Mountain Brook BOE welcomes new teachers

In its last regular meeting before the start of the 2016-2017 school year, the Mountain Brook Board of Education heard a recap of its New Teacher Orientation by Missy Brooks, Ph.D., director of instruction, and by new teacher Paul Kustos, Ph.D.

Kustos, who will be entering his first year of teaching at Mountain Brook High School joked that he had a little bit of “buyer’s remorse” in his first few days preparing to teach in the city school system.

“But I think that’s normal,” he said, before adding that his doubts were quickly extinguished as he settled in and learned more about MBHS.

Kustos said that he had spent the last few days preparing the curriculum for the courses he will teach at MBHS, including both regular and advanced Precalculus, as well as a hybrid advanced Algebra 2 with Trigonometry/Precalculus course that he will be piloting.   

Prior to joining the MBHS faculty, according to his online profile, Kustos taught for 12 years at Hoover High School and for three years as a graduate teaching assistant at Auburn University.  

At MBHS, Kustos will also help initiate a math team.

The Board also approved its more recent personnel recommendations and declared certain property, including books and a refrigerator, surplus.

During the announcements portion of the meeting, President Brad Sklar reminded those in attendance to mind the newly-posted cellphone-free zones throughout the city’s school zones.

In July, the Mountain Brook City Council passed a Cell Phone Free Zones ordinance subject to minor revisions. The ordinance now prohibits the use of cellphones while operating a motor vehicle in school zones between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., and then again between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Cellphone use will only be prohibited while cars, in and around carpool lines, are in motion. Cellphone use, according to the ordinance, includes “engaging in a call; writing, sending, or reading text-based communications; accessing, reading, or posting to a social network site or accessing or adding any information to the wireless telecommunication device.” Violators will be subject to a $25 fine. 

School will be back in session Thursday, Aug. 11. The Board’s next meeting will be held Sept. 12 at 3:30 p.m. at Mountain Brook High School. A second budget hearing will also be held then. The first football game of the season will be played against Helena on Aug. 26 beginning at 7 p.m.