Demopolis BOE approves new hires and resignation in Tuesday meeting

With the start of school just two weeks away, the Demopolis City Board of Education met for a short meeting Tuesday to approve new hires and a resignation.

Prior to the meeting the members of the board held a work session to review a proposed five-year strategic plan for the school system, which was approved unanimously during the meeting.

The plan includes vision and mission statements that have been updated from the previous strategic plan and, for the first time, a Demopolis City School System motto: Doing things differently and inspiring futures.

The board approved hiring L’Oreal Moore as Demopolis High English teacher and Hannah Shirley, temporary science teacher at DHS.

The resignation of Karen Kerby as the Access Lab teacher at DHS was approved effective Oct. 1.

Shirley Dial Mack was approved as a substitute teacher, and FMLA leaves were approved for Barbara Wallace, DHS science teacher, and Blythe Smith, Demopolis Middle science teacher.

Supt. Kyle Kallhoff said two openings still remain to be filled before classes begin. The board will meet in another called session next week to fill those vacancies: JROTC and U.S. Jones Elementary special education.

The board also approved an Alabama State Department of Education Innovation/Flexibility Application. The state requires 30 minutes of physical education each day. However, to accommodate enrichment/gifted classes, the Demopolis system is asking that the PE requirement be suspended one day each week.

The next regular board meeting will be held Monday, Aug. 15. It will begin at 4 p.m. instead of the usual time in order for members and staff to attend the candidates’ forum being held that evening.