Demopolis BOE recognizes students, teachers
After students and teachers at U.S. Jones Elementary and Demopolis High School were honored Tuesday, the Demopolis City Schools Board of Education dealt swiftly with routine business.
Recognized from USJ were Addison Gunter, a fifth-grader, and third grade teacher Katie Poole. From DHS were senior Logan Etheridge and 10th grade English teacher Allene Jones.
Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff also said that in honor of School Board Member Appreciation Month in January the schools and Central Office each prepared a gift basket for one of the board members.
The board approved the purchase of a Special Needs bus for $91,891 from Transportation South out of Pelham.
The 2017 Thomasbuilt will seat up to 26 passengers. Kallhoff said the school system will have some $56,000 toward the purchase of the bus from Fleet Renewal Funds carried over from previous years by the time the bus is delivered in July. Annual allocations from the state for fleet renewal will be used to help pay off the remainder of the cost of the bus.
The school system will undergo a three-day accreditation inspection beginning Monday, Feb. 21. The team will conduct interviews and visit facilities in addition to studying submitted written reports. The team will release its findings at a called board meeting at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
Part of the accreditation is having the system’s web site updated and on line, said Kallhoff. He introduced Chris Glover, who began his duties as technical coordinator Jan. 4, and complemented Glover for completing the work and having the newly designed site go live earlier in the day.
In other action, the board approved:
- A contract with Dr. Sarah P. Odom for an external evaluation of the system’s three 21st Century Programs. Cost of the evaluation was written into the grant for the program.
- A contract with Cobb Pediatric Services for a psychometrist.
- Out-of-state and/or overnight travel by the DHS DECA Club to Birmingham and the USJ Honor Club fifth-graders to Washington, D.C.
- Superintendent travel to the SSA Legislative Conference in Montgomery.
In personnel action, the board approved the conditional employment of Stacy Jones as a lunchroom worker at WES; adding Charon Fitzpatrick as a substitute teacher, and granting a Family Medical Leave of Absence to Pam Morgan with the anticipated return date of Feb. 1.
The superintendent encouraged everyone to attend the Young Authors Showcase and Symposium Monday, Jan. 25, at DHS, beginning at 5 p.m. The keynote speaker will be children’s author Robert Little, who also will give talks at WES and USJ earlier in the day.
Student authors from each campus will be interviewed and have their work on display. Guest authors with local ties will set up booths to answer questions and sell their books.
The next meeting will be Monday, Feb. 15.