School resource officer discussion highlights Demopolis BOE meeting

All four Demopolis City Schools principals reported a good opening to the 2014-2015 school year at the Board of Education meeting Monday, and Dr. Al Griffin, superintendent, said the beginning of the term was “as smooth as I’ve ever had as an administrator.”

Enrollment is up at three of the four campuses, with only Demopolis Middle School reporting a dip. Students continue to be enrolled, the principals reported.

So far Westside Elementary has 523 students; U.S. Jones Elementary, 482; DMS, 520, and Demopolis High, 698.

The board tabled action on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Demopolis Police Department concerning the salary and benefits paid to the School Resource Officer, the police officer assigned to the schools.

The proposed MOM has the school system splitting the cost of the SRO with the DPD. In the past the DPD has paid for the officer.

“I don’t have a problem” with paying half the cost, said board chairman Jim Stanford. “I just want to know why.”

Griffin said he would have the answer by the next meeting and would also have the amount that the school system would be responsible for paying. He said the expense will be covered through the at-risk funds made available to the Demopolis school system.

The board again approved the purchase of two used buses from Transportation South at $59,000 each, action that was taken at the July meeting.

Although the firm is the only one providing used buses, the board by law had to extend bids for the purchase. Only Transportation South responded.

The buses should be delivered by Sept. 22.

The board approved the HVAC equipment installation contract with Cooper Brothers for the loop field geothermal system at DHS at a cost of $327,389. Work should begin later this week.

Board attorney Alex Braswell received approval to attend the National School Boards Association 2014 School Law Practice seminar in Denver, Colo., Oct. 9-11.

Of particular interest at the seminar will be information on implementing the Affordable Care Act beginning January 1.

The board revised the National Board Certification policy for Demopolis teachers who apply. The board approved expenses of no more than $2,600 annually. If more than two teachers apply, a panel of their peers will determine who receives funding.

Also approved at the meeting were the contract with Genesis Rehabilitation, Inc. for occupational and physical therapy and leasing Canon Copiers for the Central Office for 48 months.

Griffin reminded the board of the “Future of Public Education” tour by state superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice that will be in Demopolis on Thursday, Aug. 28. Bice will speak from 6-7 p.m. at DHS, to be followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session.

The following personnel changes were approved:

• Resignation of Sgt. Tim Jordan as JROTC instructor
• Posting the JROTC position with a seven-day minimum.
• Resignation of Jennifer Roemen as Central Office Cleaning on the Supplement Form effective Aug. 31.
• Resignation of Donna Calhoun as USJ Reading Coach effective Aug. 29.
• Posting USJ Reading Coach position through Aug. 26.
• Renew Speech Services contract with Dana Eddins.
• Appoint Jeremy Silcox as DMS Head Baseball Coach on Supplement Form.
• Appoint Brian Bradley as DMS Assistant Baseball Coach on Supplement Form.
• Remove Angela Sanders as both DMS softball and DMS girls basketball coach on the Supplement Form.