Demopolis BOE preps for 18-19 year with hirings, contracts

Since the next regularly scheduled Demopolis City Schools Board of Education meeting won’t be until after school begins, the session Monday focused on approval of contracts, employment and other business necessary before the start of the term.

Two contracts were let for construction at Demopolis Middle School. Phase I of the Americans With Disabilities Act modifications was let to Frasier-Ousley Construction and Engineering for $120,900 and Gaddy Electric and Plumbing was awarded the bid for the replacement of the HVAC system in the cafeteria for $22,968.

Child Nutrition Program bids went to Forestwood Farm, Inc. for produce at a cost of $59,056.40; Bama Milk/Ice Cream, for ice cream, $9,297.50, and Borden Dairy for milk, $83,769.01.

Newell Paper Company received the bid for copy paper at $19,254.02.

Before the campus shootings occurred in Parkland, Fla., in February, the Demopolis Police Department assigned two policemen as Student Resource Officers, each covering two campuses. Two more were added in response to the shootings.

The school system has paid the salary for one officer, and the Police Department paid for the second one. To continue having four officers, however, the board voted to pay for a second officer, totaling $80,000 annually.

A contract for grounds keeping assistance at all four campuses was awarded to McKewn Dannelly. His approval for assistant coaching for baseball and football was tabled.

The board also approved supplemental pay for the school year covering extra-curricular activities. Supt. Kyle Kallhoff stressed these supplements are renewed annually and do not go toward a teacher’s tenure. He said the supplements are about $2,000 less than last year.

Also approved were contracts for the Demopolis High Band Dance Line instructor and Color Guard Instructor, paid for by the Band Boosters, and a percussion instructor and majorette instructor.

Three teachers who previously had been hired for the new year declined their offers to accept other jobs. The board approved new hires, bringing the teaching staff to 100 percent.

Conditional employment was given to:

• Victoria Loper, U.S. Jones Elementary teacher
• Amanda Bovis, DHS English teacher
• Cody Sanders, DHS science teacher
• Marylen Bracht, DHS history teacher
• Teran Jimmerson, Westside Elementary Pre-K teacher
• Amber McDaniel, WES teacher
• Emily Drake, WES teacher
• Norma “Renee” Etheridge, DMS CNP worker

Judy Pritchett was transferred from Pre-K aide to regular aide at WES, resulting in a pay increase. Pam Morgan, DHS special education aide+, is retiring.

In other action, the board approved:

• Disposal of outdated science and math textbooks from DMS. Kallhoff said books no longer used are stored at DHS. When enough weight in books is gathered, they are sold.
• Annual renewal of the contract with Lewis Pest Control.
• Locker Pro Lock Lease and Maintenance Agreement at DMS to redo the locks.

The meeting began with a report of the auditor on the School System’s books. While there were some journal entry discrepancies, they had been resolved.

The audit also pointed to two policies that were required. The first, on religious freedom, already had been prepared and approved. The second one on Uniform Administrative Requirements Policy had its first reading at the meeting. A public hearing will be held July 26, and the final reading and vote will be held at the August meeting.

Out-of-state and/or overnight field trips were approved for:

• DHS teacher Connie Boutwell for AP training in Oxford, Miss.
• DHS softball March 1-2, 2019 in Corinth, Miss.
• DHS Softball March 24-27, 2019 in Gulf Shores
• DHS Softball April 5-6, 2019, in Troy.

In his comments to the board, Kallhoff said the “mantra” for the school year is “Back to the Basics.” He will stress at the Teacher Institute on Aug. 10 the importance of student and staff safety and of building relationships.