BOE recognizes students, changes in homecoming activities
Now that school is back in session, the Demopolis City Schools Board of Education resumed its monthly recognition of outstanding teachers, staff members, and students.
At its meeting Monday, the board honored first-grade teacher Crystal Jackson, special education aide Emily Low and first-grade student Langston Smith from Westside Elementary.
Demopolis Middle School honorees were Julie Foster, teacher; custodian Leroy Harris and student Noah Shook.
The board approved the 2018-2019 Capital Plan, required by the state to be submitted every year. The plan looks ahead five years toward what the school system would dream of doing should the money become available.
For the upcoming fiscal year, the Demopolis system has a capital budget of $664,000; all but $186,000 is set aside to pay off debt. The remainder will be used to pay for ADA bathroom upgrades at DMS and ongoing maintenance.
Supt. Kyle Kallhoff said rumors are circulating that the Alabama legislature will approve a bond issue for school construction during its next session. If previous formulas are used, Demopolis would receive some $1.8 million to renovate restrooms at all the schools, repair the leaking roof on the high school gymnasium and make interior renovations to WES, DMS and U.S. Jones Elementary.
Kallhoff said the city has begun discussions on the possibility of levying a one-cent sales tax to be split among the school system, hospital, and road improvements. Income from the sales tax would enable the school system to pay for everything on its five-year wish list, he said.
Three items were approved for inventory disposition, including a 1998 school bus which has been designated as unusable for transporting students. The board agreed to take bids for the bus and advertise specifications for a new bus.
Also approved was a salary revision for a special education aide that has not yet completed the requirements for certification.
The Board approved the following personnel matters:
- Resignations: Devante Giles, Special Education teacher at WES; Dana Freeman, first-grade teacher at WES; Brooke Thorn, DHS math teacher.
- Transfers: Suzann Hughes from aide to teacher at WES; Traci Spiller from Central Office secretary to math teacher at DHS pending certification.
- Substitutes: Tammy Rainey, Sheila Curry, LaMonica Howard and Jennifer Skelton with a sub license; Brandon Kole Thrasher with a Professional certificate; Rose Knott as CNP Sub (retired CNP Worker).
- Miscellaneous: Natasha Ladnier, Special Education Pre-K Teacher, maternity leave; Brittney Stacey as long-term Sub for Ladnier; Haley Sager, WES teacher, maternity leave; Rakeena Anderson, Pre-K Aide at WES, maternity leave. Elaine Carter as long-term Sub for Anderson; Cody Sanders, remove coaching supplement for Varsity Boys Assistant in the amount of $1,109; Requesting approval for 2.5% State raise on the contract of Evelyn James, CSFO, effective 10-1-18.
The board voted for:
- Out-of-state/overnight field trips for the USJ 4-H Camp Sept. 26-28 in Columbiana; DHS girls basketball Dec. 27-29 in Birmingham, and USJ Gifted Program to Dauphin Island Nov. 14-16.
- Advertising the position of a paraprofessional at WES
- Board Chairman Conrad Murdock to be the delegate to the AASB annual meeting in December. Carolyn Moore is the alternate.
In his remarks, Kallhoff reminded board members of the official opening of Lab 212, the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) center at DMS, on Friday at 9 a.m.
“I look forward to sharing the amazing technology” that will be available in the new facility. Although located at DMS, the lab is available for scheduling to all DCS schools.
Kallhoff also announced changes in Homecoming activities this year. Instead of being held Friday afternoon, the parade will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4. The bonfire and pep rally will follow at the Demopolis Civic Center. Thursday and Friday will be full school days, he said.
The next board meeting will be Oct. 15.