CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County School Board (CCBOE) on June 12 officially hired Nathan Ayers as the new principal of Holly Pond High School, effective July 1, 2023. He will replace Dr. Janet Turner.
Ayers addressed the board, saying, “You’re going to get the best version of us. Our kids are going to be pushed in the classroom.”
Ayers said communication is very important to him.
“Our doors are going to be open. We want your input,” he said. “There’s not going to be a time when we’re not going to listen.”
Social media litigation
The board also approved participating in nationwide litigation against various social media companies.
Cullman County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette addressed the board, saying, “Social media has a significant downside and we’ve seen it in our school. Social media has increased social pressures of our students. It’s exasperated discipline problems, it’s increased anxiety and it’s led to a host of other problems for our students and our schools.”
According to Barnette, school systems across the United States have decided to do something about these issues and they’ve initiated litigation against social media companies including Meta, Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok. They’re asking the courts to hold the companies responsible for the effects of their operations, pointing out the lack of adult supervision.
According to Barnette, a number of Alabama school systems are already part of the lawsuit, including Montgomery Public Schools, Baldwin County Schools and Tuscaloosa City Schools. Barnette said attorney Whit Colvin reached out to him and asked if he wanted Cullman County Schools to be part of the lawsuit.
All agenda items were approved.
COUNTY-BOARD-AGENDA-6.12.2023-without-personnelThe next meeting of the CCBOE will be Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the central office. The work session will begin at 3:30 p.m., with the meeting immediately following.
