summer reading camp in June. At the conclusion of the reading camp the identified students will have one more opportunity to take the ACAP and show that they are reading at a third grade level or above. The third grade teachers at both East and West are very strong and receive tremendous support, however it is going to take a team (teacher, parent and student) to reach the 100% threshold. Strategic Commitments Below are some of the highlights from the six broad areas of the Cullman City Board of Education's Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). 1.Student Support and Safety Safe learning environments Access to related services Increase modes of communication 2.Technology Enhancing devices and connectivity Safe and secure networks Professional development and support 3.Curriculum and Assessment Rigor, critical thinking, and creativity Alignment of assessments intended outcomes More academic and extracurricular opportunities 4.Employees Consistent expectations from campus to campus Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills Seek the best educators 5.Finance and Resources Financial transparency Increase community and industry partnerships Budget for the Board’s vision 6.Facilities Clean learning environments on all campuses Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5) Expand preschool programs   Tech Check The Tech Department has been busy with the launch of the new school year. Our Technicians have worked to make sure all devices are ready for teacher and student use to allow for a seamless transition for a great 2025 - 2026. Our Tech Integration Specialists have spent time training new teachers, assisting teachers across our campuses with the set-up of Schoology and PowerSchool, implementing the technology piece of new curriculum programs, meeting with PTOs about ParentSquare, and much more. This time of year, in particular, is extremely busy but allows us to practice the most important part of our job: Service! We are here to help our teachers, students and parents experience success in teaching and learning. Go Bearcats!   The Bottom Line News from the CFO Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here. The month of June is 1) 75% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 80% while expenditures were at 3) 70.5%. Our total net operations were 4) $1.6 M. Total assets were 5) $15.5 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $15.5 M which brings us to 7) 4.32 months of reserves.   Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Thursday, Aug 21 2025

FOCUS Act (Cell Phone) Policy Update

FOCUS Act Important Information from Superintendent Kallhoff July 1, 2025 Parents and Guardians, During the 2025 Alabama legislative session, lawmakers passed ACT #2025-386 also known as the FOCUS Act which was signed into law by Governor Ivey on May 14th. FOCUS is an acronym for Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens and the law requires full implementation for the 2025-2026 school year. As required by this law, the Cullman City Board of Education recently passed a policy to help ensure compliance with the FOCUS Act (Policy 6.21 Personal Mobile Communication Device). The FOCUS Act prohibits the use, operation, and possession of wireless communication devices by students in elementary and secondary school buildings and on school grounds during the instructional day, unless specifically permitted for educational purposes, individualized accommodation plans, or emergencies.  If a wireless communication device is possessed, it must be turned off and stored off of the student's person (e.g., in a purse, book bag, locker, car, or similar storage) during the instructional day. Wireless communication device is defined as any device that can send or receive messages, make calls, record, photograph, access the internet, or otherwise communicate wirelessly. This includes, but is not limited to:  ● Cell phones  ● Smartwatches  ● Tablets  ● Earbuds or wireless headphones  ● Any similar devices The Instructional Day is defined as the period of time school is open for an academic day. This is generally from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (or from the first bell to the last bell of a school day). Instructional Day also includes class transitions, lunch, and any other non instructional time during the school day. The abovementioned exceptions to the FOCUS Act are defined as follows: Use, operation, or possession is for educational or learning purposes under the supervision of local board of education personnel. District-owned and managed wireless communication devices, (e.g., Chromebooks, iPads, Desktops, Laptops, and other devices purchased by Cullman City Schools) that are used to support instruction and are monitored for age appropriate content and the safety of the student.  Use, operation, or possession is permitted if specified in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Accommodation Plan, Section 504 plan, or Individualized Health Plan. Use, operation, or possession is permitted during emergencies threatening the life or safety of the student or another person. This new legislation also requires that schools outline consequences for students who violate the FOCUS Act. In Cullman City Schools, wireless communication devices will be confiscated for the remainder of the day and the student and/or parent/guardian will be required to pick up the device at the end of the instructional day (depending on which offence and the age of the child). In addition to the confiscation of the wireless device, progressive disciplinary action may be assigned at the discretion of the principal or designee. Again, the progressive disciplinary action will depend on which offence and age of the student. For more information on this new law and local policy, you can refer to the Cullman City School System Code of Conduct (Revised June 2025) or contact an administrator at your child’s school(s). We thank you in advance for helping us comply with and adjust to this new legislation that will be impacting our schools.  Sincerely, Kyle Kallhoff Superintendent of Education   FOCUS Act Policy Q and A What is the FOCUS Act Policy and Plan? Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety (FOCUS) Act. This Alabama law, effective immediately, prohibits the use, operation, and possession of wireless communication devices (WCD) by students in elementary and secondary school buildings and on school grounds during the instructional day, unless specifically permitted for educational purposes, individualized accommodation plans, or emergencies. What is a wireless communication device? Defined as any device that can send or receive messages, make calls, record, photograph, access the internet, or otherwise communicate wirelessly. This includes, but is not limited to:  ● Cell phones  ● Smartwatches  ● Tablets  ● Earbuds or wireless headphones  ● Any similar devices How is the Instructional Day defined? The Instructional Day is defined as the period of time school is open for an academic day. This is generally from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (or from the first bell to the last bell of a school day). Instructional Day also includes class transitions, lunch, and any other non- instructional time during the school day. Where can a student keep their wireless communication device? If a wireless communication device is possessed, it must be turned off and stored off of the student's person (e.g., in a purse, bookbag, locker, car, or similar storage) during the instructional day. Does the law provide for exceptions? Yes… Use, operation, or possession is for educational or learning purposes under the supervision of local board of education personnel. District-owned and managed wireless communication devices, (e.g., Chromebooks, iPads, Desktops, Laptops, and other devices purchased by Cullman City Schools) that are used to support instruction and are monitored for age appropriate content and the safety of the student.  Use, operation, or possession is permitted if specified in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Accommodation Plan, Section 504 plan, or Individualized Health Plan.  Use, operation, or possession is permitted during emergencies threatening the life or safety of the student or another person. What are the consequences if caught with a WCD? In Cullman City Schools, wireless communication devices will be confiscated for the remainder of the day and the student and/or parent/guardian will be required to pick up the device at the end of the instructional day (depending on which offence and the age of the child).  In addition to the confiscation of the wireless device, progressive disciplinary action may be assigned at the discretion of the principal or designee. Again, the progressive disciplinary action will depend on which offence and age of the student.   Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent Email: kkallhoff@cullmancats.net Website: https://www.cullmancats.net/ Location: 301 1st Street Northeast, Cullman, AL, USA Phone: (256)734-2233 Twitter: @kkallhoff

Tuesday, Jul 01 2025