Demopolis BOE fires one employee, suspends another

Routine business filled the Demopolis Board of Education meeting Monday night, with board members approving student travel, personnel changes and adoption of a policy on service animals.

But after an executive session, the board voted to fire one employee and suspend another. Dr. Al Griffin, superintendent, gave no further information on the employees or the reasons for their discipline.

Board members also voted to modify the coaching agreement for 2015-2016 to compensate supplement allocations on a monthly basis.

Principals from the system’s schools explained how they are preparing for the ACT-ASPIRE tests which will be administered beginning April 14.

CFO Evelyn James said sales tax receipts were up $4,600 in February over the same month last year. Use of a new system credit card has resulted in a reimbursement to the school system of $5,301.99.

The service animal policy approved at the meeting allowed for “any dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a physical disability,” said Dr. Al Griffin, superintendent.

He said no one in the system now requires the assistance of a service animal.

The board approved hiring Sherron Brown as Westside Elementary School bookkeeper and accepted the retirements of Sandra Seale and Stella Hughes, both of WES, and Deborah Brown of Demopolis Middle School.

Overnight and out-of-state travel were approved for:

• Demopolis High School DECA to attend the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla., April 23-28.
• DHS track team to attend meets in Mobile on April 24 and Gulf Shores April 29-May 1.
• DHS trip to Washington D.C. April 16-20.
• DHS Health Occupation Students of America to Anaheim, Calif., June 23-28 for the National Leadership Conference.