By Staff
Kim West
Former board member Donald Borden was hired as assistant superintendent for Franklin County Schools by a 3-0 vote during the school board meeting Friday evening.
Borden resigned his District 2 board position Feb. 20 to apply for the former position of Superintendent Gary Williams, who was assistant superintendent from 2006-08. Williams and board vice chairman T.J. Bragwell interviewed three other applicants this week, and Borden was recommended to fill the vacancy.
"We interviewed four very qualified people this week, and my recommendation (is) Donald Borden," said Williams during the meeting.
The other applicants included a Franklin County administrator and teacher and a former principal from the school system. Borden will be paid $89,400 annually, and his contract begins March 9. As assistant superintendent, he will oversee
accounts payable, including contracts and purchase orders, the school calendar committee, facility maintenance and construction and financial assessments for the system.
"We've been shorthanded in the central office, and there's no one here I can delegate to," said Williams, who has been working a seven-day schedule since taking over as superintendent. "We couldn't keep doing this, and my belief is the stimulus package will allow us to keep more personnel (despite proration)."
Borden, who has coached and taught at Tishomingo (Miss.) County High School for the past two years, has been an educator for more than 31 years. He is a former principal at Haleyville High School, Tharptown Junior High School and Phil Campbell High School, his alma mater. Borden, who has a master's degree and an education specialist degree from the University of North Alabama, was elected to a six-year school board term in November 2004.
"I just had an interest in (the position), and I think I have the educational background and experience to be assistant superintendent," Borden said. "I'm familiar with the people in this county, and I think being on the board has been a good experience because you learn to deal with a lot of different (issues)."
The board also voted 3-0 to appoint Phil Campbell alumnus Billy Weeks, who was nominated by board member Ralton Baker, to the District 2 seat.
In other business, the board: