December 2024 Superintendent Newsletter

​ ​ CCS System Update December 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Teachers of The Year ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Each of the five schools recently recognized their 2025-2026 Teacher of The Year. In January, we will recognize an Elementary TOY (K-5) and a Secondary TOY (6-12) for our school system. These two finalists will be in the running for the Alabama Teacher of the Year which will be announced later this spring. Each of our five school-based winners will receive a $1,000.00 incentive from the Cullman City Board of Education. Congratulations to all five of these amazing educators! Keli Thrasher, Cullman City Primary School April Dean, East Elementary School Meaghan Britton, West Elementary School Michael Crocker, Cullman Middle School Caroline Lunsford, Cullman High School ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you, AmFirst! ​ A huge thank you to AmFirst for their support of Cullman City Schools. Throughout the school year, AmFirst presents gift cards to Teacher of the Month, Support Staff of the Month, and all five Teachers of the Year. We are so blessed to have such a generous sponsor for our educators! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Interim Athletic Director ​ In the December meeting of the Board, Coach Mike Dean was named the Interim Athletic Director. Coach Dean is a retired coach who spent most of his career as a Bearcat. He will serve the school system for the remainder of this school year as the administration and board search for a permanent Athletic Director to replace the retiring Mark Stephens. Coach Dean will work closely with the CHS administration and head coaches while striving for integrity, strong character, equitable services and student centered athletic programs in the Cullman City Schools.  The Board advertised a vacancy for the permanent Athletic Director and hopes to fill this position by the conclusion of the 24-25 school year.  ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Safety and Growth Plan Update ​ Work resumes at Cullman Middle as phase two continues to progress. Vertical blocks, core slabs and cement trucks are evident daily at CMS. Ideally, we will have a string of good weather days over the break and come back to school with a frame and roof on phase two. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ On December 18th, we had our pre-construction meeting with Wyatt for the CIS project and Eidson for the CHS project. These meetings are conducted by the state inspector, who establishes the non-negotiables in relation to student and staff safety, subcontractor safety and expectations as well as materials delivery parameters to avoid school traffic.   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ U.S. Department of Education ​ Many people have asked me what we can expect at the federal-level in relation to public education under the incoming Trump administration. Here is an article from District Administration highlighting a few possible initiatives and providing more on the background of the new Secretary of Education. At the national level, we can expect more emphasis on school choice options in America as well as more parent input in curriculum and content in our schools. We should also see more state control of education and less federal oversight. Just last year, the Alabama Legislature passed laws in relation to expanding school choice in the Yellowhammer state as well as curriculum transparency for parents and stakeholders. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ CCPS Named One of the Safest Schools in Alabama ​ Cullman City Primary School was recently honored with the Alabama Attorney General 2024 Safe Schools Initiative Award. CCPS is one of six schools in Alabama to receive this prestigious honor. The Cullman City Board of Education has made numerous investments in our schools to make sure we are providing our students with a safe learning environment. The students, faculty and administrators at CCPS do an exceptional job placing student safety as the number one priority all 180 days of the school year. In the coming months, there will be a celebration at CCPS, where Alabama’s Attorney General, Steve Marshall, will present the CCPS family this distinguished award. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 2024 ​ As we prepare to close the 2024 calendar year, it is important to reflect on what a great year we had in the Cullman City School System. Events like the snow break in January, award winning performances by the CHS band and theater programs, another trip to the sweet 16 by the Bearcat Basketball team, a valedictorian who received a full ride to an Ivy League College, another year of top 5 and 10 ACAP scores in Alabama, a National Blue Ribbon School, opening a new playground at CCPS and a new Soccer Complex at CHS, all A’s on the state report card, a historic season for the CHS Volleycats, and funding and contracts approved for the Cullman Intermediate School project and the CHS Career Technical Education/STEM wing. What a year 2024 was! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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. This school year is the second year the requirements of the Act will be fully implemented. 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 ​ Recently, the Cullman City Board of Education approved the new Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). Some of the highlights from the six broad areas include: 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 ​ Stay Safe This Holiday Season: Beware of Phishing Scams ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The holiday season is here, and while it’s a time for joy and generosity, it’s also prime time for cybercriminals looking to take advantage of busy, distracted shoppers. Phishing email scams and fraudulent activities spike during the holidays, making it more important than ever to stay vigilant. One of the most common scams to watch out for is fake shipping notifications. As you eagerly await your online purchases, you might receive texts or emails claiming to provide updates on your delivery. These messages often contain links that, when clicked, install spyware or steal your personal information. Legitimate delivery services will not ask you to confirm personal details or payment information via text. Here are a few tips to protect yourself: Think Before You Click: Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s website or the shipping company’s tracking portal. Verify the Source: Check for spelling errors or odd email addresses that might indicate a fraudulent sender. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions. Be Wary of Holiday Deals That Seem Too Good to Be True: Scammers often create fake websites or ads offering massive discounts to steal your payment information. Stick to reputable retailers and verify the website’s legitimacy before making a purchase. Educate Family Members: Talk to your loved ones about common holiday scams, especially elderly relatives who may be more vulnerable to fraud. This holiday season, stay one step ahead of scammers. Protect your personal and financial information so you can focus on what truly matters—spending time with loved ones and celebrating the season. Michael Fowlkes District Technology Coordinator Cullman City Schools ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Governor's App Challenge Assistance ​ Each year students from across the state of Alabama have an opportunity to participate 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 more students to gain recognition for their mastery and application of computer programming and design. At the elementary level, the Cullman City Schools librarians and the technology integration specialist collaborate to give our elementary students the opportunity to participate. As part of the challenge, students are selected to develop their app ideas in the App Lab in code.org. Over the past several weeks, Misty Waldrop has been meeting with students to provide instruction and assistance. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The students are working hard to complete their apps by January 13th in order to be a part of the judging process. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Last year Avery Maples from West Elementary placed third at the state level. We are looking forward to seeing some great apps this year! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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) 4.75% while expenditures were at 3) 9.02%. Our total net operations were 4) -$1.95 M. Total assets were 5) $12.2 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $11.9 M which brings us to 7) 3.39 months of reserves. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Merry Christmas ​ I hope all of Bearcat Nation has a safe and restful holiday season with family and ones you love. After a two week break, employees will return on Friday, January 3rd and our 3,200 students are expected back to school on Monday, January 6th. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Go Bearcats! ​ ​ ​ ​ Next Update: January 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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, Dec 19 2024

November 2024 Superintendent Newsletter

​ ​ CCS System Update November 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Construction Update ​ ​ ​ ​ CMS (Phase Two) ​ Masonry crews continue to work vertically one block at a time. The core slabs will be installed over the Thanksgiving break, which will allow the second floor work to take place. Electricians are pulling wire and the site work on the southwest side of the construction continues to take shape.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ CIS and CHS CTE/STEM ​ We are in a holding pattern as we wait for the construction contracts to be reviewed and approved by the State. We are scheduled to have a coordination meeting with Wyatt Builds, Lathan and the City of Cullman in the near future. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Athletic Director, Transportation and Student Safety ​ Mark Stephens recently announced his retirement from Cullman City Schools. Mark has been a great leader in this school system for many years and has served our students, coaches, programs and community well. We appreciate his service and he will be missed. As far as his duties, we will seek an interim AD to finish the school year, Mr. Duke will pick up the transportation responsibilities for the remainder of the school year and I will handle the student safety responsibilities. As a reminder, under Alabama Act 2024-356 (School Security Program) each district should designate an employee in the central office as the district safety coordinator. I will work with the Board and Mrs. Tuggle to gather input from stakeholders as we determine how we want to move forward with the responsibilities of A.D. Ideally, by late spring/early summer we will have a permanent solution for the A.D. responsibilities. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Celebrating East Elementary ​ In early November at a ceremony in Washington D.C., East and the other 4 Alabama National Blue Ribbon schools were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ On November 14th, East was celebrated by the Alabama State Board of Education in Montgomery. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Annual Bus Inspection ​ Our 10 activity buses were recently inspected by the State Department of Education. None of our buses were found to have any deficiencies and we received a clean annual inspection report. Since 2021, we have replaced six of our older model buses with brand new buses. Our two oldest buses are 06 and 08 models and by this time next year, we plan on replacing them with brand new buses as well. We appreciate our contracted bus mechanic, Mr. Ryan Waters, who keeps our Bearcats safe while being transported to various extracurricular activities. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ State Report Card ​ Great news!  The Alabama State Report Card was released for public consumption on November 22nd. I am excited to report that the Cullman City Schools have all A's again and three of our schools have the highest grade they've  ever received since the state reports cards were reported. Below is a chart that shows a brief state report card history. It is a great time to be a Bearcat! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We are very fortunate to have the teachers we have in our system! It is also worth noting that the same academic year in which we had the highest grades, we also had the highest special education rate at 13.79% and the highest poverty rate at 40.36%. Our educators do not make excuses and produce unbelievable results! The following criteria are taken into account when calculating the state report cards: Academic Achievement, Academic Growth, Graduation Rate, College and Career Readiness Rate, Chronic Absenteeism and Progress in English Language Proficiency. For 2024, students at Cullman High School achieved an all-time high in the College and Career Readiness Indicator of 95.2 percent. For the sake of comparison, that indicator has increased from 88.48 percent in 2018. The college and career readiness rate reflects a school’s success in preparing students for life after graduation. The higher the score, the more students are ready for college, careers, or other opportunities, setting them up for success in the future.  The state of Alabama sets chronic absenteeism at 18 days. This means students can miss up to 10 percent of the school year for excused and unexcused reasons. If they miss more than 18 days they are considered chronically absent. This area counts for 10% of the report card grade. This is an area that is difficult for schools to control because in most cases attendance starts at home. However, as you can see in the table below, our chronic absenteeism rates have been trending in the right (downward) direction over the last three years. This reduction in chronic absenteeism has everything to do with our great families and motivated students. When you dive deeper into the report card data there is a direct correlation between the reduction in absenteeism and the increase in student achievement. Thank you parents and stakeholders for partnering with us to make school attendance a priority.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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. This school year is the second year the requirements of the Act will be fully implemented. 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 ​ Recently, the Cullman City Board of Education approved the new Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). Some of the highlights from the six broad areas include: 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 ​ Our technicians have been busy rolling out new devices to our teachers. Teachers at EES, WES, and CMS have received their new laptops. The process is also underway at CHS. The Tech Department used our ParentSquare Communication platform to set up appointments for teachers to receive their new laptop. ParentSquare has an "appointment sign-up" feature which allows all of our teachers to sign-up for a time that works best for them. This improves the efficiency of the process, as well as providing information about who has received a new device. We are so excited to be using ParentSquare as our communication platform. All of CCS uses ParentSquare as the communication tool for classes, groups, and clubs. Please take time to activate your account and download the app, so that you receive all communication. You can contact the Technology Department if you need a registration invite by emailing mwaldrop@cullmancats.net In other news, CCS hosted a FinalSite (our website platform) Users Group at CHS. We had individuals from all across the state attend. Speakers provided insight into their best practices for website design, as well as tips and tricks that can improve the impact of a school system's websites.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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) 111% while expenditures were at 3) 101.8%. Our total net operations were 4) $2.6 M. Total assets were 5) $14.2 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $13.9 M which brings us to 7) 4.18 months of reserves. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Happy Thanksgiving ​ Students and almost all employees will be off for Thanksgiving during the week of November 25th - 29th. When we return on December 2nd, we will have 3 full weeks of school until we are halfway finished with the 2024-2025 school year. I hope everyone has a wonderful but restful Thanksgiving surrounded by family and people you love. We have so much for which to be thankful as we embark on this holiday season. I am thankful to work in a community who values education, to work alongside educators who are committed to the students we serve, and most importantly to have an opportunity to serve 3,200 students who will shape the future for Cullman, Alabama and America. ​ ​ ​ ​ Next Update: December 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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 ​ ​ ​

Friday, Nov 22 2024

CCS System Update (October 2024)

​ ​ CCS System Update October 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Safety and Growth Plan Update ​ ​ ​ ​ CMS Project ​ The final phase of the new construction is starting to emerge from the ground. Plumbing and electrical rough-ins are completed, the interior slab is in progress, and the steel beams are not too far behind. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ There is also work taking place on the drive and parking from phase two of the project, although this drive and parking will not be available for public use until the project is completed. However, the sidewalks on 2nd and Oak streets will be available for public use as soon as they are completed. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Cullman Intermediate School (CIS) and CHS Career Tech/STEM Wing Bids ​ We recently opened sealed bids on both of these projects. The Board approved these projects to the lowest responsible bidder. CIS was awarded to Wyatt Builds out of Birmingham. Wyatt Builds is a reputable company that has experience building schools and a great working relationship with our Board Architect, Lathan and Associates. Eidson Construction, from right here in Cullman, Alabama, won the bid on the CHS Career Tech/STEM Wing. Just like Wyatt, Eidson is a reputable company that has a great working relationship with our Board Architect, Lathan and Associates. We are excited to have a local construction company win one of our projects as well as the many local subcontractors working with Eidson Construction.  The Cullman Intermediate School Bid was approved at just under $24,000,000.00 The CHS Career Tech/STEM Wing was approved at just under $10,000,000.00 We are thrilled about breaking ground on both of these projects early in 2025. For more information, click here.  ​ ​ ​ ​ Fiber Bid ​ We are in the process of updating and relocating Fiber Optic wiring from the Board of Education to Cullman Middle, Cullman High and Cullman City Primary. The lowest responsible bidder for this project is S & G Waldrop Electric. This bid came in at $183,000.00 and we anticipate work to begin in early 2025. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ No School on Monday, November 11th in Honor of our Veterans ​ As we gear up for the holiday season, let's slow down to honor our veterans as Veteran’s Day is Monday, November 11th. Join me on Saturday, November 2nd by attending the Cullman Veterans Day Program at the Cullman Airport. $2,000.00 will be awarded to the school with the most students and family members who attend! Students must check in at the Elks Information tent. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Reconstitution of the Board ​ Each October, the Cullman City Board of Education is tasked with reconstituting the president and vice president of the Board. The board recently selected Amy Carter to serve as its president and Jill Bradberry to assume the vice president position. Both of these Board Members are dedicated to serving our students, employees and community. Click here to learn more. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you to Cheryl Harrision who served two consecutive years as the president of the Cullman City School Board. In her two years as president, we hired a principal at East Elementary, cut the ribbon on several capital projects and approved our Strategic Plan/Pillars of Commitment.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ New Diploma Endorsements ​ In the October meeting of the Board, 4 diploma endorsements were approved by the Board of Education. The Cullman City School Board and School System takes pride in offering options and opportunities for all 3,200 students served. Below is a list of the approved endorsements. ​ ​ ​ ​ Cullman City Advanced Academic Endorsement Must meet all requirements for an Alabama diploma 3.5 weighted GPA or higher One World Language or Fine Arts credit One of the following math credits: Precalculus, AP Precalculus, AP Statistics, or AP Calculus AB Two Advanced Placement credits Cullman City Seal of Academic Distinction Must meet all requirements for an Alabama diploma 3.85 weighted GPA or higher Two World Language (of the same language) credits or two Fine Arts credits  One of the following math credits: Precalculus, AP Precalculus, AP Statistics, or AP Calculus AB Four Advanced Placement credits Cullman City Workforce Pathway Seal Must meet all requirements for an Alabama diploma Four or more credits have been earned in an approved CTE program of study Cullman City Seal of Biliteracy  Must meet all requirements for an Alabama diploma Proof of English proficiency via successful completion of Alabama State requirements Proof of World Language proficiency via a benchmark score on an approved assessment ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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. This school year is the second year the requirements of the Act will be fully implemented. 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 ​ Recently, the Cullman City Board of Education approved the new Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). Some of the highlights from the six broad areas include: 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 Technology Department will be working with other Ed Tech specialists and educators across the state in the coming weeks. Michael Fowlkes, Misty Waldrop and Sharon Drake will be attending a ParentSquare users group in Mountain Brook next Monday. This will be a unique opportunity to connect with fellow educators, district leaders, and ParentSquare users. The event is designed to delve into meaningful discussions, highlight success stories, and share best practices for utilizing ParentSquare to its fullest potential. It will be an excellent opportunity to explore new ParentSquare features, learn about innovative communication strategies, and network. We will have an opportunity to share our insights and collaborate on ways to continue enhancing our school-home communications. Later next week we will be hosting a Finalsite (our web service) workshop for Alabama. This is a free workshop designed to empower a school's PR team to better engage with their school community. The full-day professional development will help attendees uncover innovative ways to leverage Finalsite’s full suite of school engagement solutions. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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) 100.9% while expenditures were at 3) 88.6%. Our total net operations were 4) $3.9 M. Total assets were 5) $15.0 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $15.0 M which brings us to 7) 4.54 months of reserves. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Thank you to everyone who receives our newsletter for your support of the 3,200 students we serve and over 400 employees who make the Cullman City School System one of the best in Alabama. ​ ​ ​ ​ Next Update: November 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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, Oct 29 2024

September 2024 Superintendent Newsletter

​ ​ CCS System Update September 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 3rd Grade Reading ​ The work of our 3rd grade teachers was recently recognized in an online publication that identifies high performing systems in every state in America. In this article, they identify exceptional school systems from every state based on where they predict 3rd grade students to perform in reading versus actual results. They define the systems with the largest gaps as exceptional school systems. If you select Alabama in the interactive chart, you will see that we are one of the 9 Alabama systems identified as an exceptional school district in terms of 3rd grade reading performance. We are fortunate to have a strong focus on literacy from our teachers as well as structures in place for our students to be successful. Read more here! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ East Receives National Honor ​ East Elementary was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School. East Elementary is one of five schools out of over 1,380 in Alabama selected for this prestigious honor. Representatives from East will join other schools across America in Washington D.C. in November to be presented this award by the U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona. The last time such an honor was received in the Cullman City School System was in 2009, when West Elementary was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department recognizes all schools based on student performance data including assessment results, student subgroup performance and graduation rates. East was nominated and selected in the Exemplary High Performing SchoolsCategory: These schools are among the top performers in their state as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Cullman City Schools’ Literacy and Numeracy Night ​ What- Evening designed for CCPS, East and West parents to help support literacy and numeracy strategies at home. There will be stations, games and lots of fun. Food trucks will be onsite beginning at 5:00 PM. When- Monday, September 30th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Where- Cullman High School ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ College and Career Night ​ Some participating partners included Calhoun Workforce Solutions, Montevallo, UAB Nursing, UNA, USA, Troy, Wallace State, Wallace State Dual Enrollment, Auburn Agriscience, and UAH. Industries represented included Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, Cullman City Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism, Academy of Craft Training, Chick-Fil-A, Cullman Water Treatment Plan, Walmart Distribution, Webb Wheel, Premier Bank, and more. Additionally, there were representatives from the U.S. Armed Forces. A special thank you to Ms. Graham our CTE Career Coach as well as CHS Principal, Mrs. Tuggle and her staff for hosting this event. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ School Board Member Achievements ​ All five of our school board members were recently recognized by the Alabama Association of School Boards for meeting the requirements of the School Board Governance Improvement Act during the 23-24 academic year. The school board members of Cullman City have a tremendous vision for the 3,200 students we serve. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 24-25 Capital Plan ​ Every September, it is required that local boards of education submit a 5 year capital plan to the Alabama State Department of Education. Our plan was approved in the September 17th Board Meeting and includes completing the Cullman Middle School project, beginning the Cullman Intermediate Project and the Cullman High CTE/STEM wing, as well as various small improvements on all campuses. ​ ​ ​ ​ Levels of Awareness ​ Over this past week, schools across America encountered several leads to possible online threats. In Alabama, some were substantiated and arrests were made, and many were found to be illegitimate. If you hear about any threat to any school, please contact the police or school administration immediately. Our police department has the means to investigate the credibility of online threats and the authority to deploy additional resources where needed and if needed. In these cases, please do not share the concern on social media instead of contacting local authorities. Social media sharing creates undue alarm and fear in our community and students as well as slows down the investigation process by the police department.  ​ ​ ​ ​ Every school in Alabama operates by the level of awareness chart below. Spend some time reading the descriptions of each section. Heightened awareness (yellow) is just that…a higher level of your awareness of the environment around you. If a school goes on heightened awareness, it does not mean that the school is on a lock down. A lock down (red) means that there is imminent danger on, or very near the campus.  Shelter in place (blue) is used when schools may have a medical emergency on campus and it is not appropriate for other students to see it or be exposed (i.e., a visitor has a heart attack, a child has a seizure in a common area, an adult passes out and hits their head, etc…). In these cases, there is no need for communication to parents. In the other instances, we will communicate to parents when we have our campuses secured and the time is appropriate.  Keep in mind that each school has an emergency operations plan that is detailed on how to respond to an emergency situation that may cause an evacuation of the campus. Each school has identified rally points and reunification points. For security reasons, as you can imagine, these plans are not shared with parents or the general public. In the unlikely case of a campus evacuation, law enforcement and first responders work closely with school and school system administrators on student safety as well as communication to parents and stakeholders.   Let’s work together to keep our campuses, students and employees safe.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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. This school year is the second year the requirements of the Act will be fully implemented. 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 ​ Recently, the Cullman City Board of Education approved the new Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). Some of the highlights from the six broad areas include: 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 ​ Some of the members of our Tech Department are attending the ALET conference this week. ALET is an association for Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology. The conference is a three day event packed full of breakout sessions pertaining to all things EdTech. Misty Waldrop and Michael Fowlkes were actively involved in presenting sessions during the conference. They were both able to share with other educators some of the amazing tools we use in Cullman City Schools. In addition, Mrs. Waldrop graduated from The Alabama Technology Integration Coach (ALTIC) Certification Program while at the conference. Congratulations Mrs. Waldrop! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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) 85.56% while expenditures were at 3) 80.40%. Our total net operations were 4) $1.2 M. Total assets were 5) $12.4 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $12.4 M which brings us to 7) 3.74 months of reserves. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Next Update: October 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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 25 2024

August 2024 Superintendent Newsletter

​ ​ CCS System Update August 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We are off to a great start to the 2024-2025 school year. It is nice to see approximately 3,200 students back on our campuses ready to learn! A new school year is a fresh start in many ways. Students have new teachers and teachers have new students. Everyone starts with perfect attendance and all passing grades. Continue the momentum by setting a goal to have your students at school on time everyday. Our teachers work tirelessly to prepare engaging and rigorous lessons for our students. We need to make sure their attendance is promoted, supported and a priority. Continue to be patient during take in and dismissal on all five campuses. We are working with the Cullman Police Department to monitor morning and afternoon traffic and make adjustments as needed. Your patience with 4th Street just east of CMS is also greatly appreciated. Due to construction, we have some underground pipes and drainage that are being addressed which has closed the intersection of Oak and 4th for the foreseeable future. ​ ​ ​ ​ Academic Excellence ​ School system proficiency rates in English/Language Arts (ELA), math and science were recently released. Once again, the Cullman City School System has proved to be one of the best in Alabama. In ELA, Cullman City was the 4th best school system out of over 130 systems in Alabama. In math we are 8th best and in science we are 5th.  When it comes to academic excellence, the rubber meets the road on our campuses and in our classrooms. We are fortunate to have some of the best teachers in Alabama and amazing support staffs on all five campuses. Their drive mixed with supportive families and resilient students is the perfect formula for success. Read more here about test scores from last spring.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Capital Commitment ​ Construction has not slowed down since our last newsletter. Over the summer we completed several projects which include the Outdoor Learning Area on the corners of Hoehn Street and Stadium Drive, the window project and interior renovations at Cullman Middle, the 2nd grade playground at Cullman City Primary School and the fire alarm upgrades also located at CCPS. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Phase II of the CMS project is still on schedule as the walls are beginning to take shape. This project is scheduled to be completed in March of 2025. This time next year, our 234 students in 6th grade (current 5th grade students) will be on the campus of CMS.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We are on track to open sealed bids for Cullman Intermediate School in mid-September. As a reminder, this construction will take place on the current campus of West Elementary School. We anticipate this project to be lengthy, similar to the Cullman Middle School project, with an estimated completion date of summer 2027. Once this project is completed, we will merge grades 3, 4, and 5 to form Cullman Intermediate School.  Additionally, this fall we will open bids on the STEM/Career Technical Education Building on the campus of CHS. This building will house many of our Career Technical Education programs such as Engineering, Cyber Security, Health Science, Business Applications, Computer Science, and Education and Training. This will be a 18 month project with an anticipated ground breaking in early 2025. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Cullman City Schools Foundation ​ Our friends at the foundation are working hard to reinvigorate the foundation and its mission to support our teachers with creativity in the classroom. CCSF would like to invite you to follow them on Parent Square and on all social media platforms. Please reach out to Paige Clabo at pclabo@cullmancats.net or 256-339-8876 with any questions. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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. This school year is the second year the requirements of the Act will be fully implemented. 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 ​ Recently, the Cullman City Board of Education approved the new Strategic Plan and Strategic Commitments. The entire plan is located on the school system website (https://www.cullmancats.net). Some of the highlights from the six broad areas include: 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 working hard to ensure that our launch of ParentSquare, our new mass communication system, is a success. They have set up data integration with PowerSchool, trained teachers and staff, and sent invitations to parents to join. So far, ParentSquare is providing us with almost 100% contactability with our families. Parents can make sure they are contactable by having their active email and phone number in PowerSchool, which will then be synced with ParentSquare. Parents should download the ParentSquare app, register as a user with the phone number or email associated with their student and begin interacting!   One of the most powerful features of ParentSquare is the translation feature. Families can receive posts and messages from their student's school translated into their preferred language. They can also respond in their preferred language. This feature is sure to increase inclusivity for all families in Cullman City Schools. We currently have 11 different languages being used for ParentSquare communication.  For help with educational technology used in Cullman City Schools, families and students can click here. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 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) 78.48% while expenditures were at 3) 72.18%. Our total net operations were 4) $1.7 M. Total assets were 5) $12.9 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $12.9 M which brings us to 7) 3.89 months of reserves. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Have a Great Year ​ It is my prayer that this year is the best school year ever for the approximate 3,200 students we serve and 500 employees that make up our team. Have a great school year and Go Bearcats! ​ ​ ​ ​ Next Update: September 2024 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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 ​ ​ ​

Friday, Aug 30 2024

Welcome to ParentSquare: New Mass Communication Tool...

​​ Welcome to ParentSquare Cullman City Schools' New Communication Tool ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ Stakeholders, ​​ ​​ Welcome to our new mass communication tool, ParentSquare. Newsletters from the Office of the Superintendent will now be distributed through this powerful communication tool. We will be sharing the happenings and achievements within the Cullman City Schools community. Our goal is to connect you with news, events, and updates, keeping you connected and informed about our collective journey in education. ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ Contact Information ​​ ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff ​ Cullman City Schools 301 1st Street NE Cullman, Alabama 35055 256.734.2233 ​​ ​

Monday, Aug 26 2024