DCS to establish three Special Education classrooms

The Demopolis City Schools Board of Education approved a Special Education Needs Assessment Monday that will result in self-contained special education classrooms on three DCS campuses.

“We’re not doing right by them or giving them the proper education by putting them out in the mainstream (classrooms),” DCS Special Education Coordinator Kim Logan said of the 21 students who will be serviced by the new self-contained classrooms.

Logan reported that approximately 180 students are currently enrolled in Demopolis City Schools, accounting for approximately 10 percent of the total student population of the system.

“There are a lot of different needs,” Logan told the board.

The other flagship item on Monday’s agenda was the adopting of a new code of conduct policy.

While the policy consists of numerous changes, the key difference for the 2013-2014 academic year is the altering of the policy governing SAP.

Whereas certain offenses previously required a minimum amount of days spent in SAP, the new policy allows for administrators to use discretion when assigning such punishments.

“I feel like discretion should be used when children haven’t been in lots of trouble before,” board member Linda Russell said regarding the alteration to the policy.

The board voted to close all campuses and its central office at noon Wednesday, July 3 in view of the observance of Independence Day Thursday, July 4.

The board voted to apply for the 21st Century Grant to fund Extended Day Programs at Westside Elementary, U.S. Jones Elementary and Demopolis Middle School.

Other items covered during the meeting saw the approval of a Demopolis Middle School field trip to Disney World that will take place Dec. 2-6 as well as the announcement of a special called meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The board is currently reviewing a new salary matrix for 2013-2014 that would contain an across-the-board two percent salary increase for DCS teachers.

Due to scheduling conflicts with the board members, the regular meeting for July will be set for July 22.