DCS honors DHS band, teachers; bonus set for support personnel

Each month the Demopolis City School Board of Education recognizes outstanding support personnel, teachers and students at two of the four campuses.

At its meeting Monday Demopolis High School principal Blaine Hathcock changed things. While Victoria Sharpe was recognized as the outstanding support employee, Hathcock asked that all teachers be recognized for their tireless work in planning and conducting the spaghetti supper sale to benefit the Demopolis City School Foundation. Department heads accepted the honor.

The principal also said that instead of a single student, the entire River City Blue Band be honored for its compassion and strength after the death of two of its members. Band drum major Kelsei Elmore accepted the award for the band.

U.S. Jones Elementary School honored Ralph Mullen as the support person; Stephanie Pittman, fourth grade teacher, and Travis Clements, fourth grade student.

Next month support personnel in the school system will receive a one-time bonus check based on years of experience. Checks will range from $125 to $525, not to exceed a total of $23,000, said Supt. Kyle Kallhoff.

Unlike teachers whose salaries have many steps through 20 years of teaching, support staff has only three steps in their salary schedule after working for three years. Kallhoff said the system had a financially successful year in 2018-2019 and is able to show its support.

Excluded from the bonuses are CNP workers and grant-based employees. The superintendent hopes to be able to implement a permanent salary fix for support personnel in the future.

Before the board began its deliberations, DCSF executive director Amanda Barnes gave an update on the history and success of the foundation. Since its beginning in 1993, the DCSF has awarded $1.3 million in classroom grants to purchase items not covered in the school system budget, including more than $79,000 in 2019.

With the support of individuals and businesses, the foundation also has an endowment of $1.3 million to ensure future grants.

The board approved a dual enrollment/dual credit agreement with Wallace Community College. The DCS has similar agreements with Shelton State, the UA Early College, UAB and UWA, said Kallhoff. Teachers with the Demopolis system are among the instructors for UWA and Wallace and have done so with Shelton State.

The board also approved contract renewals for Evelyn James, DCS chief financial officer, and for Hathcock; policy revisions covering insufficient funds and worthless checks and the Child Nutrition Program, and an agreement with West Alabama Public Transportation.

The DCS will hold an auction on inventory items no longer needed. Sealed bids will be accepted from noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 in the New Era warehouse, Kallhoff said. Items include Smart Boards, sewing machines and culinary equipment, among other items.

In further action, the board approved:

• Carolyn Moore as delegate and Floy Mayberry as alternate to the 2019 AASB Delegate Assembly in December.
• The use of the DHS auditorium for the Jack-Corene Community Development Corp. Dec. 14.
• The use of the DHS auditorium for funerals for the Moore Family Oct. 10 and for the Benison and Daniels Families Oct. 20.
• Contracts for a varsity tennis coach supplement and technology technician support.
• Advertising for a DHS bookkeeper.
• Out-of-state trip for the DHS Boys Basketball team Dec. 27-29 to Ft. Walton, FL.

The personnel report approved included the following:

• Resignations/Retirements: Ann Jackson, DHS bookkeeper; Tammi Western-Scott, DMS English teacher; Sandra Harris, DHS lunchroom manager; Norma Renee Ethridge, DMS lunchroom worker; Kacey Weekley, DMS special education teacher.
• Conditional employment: Allene Jones, DMS English teacher; Casey Morgan, DMS lunchroom worker, and Patrick Allen, DHS lunchroom manager.
• Substitutes: Alexis Jones, Jasmine Henderson and Marcy Lewis.
• Intermittent FMLA leave for Constance Cleveland, WES teacher.