BOE hears of virus actions; U.S. Jones honored at Centennial
Routine matters took up most of the Demopolis City School Board of Education meeting Monday, but the looming crisis of the coronavirus was front and center on everyone’s mind.
Even the usual practice of honor teachers, students and support staff of the month was suspended for the meeting.
Supt. Kyle Kallhoff distributed the Coronavirus Plan developed by the system, which included school closure, feeding program, enrichment packets and web resources for students, guidance offered for student anxiety, absences and report cards.
The enrichment packets, sent home with those students who attended school Monday, are available online. They consist of a review of content, not new material, and is designed to help students remain academically engaged during the State of Emergency.
Report cards were supposed to be given out this week. Instead, they will be sent home when school resumes. Kallhoff said parents can access students’ grades by the online iNow portal inked to the school system website.
Only minimal staff will be on site at each campus and the Central Office, he continued. No visitors will be allowed at the Central Office.
During the time school is closed, each campus will undergo a deep cleaning. Parents will be kept up to date with the constantly changing situation through robo-calls, web site postings, news articles and social media.
During the meeting the board suspended all overnight and out-of-state travel by students and teachers. Kallhoff said efforts now are being made to secure refunds from vendors who already had been paid for transportation and/or lodging.
The board approved a resolution commemorating the Centennial of Ulysses Simpson Jones, Founder of the City Public School for Negroes.
Jones served as principal of the school for five years until he became director of the Negro Education of Montgomery County, a position he held until his death in 1930.
In 1945 the school, by then known as U.S. Jones, was recognized as one of the leading high schools in the state. During integration it was renamed Eastside Elementary School, but after alumni and parental petitions in 1973, the name was changed back to U.S. Jones.
Kallhoff said he and other members of the Demopolis community have sent letters to the state Housing Financial Authority opposing the development of a housing development behind the MedCenter.
He submitted a letter to the board for their approval to be sent over the signature of board chairman Conrad Murdock spelling out the reasons for the board’s opposition to the housing units. The board okayed the letter unanimously.
The board held the first reading of a change to its financial policy. The proposed change already is in practice, but it is not written in the rules and regulations of the school system. In it, the superintendent is required to give a monthly report to the board on revenues and expenditures.
Personnel changes approved includes the retirement of Susie Plaskett, Demopolis High assistant lunchroom manager; leave of absences for Patricia McVay; long-term substitute Angenell Jones, for special education teacher Sydney Leonard at Demopolis Middle, and a sub license for Robert Steiner.
In other action the board approved:
- The textbook committee which will determine the Health and PE textbooks for the coming year.
- Disposition of items beyond repair.
- Summer work hours.
- Posting for positions in the school system for the next term.