CCS System Update
May 2024
School’s Out for the Summer
At 11:30 AM on May 23rd, we officially completed the 2023-2024 school year. I want to thank the students, families, teachers and stakeholders for such a wonderful school year.
Graduation
The commencement exercises for the class of 2024 will be Friday, May 24th at 7:00 PM at the Tom Drake Coliseum on the campus of Wallace State Community College. The class of 2024 consists of 217 students and is the smallest graduating class from CHS in recent history. Not to worry though, the class of 2025 currently has over 250 students. Congratulations class of 2024, make a difference in this world and be safe out there!
Summer Programs
After a one week break, we will start up our summer programs in early June. In addition to various athletic and performing arts activities we will have a variety of academic camps and programs.
June 4th - July 18th CHS and CMS Summer School at CHS
June 3rd - 20th (Monday-Thursday) Literacy and Numeracy Camps at West (these are invitation only camps based on ACAP performance)
July 8th-18th (Monday - Thursday) STEM Camp at East
Summer Projects
In addition to continued work at CMS, we will begin installation of the playground at CCPS and the outdoor classroom on the corner of Hoehn and Stadium Drives. We will have several smaller projects taking place this summer on all five campuses. These projects include removing the portable building at East, removing the library carpet at East, installing a lift and ramp in the old gym at CMS, and installing new locks in the math building at CHS.
ACT Scores and 3rd Grade Reading ACAP Results
The state assessment results are starting to trickle in. Twelve of our Juniors (class of 2025) entered the 30 plus club with the spring administration of the ACT. Within those scores was a perfect 36, one 35 and two students who made a 34. Congratulations students!
The state department released the 2nd and 3rd grade reading ACAP results from the early April administration. 97% of our third grade students scored at or above the cut score established by the ALSDE. Based on an article from Al.com, the state average for third grade was 91%. Great work students, teachers, support staff and families.
First Day of School 24-25
It is never too soon to talk about the first day of school, which happens to be my favorite day of the school year. We welcome our students back with open arms on Wednesday, August 7th. Our teachers return on Friday, August 2nd.
Non-Resident Enrollment
Letters were recently sent home to our existing non-resident families. Below are details on tuition for the 2024-2025 school year. New families wishing to become Bearcats need to contact the applicable schools after May 1st. Interested families should contact the applicable school (K-2- Cullman City Primary, 3-6- East or West Elementary School, 7 & 8- Cullman Middle School, 9-12- CHS).
Availability is based on space in the applicable grade-levels (3-6 could be at East or West depending on availability in the grade-level)
Tuition is $1,000.00 per student capped at $5,000.00 per family per academic year
Once approved, payments will be accepted beginning May 1, 2024
10% discount if paid in full by 3:00 PM on July 1, 2024
Payment deadline is 4:00 PM July 31, 2024
**Remember, if you move out of the city of Cullman, you have fifteen days to notify your school to let them know you are a non-resident family.
The Cullman City School System was recently featured in the Business View Magazine. Business View Magazine is North America’s best source of news for executives, entrepreneurs, small business owners, franchisees, and anyone else interested in current industry trends and best practices. We were pleased to share the great work taking place in our school system. Click here to read this article which will be in the May issue of Business View.
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 first 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:
Student Support and Safety
Safe learning environments
Access to related services
Increase modes of communication
Technology
Enhancing devices and connectivity
Safe and secure networks
Professional development and support
Curriculum and Assessment
Rigor, critical thinking and creativity
Alignment of assessments and intended outcomes
More academic and extracurricular opportunities
Employees
Consistent expectations from campus to campus
Continuous training on 21st century transferable skills
Seek the best educators
Finance and Resources
Financial transparency
Increase community and industry partnerships
Budget for the Board’s vision
Facilities
Clean learning environments on all campuses
Plan for comprehensive Cullman Intermediate School (3-5)
Expand preschool programs
Tech Check
The end of school is a busy time for the tech department. Chromebook take-up for seniors and 8th graders has been going well. The 8th graders will receive their high school Chromebook at the beginning of the new school year. Our technicians will work this summer to prepare those Chromebooks for distribution. In addition, summer is the time when many of our tech projects take place on our campuses. All of this is done in order to offer our students and staff the most seamless tech experience.
Our tech integration specialists are already planning summer PD sessions for our teachers. The sessions that they offer focus on specific tools that CCS supports for technology integration in the classroom. When teachers choose to attend one of our tech PD sessions, they are guaranteed a positive experience and will leave prepared to enhance the learning experience for their students. This year, Mrs. Waldrop and Mrs. Drake will be focusing on Canva, EdPuzzle, FigJam, and our new two-way communication platform, ParentSquare.
These are powerful tools for our teachers and we want them to be fully prepared to use those tools next year.
Connect with CCS Using Our App
The Bottom Line
Full financial statements can be found on the Cullman City Schools website by clicking here.
The month of March is 1) 50% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 60.02% while
expenditures were at 3) 49.99%. Our total net operations were 4) $3.2 M. Total assets were
5) $14.4 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $14.4 M which brings us to
7) 4.53 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