Demopolis BOE handles end-of-year business, accepts resignations
End-of-the-school-year business took up most of the Demopolis City Board of Education meeting Monday, with many of the reports focusing on what the school system has accomplished and what is planned in the near future.
The meeting started with a presentation by three Westside Elementary kindergarteners who gave a talk on their project of Flat Stanley. Students in Gabrielle McVay and Terri Speegle send the paper characters to a total of 15 states and one foreign country and prepared displays of what Flat Stanley did while visiting. Conner Reynolds, Preston Bozeman and Jaborri Washington told of their Flat Stanley’s visits to Portland, Oregon, Opp, and to the White House, respectively.
At the beginning of the business session, board members reelected Jim Stanford as president and selected Conrad Murdock to serve as vice president for the next year.
Board members Linda Russell and Laura Foster reported on the investigation into the issue of matching funds paid to teachers in the system who have fulfilled the requirements for National Board of Certified Teacher.
After meeting with CFO Evelyn James, payroll director Jennifer Roemen and teacher Kim Browder, said Russell, the group went through all of the deductions taken from the matching funds and determined that the teachers received what they had been promised.
The board approved a bid from Hotel Restaurant for $37,395 for work at U.S. Jones Elementary. Child Nutrition Director Aretha Little updated the board on other replacement and renovation projects at WES, USJ and Demopolis Middle School.
Superintendent Dr. Al Griffin said the food service upgrades are among several capital projects underway or being completed at all four campuses. Work this summer will be done to replace the Demopolis High gym floor, and bids to install a geothermal system will be opened next week. New lighting also is being put in place.
CFO James reported that sales taxes are up almost $93,000 over the same period last year. Softball and baseball tournaments scheduled in Demopolis over the summer should boost sales tax income for the school system as well.
The board voted to retire two buses, acquired in 1999, that cannot be maintained. That leaves the system with four working buses plus one dedicated for special needs students.
Board chairman Jim Stanford directed that a study be made to determine if the school system can purchase at least one bus in the coming year.
Matt Geohagen has received the Principal Candidate Semester Residency grant and will be working in the fall semester with Principal Leon Clark at USJ.
His appointment required a Memorandum of Agreement between the school system and the Alabama State Department of Education, which was approved unanimously. The grant pays for Geohagen’s replacement in the fall.
The board approved the following personnel recommendations:
• Adding 10 days to the contract of Traci Pearson, DMS counselor, to assist with scheduling for 2014-2015.
• The resignation of Mike Black as DHS JROTC instructor effective August 1, and to post the position until filled.
• The resignation of Teila Lee as the WES Special Education teacher and to post the position.
• Hire Bill Jackson, CNP employee, for additional services for the summer.
In other action the board approved:
• Overnight and out-of-state travel for Joey Browder to Louisville, Ky., from May 31-June 7 to serve as an AP exam reader. All his expenses will be paid for by the AP board.
• Overnight and out-of-state travel for Andi Tuberville with Family and Consumer Science to Atlanta, Ga., June 15-20, for the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation Summer Institute.
• The use of the DMS and DHS gymnasium for the Theo Ratliff Annual Basketball Camp June 9-10.
Board member Ronnie O’Neal shared a report from the state Board of Education showing Demopolis City Schools ranked 22nd among the state’s systems as determined by the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test.
The next board meeting will be June 16.