“We are very pleased with the three applicants,” BOE Chairman Norman Wilder said. “After briefly looking over the three applications, they all have excellent character and are all involved in the community.”
Individuals who submitted applications are Robert Simmons, Tammie Williams and Melvin Gillison.
The District 4 board seat has remained open since May 6, after board member Mike Price died unexpectedly in Tuscaloosa.
The board only has one month to fill the position and must have a District 4 representative in place by June 6, or the state superintendent is responsible for filling the position.
Pell City Superintendent Bobby Hathcock said the new board member will serve the rest of Price’s term, which ends November 2012.
“This is a tough thing to start with,” Hathcock said. “We lost a great board member in Mike Price, no question. Mike Price was not just a board member — he was a good friend.”
Hathcock said the board is looking for someone committed to doing what is best for the School System.
“I anticipate the board members will review the applications over the weekend and could appoint a new board member at Tuesday’s special called meeting,” he said.
The board’s called meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Wilder said each board member received a copy of all three applications Friday afternoon.
“I’m sure each board member will probably spend the majority of the holiday weekend individually reviewing the applications,” he said. “We will have to come together and make a decision at the board meeting. It will take at least three of the four board members (voting yes) to select a new board member.”
Wilder said the candidates will not be specifically requested to attend Tuesday’s called meeting, however, it is an open meeting and anyone is invited to attend.
“We will be selecting an individual to represent that district, but also the School System,” he said. “I know each of the candidates, and each in their own way would make an excellent choice. Every one of them has their own strengths.”
According to the application, Simmons served as an elementary principal for 12 years, a high school principal for eight years and a central office administrator for five years. He retired from the Birmingham Board of Education Central Office as a middle school specialist after 35 years of service.
Simmons has a B.S. degree, an M.A. degree and an AA certification (30 semester hours above M.A) from the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa. He served as chairman of the Pell City Library Board, president of the Eagle Pointe Homeowners’ Association, president of the Birmingham High School Principals Association, U.S. Department of Education Elementary School Blue Ribbon semi-finalist, and numerous other awards and community service.
Williams is an employee of Alabama Power Company and holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa and an MBA from Samford University.
As a commercial account manager for Alabama Power Company, Williams has served as a “one point of contact” marketing specialist for 700-plus commercial customers, performed duties of budget coordinator, provided monthly budget reports and monitored a $1.1 million budget, worked closely with external companies and vendors to build relationships and create synergies for customer base and worked emergency storm restoration as manpower director and logistics director (Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis, Katrian, Gustav and the April 27, 2011, tornadoes).
Williams has served as a board member for the St. Clair County Chapter of The Literacy Council, board member for the Pell City Schools Education Foundation, PTO Advisory Board for Williams Intermediate School, past president and current treasurer of Kennedy Elementary School PTO and numerous other awards and community service.
Gillison and his wife, Cindy, both graduated from Pell City High School, as have all three of their children. He served as president of the Athletic Boosters for more than 10 years and as FFA Alumni treasurer for more than four years. He also served on the committee to develop the program and facilities for Jefferson State Community College Icademy.
Gillison also worked for many years with local Boy Scouts, the Jaycees, the Christmas Toys for Children Program, the Pell City Youth Baseball Association and as a Sunday school teacher for First Baptist Church.
Contact Elsie Hodnett at ehodnett@dailyhome.com.
