Chambers BOE passes capital plan, honors late SRO
BY SAM VISE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
CHAMBERS COUNTY — The Chambers County Board of Education approved its 2026-27 capital plan, celebrated broad community support following recent homecoming festivities and paid an emotional tribute to late youth advocate and school resource officer Larry Billingslea during its regular meeting on Sept. 30.
Superintendent Sharon Weldon highlighted the district’s updated five-year capital plan, emphasizing that constructing a new consolidated high school remains the district’s top capital priority in compliance with ongoing federal court orders.
“[The five-year plan] is really a living document,” Weldon said. “As things come up and things change, we go in and make adjustments and changes. Priority No. 1 right now is still listed as the new school because that is something we are still under a court order for and exploring how we’re going to accomplish that.”
Board members also reviewed other capital priorities, including ongoing HVAC additions to athletic facilities across the county. District officials said gyms at LaFayette and Valley high schools have already received air conditioning improvements.
During her superintendent’s report, Weldon expressed heartfelt gratitude to community members and alumni for packing local downtown streets and parades during LaFayette High School’s homecoming and ahead of Valley High School’s upcoming festivities.
“We have had so much going on, and I just want to thank the community for their involvement,” Weldon said. “I think when our students see alumni [and the] community so involved in what’s going on as far as homecoming and celebrating it, I think it just does a whole lot toward building pride in what they have in their opportunities. The community pouring out for that is amazing.”
Weldon also offered a moving remembrance of longtime local law enforcement officer and Chambers County juvenile probation officer Larry “OB” Billingslea, who passed away recently after dedicating decades to area youth as a Valley police officer, school resource officer and mentor.
“We lost somebody that’s really been an influence for a long time in our community,” Weldon said. “He made a huge difference in so many lives. If you never had the opportunity to see the duo of Larry Billingslea and Priscella Holley, you missed it because they were fierce and hilarious. Those kids knew OB loved them [and] OB cared about them... He’s going to be missed.”
In other business:
The board amended its agenda to enter an executive session to discuss pending litigation.
Chief Financial Officer Cassandra Allen presented the August 2026 financial report, reporting total receipts of $37,972,762.76 and expenditures of $34,522,846.02, leaving a net fund equity balance of $19,587,883. The district remains comfortably within budget targets for the fiscal year, with expenditures tracking at 85% against a 92% benchmark and revenues reaching 102%.
The board nominated Jody Jennings as its voting delegate and Frederick Newton as alternate delegate to represent Chambers County at the 2026 Alabama Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly.
The board approved some routine staff changes, along with employee lists and pay rates for the 2026-27 school year. They also approved the August 2026 payroll.
The board approved an educational trip for fourth grade Chambers County Accelerated Talented Students to Jekyll Island, Georgia, from April 7 through 9, 2027, to participate in hands-on 4-H coastal learning activities. Board member Frederick Newton cast the lone dissenting vote following discussion regarding parent travel costs.
The board approved an addendum to the Child Nutrition Program bid contract requirements, allowing the district to procure newly needed food products through an existing vendor contract without having to initiate a separate bid cycle.
Weldon unveiled the 2026-27 Chambers County Scholar T-shirts, which will be awarded to students in grades two through eight who achieved scores of 3 or 4 on the math sections of the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program.
