The Pell City Cheerleading team performs at the Pell City Schools Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night, after their first place win at the Bama Bash Cheerleading competition. Photo by Danny Moore

Alabama State Representative Jim Hill spoke to the Pell City Board of Education about a new constitutional amendment that would bolster education revenue by the increase of property tax.

The new amendment gives individual districts or zones throughout the county the power to decide rather or not their area wants to increase the property tax to benefit their children’s school. This is called attendance zoning.

“Education is the right way to invest your money,” Hill said. “If you want increase funding for your school, then vote yes.”

Cities such as Springville, Argo, Moody and Margaret have already voted yes.

“In the last 30 years St. Clair County has doubled its population” Hill said.

Congratulations to the Pell City cheerleading team for winning “Grand champs” and placing first in the Varsity division at The Bama Bash Cheerleading competition. Some cheerleaders even had perfect scores, receiving no deductions at all on their score. They cheered, danced, and performed high Jumps, and stunts at the competition. Dee Doss the varsity cheerleading coach said their performance lasted 2 minutes 30 seconds during the competition. The girls ranged in age starting from 8^th graders and up. They had to practice rigorously everyday after school for two and half hours and Saturdays for four and a half hours. They had a total of six months to prepare.

“Thank you Coach Dee Doss and Coach Alex Suggs for bringing the PCHS Cheerleader Competition Squad and providing the board with a cheer and a video presentation of their winning routine,” said Pell City Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Barber. “Congratulations on a flawless routine!”

Through the year, the girls did community service attending the Col. Robert L. Howard Veterans Home, supporting Habitat for Humanity and more.

Dr. Leah Stover, former Principal of Walter M. Kennedy Elementary School, has been selected as the Pell City School System Curriculum Coordinator. She has been working as the Executive Director of Special Programs at the Central Office over the past year. Her new position will be effective beginning April 1. The Pell City School System has a job opening for the Executive Director of Special Programs, left vacant by the promotion of Dr. Leah Stover.

Dr. Barber also wanted to thank the City of Pell City for their partnership with the Pell City School System for their support during construction and upgrading fields. The cheer room at PCHS is almost complete and contracts on the new practice field have been signed. Construction will begin when weather permits. The City of Pell City assisted in the paving of the Spring Sports Complex, which has been completed.

“This project and many others have been completed with the help of the city officials and workers,” Barber said.

The Pell City Board of Education also approved their calendar for the 2019-2020 school year, with the first day for students beginning on Aug. 8.