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.

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…

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.

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

2.Technology

3.Curriculum and Assessment

4.Employees

5.Finance and Resources

6.Facilities

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.

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.