Demopolis BOE approves signing bonuses in Monday meeting
Signing bonuses for K-12 Special Education teachers and for grades 6-12 science and math teachers received approval from the Demopolis City Schools Board of Education Monday.
Supt. Kyle Kallhoff said the school system once had the bonuses, but they were suspended several years ago. He wants to be able to use the bonuses as a recruitment tool to fill vacancies expected in the future since these positions often are hard to fill.
Each bonus would be $4,000 paid over three years: $2,000 at signing and $1,000 paid the next two years.
In his remarks, Kallhoff told the board that the Special Education program went through its monitoring year this fall and received a 100 percent score. He said a team of six monitors spent several days talking with teacher, students, parents and support personnel.
The former special education teacher said it is “the most difficult teacher area, but also the most rewarding.”
Kallhoff also praised the schools and the Central Office for their prompt response to the active shooter alert Nov. 15 when all four campuses and the office went into lockdown. It is a situation they had been prepared for.
In other action the board approved:
- The annual agreement with West Alabama Public Transportation
- Disposition of inventory items no longer usable
- Policy manual for the DHS Career Tech program; Work-Based Learning Manual, and Workforce Development Advisory Councils/Committees Handbook.
- Superintendent’s travel to the Southeastern Comprehensive Center Equity Summit in Jackson, Miss.
- Overnight or out-of-state travel to the Joint Leadership Conference Dec. 3-4 in Birmingham for the DHS JROTC, DECA, FCCLA and HOSA; DHS Lady Tigers Ball-N-Power Tournament in Birmingham Dec. 27-29, and the DHS Band State Honor Band Jan. 31-Feb. 2 in Troy.
- Foster care plan for children being relocated who are in the foster care system
Personnel changes approved included:
- Conditional employment: Cleopatra Jones, WES lunchroom worker; Caitlyn Zirlott Hughes, USJ teacher pending graduation from UWA.
- Transfer: Norvie Womack, career prep at DMS to P.E. teacher at DHS.
- Resignation of Kayla Sommers, USJ teacher
- Substitutes: Michelle Schroeder and Charles Wingfield.
- Courtney Kerby, DHS teacher, maternity leave, and Betsy Stephens as her long-term sub.
- Jessica Henson, WES aide, maternity leave, and Rosie Collins as her long-term sub.
- Amanda Harrison, long-term leave.
- Gina Martin, Central Office, long-term leave.
- Marjuyua Walker, USJ Special Education teacher, and Sheila Curry as her sub.
- Jackie Tripp, DHS math teacher, requesting leave, and Kathy Moody as her sub.
The board recognized the teachers, staff and students of the month from WES and DMS. Honored were, from WES: second grade teacher Emi Aultman, special education aid Rosa Washington and second grader Audie May; and from DMS: science teacher Aubrey McIlroy, SAP director Byron Franklin and seventh grader Skylar Scott.
Also approved were facility usage for the DHS Auditorium by the Trip Family Nov. 25, Two Rivers Arts Council on Feb. 21 and Tracy’s Dance Studio May 18; and the DHS track field by the UWA Track and Field Team during track season.
The next board meeting will be Dec. 17.