The 2020-2021 school year is approaching, and Russellville City Schools is working to finalize its staff and contracts for the year.

The RCS Board of Education hired nine new teachers and approved two new contracts for current school principals at its Thursday meeting.

“We always have a great staff, and we are excited to welcome this group,” said RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes.

The board hired Jennifer Lindsey, Gina Schmidt, Dana Hill Massey and Hannah Cummings as Pre-K teachers. Board members also hired Jennah Abrams Harrison, Harlee Murphy and Madison Thompson as teachers at West Elementary School and Rachel Lawrimore as a special education teacher at Russellville Elementary School.

Six teachers resigned, with one teacher retiring, and 22 teachers were temporarily hired on for the 21^st Century Community Learning Center summer program.

Five pro-consultants were hired on to help the Russellville Middle School and Russellville High School Football teams.

The board approved a new three-year contract with Deanna Hollimon to continue as principal at West Elementary School and with Russellville High School Principal Jason Goodwin.

The board also approved an agreement for the Child Nutrition Program to provide breakfast, lunch and a snack to the Head Start childcare center and the Seamless Summer Feeding Program.

A contract with A+ College Ready for June and July and a contract with McKinley Copeland for West Elementary contract labor were also approved at the meeting.

The board approved facilities requests for the RHS gym July 23-25 for cheer camp and the RMS gym July 6-8 for volleyball camp. The RHS baseball facilities will be in use in June and July for games by the American Legion.