BOE tries hand at math, archery; approves expenditures

Continuing its practice of meeting at different campuses this spring, the Demopolis City Board of Education met Monday at Demopolis Middle School. Students assisted board members as they attempted to answer math questions similar to those being asked on the state assessment and then tried their hand at archery.

During the regular meeting, the board approved the purchase of 600 Lovovo Chromebooks using an Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF)grant. Also approved was the purchase of security cameras using ESSER 3 money for $253,357.90. The school system must pay the two-year licensing fee for the cameras at $45,639.30.

The school system will pay the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts for the audit period of Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, in the amount of $22,184, and the system agreed to pay Ward Scott Architecture, Inc. $275,000 for re-roofing the Demopolis High School gymnasium.

Two budget amendments were approved in order to take advantage of funds awarded but not fully used. The first is for carryover monies from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, and the second, from the CARES Act for cleaning supplies and for a contract with Cintas to deep clean the schools weekly.

The board changed the policy for the Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor Line, giving more weight to those students in AP courses at 110 percent, and in dual enrollment at 105 percent.

The 2022-2023 school calendar okayed by the board has classes starting Aug. 11 and continuing through May 25, 2023. A full week off is planned for Thanksgiving and Spring breaks, and students have two weeks at Christmas.

Out-of-state/overnight field trips approved include the DHS tennis team to the state championship in Mobile April 17-19 and the DHS DECA club to Atlanta, Ga., April 21-27.

The board gave the nod for the University of West Alabama to use the DHS trace every Wednesday and Friday from 3-5 p.m. through May 27; the U.S. Jones gymnasium March 19 for repast; DHS track by the A.L. Johnson High School March 15-May 4 from 4-6 p.m., and a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Jones National Alumni Association to house a museum at USJ.

               The following personnel report was approved:

• Resignations by Leroy Harris, custodian, and Charlotte Fowlkes, USJ fifth grade teacher.
• Hiring Mary Schroeder to fill the nurse vacancy.
• Transfer of Eric Kilgore, lunchroom worker, to custodian.
• Abby Carroll and JoeAnn Merriweather, substitutes.
• Janelle Adams as sub for vacancy left by Fowlkes.

Supt. Tony Willis reminded the board of the tax renewal vote Tuesday, March 22, at the Demopolis Civic Center.

The next board meeting will be at DHS on April 18.