Talladega Schools hires interim CSFO

Mara Walls

The Talladega City Board of Education voted unanimously to hire an interim chief schools financial officer during a special called meeting Friday morning.

Mara Walls, of Cropwell, worked as the CSFO for the Pell City school board until 2010 and has worked as a consultant for the state Board of Education since then. Interim Superintendent Dr. Frank Costanzo said he had worked with her extensively during the state intervention in the Birmingham City school system.  Board Chairman Jake Montgomery was authorized to negotiate a contract with Walls, which will then be submitted to the full board for final approval. She will start working Thursday.

Costanzo said Friday that former CSFO Mable Gunter would stay on a bit longer to make help make the transition. He also said he wanted to make certain all of the system’s financial information was presented clearly and in a way that would be easy for board members and the general public to understand.

Walls is the fifth CSFO hired by the city school system in just over two years. She will be replacing Bethany Waters in an interim capacity until the board is able to hire a permanent replacement.