[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6108792,"mediaKeyId","2767000-61208a433aa4a5f91331c940dcc4be64","parentId",2767000,"title","Caring Link describes countywide 'care closets' and student supports at Madison County Schools meeting","audioSeconds",454,"startMs",2108000,"endMs",2562000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2767000-61208a433aa4a5f91331c940dcc4be64&start=2108&end=2562","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2767000-61208a433aa4a5f91331c940dcc4be64/thumbnail_2108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6108792/Alabama/Caring-Link-describes-countywide-care-closets-and-student-supports-at-Madison-County-Schools-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108792-3446a3a1a33041a67e9b29fd65992ea6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050396&Signature=BF8aNCcxpUO2lnuDvdyhFnaVSgeV7GTAWMVjs2qe01aeTkZUS3hA3X23X4MQO~XcXHlnVBa9jPYnZRiPBphvje4I0XSI~bDNGQQoJqqA63-WaExzRVcEWpjCxnxO~991rq6rzhpKaCbYyoF5NlpbMB8uZPFrWNHy0CFc1hdZTQrhvtFXGuz~Y6-S8uccPYeThG8d3lTZTvv2~yuKAHlLURO1pIJSGkWg10pHw7HyEbEZkKdLJmw1mKeIAc99AsScF3~EcTrfTr9dQ7catNdewSlnthIigweknawpPoag5cRPS~zcRy-JknTJDnGwODDhDTtYDFzgXl9yWRGlTBUcwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Madison County Schools, AL","date","2025-03-25T21:54:07Z","article","MADISON COUNTY, Ala. — Kate O’Neil, president of the nonprofit Caring Link, described the organization’s network of on-site “care closets,” a student-support initiative that provides clothing, hygiene supplies, snacks and other essentials in Madison County schools, at the March 25 Madison County Schools board meeting at Sparkman High School.

O’Neil said the charity’s goal is to remove barriers to learning by providing essentials on campus. “Students every day across our county show up ill prepared and not through any fault of their own,” O’Neil told the board. She explained that Caring Link places stocked closets on-site so students can access items without requiring a guardian to take them to off-site resources.

The organization, which O’Neil said serves more than 12,000 students countywide, has placed 10 closets inside Madison County School sites and a total of 15 closets across partner locations. Programs described included the Book Fairy (book fair gift certificates), Care to Join (fees and extracurricular support), snack-bin refills for classrooms and pop-up services such as a prom shop. O’Neil also described a “New Beginnings” school-readiness event planned for July that offers clothing, haircuts, vision and dental screening and other services.

O’Neil asked for volunteer support, donation and grant leads and said Caring Link is a registered 501(c)(3). She invited board members and community members to volunteer for weekly stocking teams and to visit the organization’s website at thecaringlink.org to donate.

The presentation preceded administrative approvals taken later in the meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MCSS Board of Education Regular Session March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Kate O’Neil, president of the nonprofit Caring Link, detailed a network of on-site care closets and related programs that provide clothing, hygiene items, snacks and extracurricular subsidies to Madison County students.","taxTitle","Madison County Schools, School Districts, Alabama","taxId",13590,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6108797,"Principals spotlight student achievements and programs at Sparkman High School meeting",807,377000,1184000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2767000-61208a433aa4a5f91331c940dcc4be64&start=377&end=1184","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2767000-61208a433aa4a5f91331c940dcc4be64/thumbnail_377000.jpg","/articles/6108797/Alabama/Principals-spotlight-student-achievements-and-programs-at-Sparkman-High-School-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108797-12b7c8f7b61797796fad6d77486bc260/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050396&Signature=ScfHd8V6ewoz0SpAX8H9KqLoJgY7VGBuyYOqTmOFU3UXXURzE-k-5fsNNiU98V-io9j3fbaMDtc9aww4ufuskrWQioYHLiZr4qSlr-ZeLvnozPZdmLaxE4OQM7pSCYYhalDxF6aMWk-jvMnPR7GII14zdDLFq59OmFt21LPv0rx2uEzESZXCkYVEaI1HR3hLGboFMumWo1yegNhDhI1aXHs~wHN8PkjGZPPxeRoReUkVOaVhHD0PXQnfssIso1l4fcqpLbavKucnvx3Ig7ekWKsGkRfFDllluMz~OMfVexxcYtLqK7HqnWGwDkxCzATxl3yqsbPWzLxa-~GLHOgORQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MADISON COUNTY, Ala. — Principals from Sparkman High School, Sparkman Ninth Grade School, Spartan Middle School, Harvest Elementary, Madison Crossroads Elementary and others delivered a series of school reports and recognitions at the Madison County Schools regular session March 25 at Sparkman High School.

Todd Dreiford, principal of Sparkman High School, told the board that Sparkman ranked 21st among public and private high schools in Alabama in a Money Inc. list cited during his remarks and highlighted a string of extracurricular and academic honors: a state marching band championship, superior ratings for band and choir at state assessments, state-level track and wrestling accomplishments, a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence designation, and a $3,000 U.S. Air Force grant for senior financial literacy instruction based on the Dave Ramsey curriculum. “We have a tremendous band,” Dreiford said, citing directors and student leaders by name during his remarks.

Nikisha Jones, lead administrator at Sparkman Ninth Grade School, reported enrollment just over 600 and a reported 95% pass rate on unspecified measures. Jones noted two freshmen scored in the ACT 30-point club and other student recognitions; she said transition field trips and spring assessments were upcoming, and named May 20 as the high school graduation date.

Dr. Kellen Conaway, principal of Spartan Middle School, summarized academic growth on local assessments and announced facility upgrades including new softball lights to be installed in the summer and a newly created “carrying closet” for student resources.

Principals from Harvest Elementary and Madison Crossroads Elementary described recent recognitions (Harvest noted Blue Ribbon and Lighthouse distinctions and a Tanger grant to support McWane Center STEM outreach) and programs to lower chronic absenteeism, expand extracurricular access, and add sensory spaces and classroom supports.

Brenton Nash, Sparkman High School band director, described a large music program spanning marching and concert ensembles, recent state and national placements, students selected for District Honor Band and All-State, and upcoming competitions for indoor guard and percussion ensembles.

The campus presentations preceded the board’s administrative actions and were used by board members to rotate meetings around the county so trustees can visit schools in different districts.

","Principals from Sparkman High School and feeder schools presented awards, academic results, and upcoming events at the March 25 Madison County Schools board meeting held at Sparkman High School.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6108801,"Madison County Schools board approves Hazel Green turf project and multiple contracts, personnel actions",31,3364000,3395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2767000-61208a433aa4a5f91331c940dcc4be64&start=3364&end=3395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2767000-61208a433aa4a5f91331c940dcc4be64/thumbnail_3364000.jpg","/articles/6108801/Alabama/Madison-County-Schools-board-approves-Hazel-Green-turf-project-and-multiple-contracts-personnel-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108801-3a4fd01c1dba713fe69fa36551b9285c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050396&Signature=nJQjxofhZ7z21lhpHqQClVQv9NZYtpoFmyvSCJvcZl-EGFHvIsR63gINqLbB-CC1RQGWME0BlwvzlQFR03mA8Hx6pqwlFvLDgUk5W6sSrsi5NXBoNrK1yXZSnU8iAa048l8vYZHXZbGaRXYrs9o6AsXnImmUo4ShLniAQGbxzKL3WkjW~r~DI73lTbcyosQMRCclm7Qp2UdW3FH9OYzumK7fslEHNoa5wUZXpcvCVbjp9S7FvZox-4xXDIcI0pv8GiKvxoJFMcLm8QFoIukR02C3FjWAwRF8FG7eJpSKknkGYfP8dQ7T50adZmOLRKsXGmDHLxvP~0-7Nszx0KI0Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MADISON COUNTY, Ala. — The Madison County Schools Board of Education approved an artificial turf installation at Hazel Green High School and a series of administrative items during its regular session March 25 at Sparkman High School.

Board President Brooks presided as the board voted on several routine and capital items. Superintendent (unnamed in the record) recommended approval of bids and bid renewals, contracts for services, personnel items, and renewed principal and assistant principal contracts; each recommendation drew a motion, a second and an affirmative voice vote recorded as “Aye.”

The most substantive action was approval of the Hazel Green High School artificial turf project. The superintendent described the plan as part of a longer-term effort to provide turf and competition-caliber tracks across the county’s high schools, eventually including Buckhorn, New Hope, Madison County High and others. The board was told the Hazel Green field is expected to be ready for play in the fall 2025 season. No separate funding source or contract amount was specified in the meeting remarks.

The board also approved personnel and administrative renewals, including principal contracts that some administrators will receive as three-year appointments after completing probationary status. No opposing votes or roll-call tallies were reported on the record; actions were confirmed by unanimous voice vote.

The board briefly moved into executive session on a request described as concerning “reputation and character” under the Open Meetings Act, then returned to regular session and completed the administrative agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Hazel Green High School artificial turf project — Motion to approve; outcome: approved (voice vote). Superintendent stated the field should be ready for fall 2025; no contract value specified.

- Bids and bid renewals — Motion to approve; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Contracts for services — Motion to approve; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Personnel items — Motion to approve; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Principal contracts (renewals and three-year contracts noted) — Motion to approve; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Assistant principal contracts — Motion to approve; outcome: approved (voice vote).

Procedural notes and next meeting

The board heard school highlights and presentations from several campus leaders before administrative business. Board members announced the next regular session will be April 17 at Monrovia Middle School. The meeting concluded with a unanimous voice vote to adjourn.

","At its March 25 meeting at Sparkman High School, the Madison County Schools Board of Education approved an artificial turf project at Hazel Green High School and a slate of bids, contracts and personnel items, and voted to enter executive session before returning to complete administrative business.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Caring Link describes countywide 'care closets' and student supports at Madison County Schools meeting

Principals spotlight student achievements and programs at Sparkman High School meeting

Madison County Schools board approves Hazel Green turf project and multiple contracts, personnel actions