DCS Board addresses bullying policy, names DHS stage in honor of Tripp
Triggered by comments during its last meeting, the Demopolis Board of Education Tuesday approved the first reading of a Student Bullying Policy.
The addition to the manual of Policies and Procedures arose after the suicide of a fourth grade student who was reported to have been the victim of bullying. At the December meeting, Nikki Carter, the mother of two students in Demopolis schools, called for a resolution to the problem of bullying.
The proposal specifically addresses bullying in addition to intimidation and harassment now included in the manual. It is based on a model from the state Department of Education.
Public hearings on the proposed addition will be held Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Board of Education office.
A first reading of a Data Governance Policy also received approval. A public hearing on that policy will be held at 4 p.m. on Feb. 4. The policy addresses setting up data security for board employees and operations.
The board voted unanimously to name the Demopolis High School stage to honor the late Brian K. Tripp. The 2018 graduate, killed in a traffic accident over the Thanksgiving holiday, had been an active participant in DHS stage productions as well as with the Canebrake Players and the Demopolis Singers.
The board approved a contract with Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital for occupational therapy services at a cost of $2,000 per month.
The following personnel changes were approved by the board:
- Conditional employment for Eric Kilgore, DMS lunchroom worker, and Kole Thrasher, DMS Career Prep teacher.
- Resignation of Sherri Nettles, DMS math teacher, and Anthony Bassett, JROTC-NCO at DHS.
- Transfer of Addy Card from U.S. Jones 5th grade teacher to DMS math teacher upon securing her replacement.
- Modification of a leave of absence for Rakeena Anderson to a six-week unpaid LOA when her baby is released from the hospital.
- Substitutes Shirley Ann Spencer, Leonard Witherspoon, Allyson Beverly and Cynthia Burton.
- Volunteers Katie Kolar with girls soccer, Alec Harper with boys soccer and Lee Jordan with tennis.
The board also approved out of state and/or overnight field trips for:
- DHS Girls Soccer Feb. 15-16, Mobile.
- DHS HOSA, Feb. 21-22, Montgomery.
- DHS Track, March 19, Meridian, Miss., April 26-27, Mobile, and May 1-4, Gulf Shores.
- DHS Student Council, April 14-15, Tuscaloosa.
In his remarks, Supt. Kyle Kallhoff said Pre-K registration for the 2019-2020 school year now is open. Parents can apply on line. WES also will have an open computer lab on March 7 for registration. The random drawing for one of the 70 Pre-K places will be held March 22 at 1 p.m. in the board room. Kallhoff said preference would be given to Demopolis residents.
He thanked the citizens of Demopolis who shopped locally during the Christmas holidays, making a healthy addition to the school system’s sales tax receipts.
In other action, the board approved Kallhoff’s attendance at a superintendent’s summit in New Orleans Feb. 7-8, disposition of outdated technology equipment and the spring athletics schedules for tennis, soccer and track and field.
January is School Board Appreciation Monday. Members of the board were honored with gifts from each of the city’s schools.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 5:15 p.m. in the board room.