Muscle Shoals board accepts superintendent resignation, appoints interim and approves CSFO contract

The Muscle Shoals City Board of Education on a unanimous vote accepted the pending resignation of its superintendent and appointed Jan Irons Harris, a former superintendent of Coleman City Schools, to serve as interim superintendent effective July 1.

The board also approved a three-year employment contract for Jennifer Mifflin to serve as the district's chief school financial officer. The CSFO contract, prepared by the board attorney Taylor Brooks and reviewed in a prior work session, passed on a roll-call vote with Mrs. Alman, Dr. Davis, Mr. King and Mr. Wood recorded as voting in the affirmative.

The actions came after the board president formally notified the board that Dr. Stoddard had resigned (effective June 8), creating a vacancy in the vice president position. With the resignation noted, the board opened nominations and elected Marilyn Davis to serve as board vice president by voice vote.

The meeting included a consent agenda the board approved that bundled routine financial and operational items. Those items included financial statements, a budget amendment, 2026–27 salary schedules and activity/athletic supplement assignments, a proposal to increase child nutrition program (CNP) meal prices for 2026–27, and disposal of surplus technology and maintenance items. The board announced two bid awards from the consent agenda: the substitute and non-instructional staffing service was awarded to ESS South Central and the copier lease and service contract to the LEOC Group.

A lengthy personnel report was read into the record and approved. It listed resignations (for example, Susan Evans, community education summer camp staff, effective June 9), new hires and transfers across certified and noncertified roles, adjustments to contract days for maintenance and custodial staff (moving from 260 to 240 days with no reduction in annual pay), and several supplemental and temporary assignments including a probationary principal contract for Mr. Bailey at McBride Middle School.

In a final superintendent report, Dr. Holden reflected on 24 years with the district and six years as superintendent, thanked the board and community, and said he and his family will remain in the community and available to assist. "It has been the greatest honor of my professional career," Dr. Holden said, expressing confidence that the district is financially sound and positioned for the future.

The board presented Dr. Holden a small gift, noted the conclusion of the agenda, and adjourned the meeting.