New era of leadership begins at Hoover Board of Education

Monday, June 15  marked the debut of a new era of leadership at Hoover City Schools.

It was the first meeting under new Hoover Board of Education President Derrick Murphy, appointed by his peers in May, and new superintendent Dr. Kathy Murphy, who began overseeing Hoover public schools on June 1. The meeting also marked the debut of new Hoover Board of Education member Jill Gainus Veitch, who was appointed by the Hoover City Council in April.

Derrick Murphy started off the meeting by thanking Dr. Jim Reese for serving as interim superintendent of Hoover City Schools since the board appointed him last December following former superintendent Dr. Andy Craig’s resignation. Reese, attending his last board meeting, said it was an honor to serve with Hoover City Schools over the past six and a half months.

“When I accepted this position as interim director on Dec. 19, I told the board I couldn’t have chosen a better school system than the city of Hoover,” said Reese, former superintendent of Enterprise city schools. “I’m not sure if people here realize what you’ve got here. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside.”

Dr. Kathy Murphy said she has learned a lot working alongside Reese since she joined the school system on June 1. “I’m excited to be here,” she said. “We had a great board retreat last week."

Derrick Murphy said this is a pivotal time for the Hoover Board of Education, and is confident that Dr. Kathy Murphy can continue the excellence city schools are known for.

“We’re ready to hit the ground running,” Derrick Murphy said. “I’d like to thank the board for trusting me as president. This is a really good board that brings a lot of different skillsets to the table. I’d like to welcome our new board member Jill Ganus Veitch. She has been a longtime advocate of school children for many years. Thank you principals and teachers for all that you do.”

Here are some items discussed by the Hoover Board of Education during the June 15 meeting:

• Approved the appointments of two new principals: Terry Lamar at Bluff Park Elementary School and Larry Giangrosso at Spain Park High School.
• Approved an item that will see a new sidewalk built at Deer Valley Elementary School near Ross Bridge Parkway. Dr. Kathy Murphy said the city of Hoover is also installing a new light at the school this fall, and the sidewalk should be built by the end of the year.
• Denied a bid for a Type “D” transit bus. Dr. Kathy Murphy said the school system can save money by using another type bus.
• Approved adoption of new textbooks.
• Heard an update on an expansion of Hoover’s virtual school, in which more students will be taking online courses beginning this fall.