LINDEN &8212; The Marengo Board of Education announced the hiring of 10 new teachers at their meeting yesterday.

Superintendent Luke Hallmark said he is happy that the system found teachers to fill all of the spots that were needed. He said Alabama is currently facing shortages in the field of education, both in the classroom and in administrative roles.

Hallmark said he had recently heard that the Mobile school system faces an astounding teacher shortage, with more than 100 spots to fill. He said numbers such as those show that getting the positions filled early allows the system to get ahead.

Hallmark said the new teachers that are coming into the system will now have a session to become acclimated in their new schools and the system.

Along with announcing the hiring of new teachers the board also voted to implement a pilot program of the discussed non-faculty coaches&8217; policy for the upcoming academic year. Hallmark said the program will allow schools with a sparse coaching staff in the system to hire from the community.

Hallmark said those chosen to help coach will have insurance to cover them while they serve in their roles and will involve the receipt of three references and fingerprint to make sure those chosen are fit to serve in their roles.

In other business:

The board approved the financial reports for the month of June.

Members voted in favor of approving the bank statements reconciliations for June.

Bids for milk, bread and gas (gasoline and diesel) were accepted by the board.