Hoover school board tables decision to appoint CFO

The Hoover school board interviewed a third candidate for the role of chief school financial officer but refrained from making a selection during its meeting on Monday, May 9.

After conducting a 25-minute interview with current Jackson County Chief School Financial Officer Tina Hancock, the board deliberated behind closed doors for nearly an hour—only to re-emerge without a recommendation.

 “We are very, very fortunate to have the candidates we have,” board member Craig Kelly said. “I mean it’s very, very humbling to have three very, very qualified candidates.”

The board announced a decision would be made at an unspecified later date.

Hancock joins Jefferson County Chief School Financial Officer Sheila Jones and former Birmingham City Schools Chief School Financial Officer Arthur Watts Jr. as the primary contenders for the position.

Hancock is finishing her fifth school year as Jackson County’s chief school financial officer. Prior to that, she said she accumulated 14 years of classroom teaching experience. She is also certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 

Hancock holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from Jacksonville State University and a master’s degree in business education from Alabama A&M University. She is married to Dale Hancock, who she said has 32 years of educational experience as an administrator, teacher and basketball coach. The couples has two kids—one at Scottsboro High School and one at Rhodes College in Memphis.

Throughout the public interview, school board members peppered Hancock with a variety of questions ranging in topic from budget management to controversy resolution strategies.

When asked how she would adapt to a school system with 10,000 more students and $100 million more in budgeted funds than her current district, Hancock replied she views it as an opportunity.

“You’re still working through the same processes no matter what the budget is,” Hancock said. “They’re still the same rules that you have to apply, still the same laws that you have to follow, so as we like to say sometimes in accounting, it’s all numbers.”

In other business tonight, Superintended Kathy Murphy recognized Derrick Murphy for his extensive service to Hoover City Schools. His five-year term on the board ends at the conclusion of this month.

“It’s been a pleasure serving on the school board,” Derrick Murphy said. “I had a great, great time.”

The board also approved a resolution to partially re-roof Bluff Park Elementary and Shades Mountain Elementary. The project is scheduled for completion prior to the start of next school year.

In regard to rezoning, Kathy Murphy announced the board met its initial Friday deadline by submitting all requested material to U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala. She also said the board is on track to complete its second round of submissions by Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline.

“We are working to respond to the questions that have been given to us by the court,” Kathy Murphy said. “We are respectful of the time frame that’s necessary for our judge to do her due diligence and review our student assignment plan.”

The board ended the meeting by electing its officers for the 2016-2017 academic year. Current Vice President Stephen Presley will be president, and board member Earl Cooper will be vice president.