Demopolis BOE hears special presentation, considering USJ principal applications
Demopolis High senior Tristan Mullen displayed the challenge coin given to him by President Donald Trump, a flag he received that had flown over the Capitol and lots of photographs as he reported on his days in Washington, D.C. March 3-10.
Mullen spoke to the Demopolis Board of Education Monday, a requirement from having been selected as recipient of the U.S. Senate Youth Program. The program selects two students from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity to spend a week in the nation’s Capitol and to receive a $10,000 scholarship.
Injecting humor into his presentation, Mullen spoke of the action-filled days, the well known political figures he met and the insights he gained into America’s history and governance. Rep. John Lewis was next to him at a luncheon and the group had long question-and-answer sessions with then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, as well as Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
The meeting started with the recognition of outstanding representatives from Westside Elementary and Demopolis Middle schools. Honored from WES were Amanda Meadows, teacher; Libby Padilla, staff aide, and second grader Jewel Phillips. From DMS were teacher Jackie Tripp, staff member Rose Knott and eighth-grader Caleb Vann.
In his superintendent’s report, Kyle Kallhoff said several safety measures have been put in place in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. In addition, buzzer systems for each campus and student ID tags are being explored as are the requirement of transparent back packs.
He said the third annual Young Authors Symposium will be held at DHS April 3. Guest speaker will be author Joe Savage with the University of Mobile.
Kallhoff also reported more than 30 people have applied for the position of principal at USJ. He will narrow down the numbers and hopes to have a list for the board to consider by the end of April.
The board approved the following:
- Fiscal year 2018 budget amendment
- Agreement with A.L. Johnson High School to use the DHS track.
- Disposals of inventory, primarily outdated computers
- Renewal of three-year contracts for WES principal Rashanda Jackson and DMS principal Brandon Kiser.
- Advertising for elementary school positions for the next term.
- Advertising for a secretary at DHS
- 2018-2019 Board meeting schedule
- Request to sell old band uniforms to alumni
- Agreement between Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company and DHS.
Personnel changes approved by the board include:
- Resignation of April Johnson, DHS secretary
- Retirement of Christine Anderson, U.S. Jones Elementary School aide
Demopolis City Schools Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff, DCS board member Floy Mayberry, Westside Elementary staff aide Libby Padilla and WES Principal Roshanda Jackson - Retirement of Sue Moore, USJ fifth grade teacher.
- Hiring of Brittany Edwards as a substitute
- Revised hours for Mike Randall from 30 to 28 hours per week.
- Extension of medical leave of absence for Pam Morgan, DHS special education aide.
The board approved out-of-state and/or overnight trips for the following:
- DHS Tennis Team to Meridian, Miss., on March 5 and another trip April 9.
- DHS Skills USA students to Starkville, Miss., March 22.
- DHS Softball to Gulf Shores April 12-13 and Troy April 2021, May 10-12 and May 16-19.
- USJ 5th grade Honor Club to Washington, D.C. April 21-25.
- DHS DECA Club to Atlanta, Ga., April 21-25.
