September Superintendent Newsletter

Cullman City Schools recently approved its proposed FY 2027 budget, reflecting a continued commitment to strong instruction, employee support, student services, and strategic capital improvements. The proposed budget includes $46.2 million in total revenues, with approximately 79% of expenditures dedicated to instruction.

The budget includes a 2% state-mandated employee raise, increased retirement and PEEHIP costs, and continued funding for instructional materials, technology, professional development, and student support.

The proposed budget also maintains a projected three-month operating reserve of approximately $10.65 million, providing financial stability while allowing the school system to continue investing in students, employees, and facilities.

On September 1st, we hosted our annual Five-Year Capital Plan Meeting, bringing together parent and employee representatives from each of our campuses to review and discuss our capital needs and priorities.

The bulk of our five-year plan focuses on completing the Cullman Intermediate School (CIS) project, Phase 3 of the historic gym renovations at Cullman Middle School, the soccer locker room project and partnership with the Soccer Booster Club, and renovations at East Elementary School to prepare the campus for Pre-K programs.

It is important to remember that the Five-Year Capital Plan is a plan, not a commitment to fund every project identified. As we near the completion of our Safety and Growth capital campaign, we have committed funding for all but approximately $1.2 million of the projects included in this year’s approved Capital Plan. This provides us with a strong roadmap for addressing our facilities needs while allowing us to remain thoughtful and strategic with our resources.

Congratulations to Lukas Howlett on earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout! As part of his Eagle Scout project, Lukas built benches for the outdoor garden at East Elementary School and Cullman Middle School, creating spaces that will benefit our students for years to come.

Lukas will be honored at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor in late November at Cullman First United Methodist Church.

We are especially grateful to Lukas and his family for demonstrating the importance of “service before self.” His willingness to give his time, talent, and effort to serve others is a wonderful example for our students and our entire community.

Congratulations to Daxton Nabors, a fourth-grade student at West Elementary School, who has been selected as one of only seven students in Alabama named a 2026 National Math Star!

This prestigious recognition earns Daxton a place in a highly selective, long-term enrichment program designed to identify and support students with extraordinary mathematical talent.

We are incredibly proud of Daxton and grateful to the parents and teachers who have encouraged, challenged, and supported him throughout his journey. His achievement is a wonderful example of what can happen when talented students are given the opportunity to grow and thrive.

We are incredibly proud to be recognized as the #2 school system in Alabama by percentage of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs).

This recognition is about much more than a ranking, it is about the teachers who choose to pursue excellence, the students who benefit from their expertise, and a school system that believes great teaching changes lives.

National Board Certification represents a significant commitment to professional growth and instructional excellence. The dedication of our teachers to becoming and remaining National Board Certified reflects the culture we strive to build at Cullman City Schools: professionalism, collaboration, continuous improvement, and an unwavering commitment to our students.

Read The Cullman Tribune article here.

Help us support Cullman High School’s 2027 Fair Queen Representative, Elizabeth Smith!

Fair Queen T-shirts are available for $20 through October 7, with all proceeds benefiting the Good Samaritan Health Clinic.

Order forms are available in the CHS and East Elementary offices, or you may contact Elizabeth directly to coordinate your order.

For questions or to place an order, please email Elizabeth Smith at elizabeth.smith@ccsstudent.org.

We are proud of Elizabeth and her leadership, and we appreciate our school community’s support of this great cause!

Construction continues to move along well, with no significant issues or concerns at this point. We are still targeting a mid-school-year completion.

One of our next major milestones will be completing the gym/storm shelter and transitioning PE operations and student foot traffic from the old gym to the new facility.

This project is moving quickly. We value our partnership with the city as we are collaborating on this project to meet the needs of both the city and our tennis programs.

On Tuesday, September 22nd, we cut the ribbon on our new playground located on the campus of West Elementary.

Read The Cullman Tribune article here.

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 Cullman City Schools Technology Department made a powerful statement at the 2026 Alabama Leaders of Educational Technology (ALET) Fall Symposium at Perdido Beach, bringing home major statewide accomplishments that highlight the strength, expertise, and leadership of our edtech team.

In a deeply meaningful moment for our district, Michael Fowlkes was honored with the 2026 Sally Moore Award. Presented annually by ALET, this award recognizes pioneering K-12 technology leaders who demonstrate extraordinary long-term dedication, exceptional leadership, and a habit of going "above and beyond" for their school systems.

What makes this statewide honor extra special is its roots: Sally Moore herself was a legendary technology director right here in Cullman County. Bringing this award back home reflects Michael’s unwavering commitment, vision, and heart for supporting our students, teachers, and school community. 

(Mr. Fowlkes receiving the 2026 Sally Moore Award)

The celebrations continued as Misty Waldrop officially achieved her Alabama Chief Technology Officer (CTO) certification after completing 54 rigorous hours of advanced accreditation coursework. Her training covered critical operational and strategic areas, including Leadership & Vision, Cybersecurity, IT Management, and Data Governance. Misty’s achievement reflects her continuous drive to lead with heart and her passion for mentoring teachers as they integrate innovative EdTech into Cullman City classrooms.

(Mrs. Waldrop earning her CTO Certification Award)

Demonstrating our district’s commitment to thought leadership, network administrator, Andy Palys served as a presenter during the symposium. Andy led an informative breakout session focused on the latest standards in Wireless Internet Protocols and Versions, providing educational technology professionals from across the state with valuable technical insights to strengthen networking infrastructure in K-12 schools.

The month of July is 1) 83% into the fiscal year. Revenues were at 2) 87.6% while

expenditures were at 3) 81%. Our total net operations were 4) $1.8 M. Total assets were 5) $13.6 M. We ended the month with a fund balance of 6) $13.6 M which brings us to 7) 3.81 months of reserves.