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Demopolis BOE preparing for superintendent search

Jan McDonald , , , ,
Mary McClain-Colgrove, a Demopolis High School freshman, received a resolution in her honor for serving as president of the state Junior Beta Club.
Mary McClain-Colgrove, a Demopolis High School freshman, received a resolution in her honor for serving as president of the state Junior Beta Club.

After taking part in a two-hour training session to instruct them on the legalities in choosing a new superintendent, the Demopolis City School Board set a called meeting for 8:15 a.m. April 29, to determine how to proceed.

“This is not a process that’s going to happen quick,” said board chairman Jim Stanford. He estimated the search for a superintendent to replace Dr. Al Griffin would take at least four months. Griffin’s last day will be June 30.

Sally Howell, director of Alabama Association of School Boards, conducted the training session. The board can opt to hire a private consultant for the search, which it always has done in the past; have the board attorney screen applicants for the members to choose from, hire the AASB to conduct the search or choose a combination of those methods, said board member Linda Russell.

Mary McClain-Colgrove, a Demopolis High School freshman, received a resolution in her honor for serving as president of the state Junior Beta Club. The resolution expressed the board’s “appreciation and thanks” for representing Demopolis and its schools “in an exemplary manner.”

A number of personnel changes were accepted by the board. They included:

  • Retirement at the end of the school year for Jan Brooker.
  • Resignation at the end of the school year for Nick Bussey, Amy Ramer and Angela Sanders.
  • Transfer of Tammy Western-Scott from Westside Grade 2 to Demopolis Middle School Grade 6.
  • Resignation of Matt Geohagan effective April 20 and Coty Geohagan effective May 22
  • Modify Family Medical Leave Act request for Jeanette Rainey.
  • Modify maternity leave request for Meggin Mayben.
  • Open Demopolis High School Math position through April 27.
  • Open DMS Science position through April 27.
  • Hiring Donna A. Gandy for DHS bookkeeper effective May 4.
  • Hiring Anthony Jacks as the DHS Social Science teacher for the 2015-2016 school year.

After voting by the school system personnel, the 2015-2016 calendar was approved by the board. Starting date for students will be August 13.

The board voted to accept the summer schedule for the school board office and each campus. They will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 7:30-11:30 a.m.

Only one vendor presented a proposal for paper for the next school year, and the board accepted Newell Paper’s bid, which is the same as the current year.

Griffin said sign-up for the Summer Drivers Education Program has begun, and the board approved the schedule. DHS principal Dr. Tony Speegle said two periods of Drivers Ed are planned in the fall and one in the spring for those who couldn’t enroll in the summer session.

The following requests for out-of-town travel were approved:

  • DMS Junior Beta Club members to the National Convention in Nashville, Tenn., June 25-29.
  • DHS Golf Team to competitions in Mobile April 27-28 and, if qualified, on May 4, 5, 11 and 12.
  • DHS students to attend the Physics Day Challenge at Six Flags in Atlanta on April 24.
  • DHS Tennis Team to competitions in Montgomery April 15-16 and, if qualified, to Mobile April 20-21, approved retroactively.
  • DHS Soccer Team to competitions April 25 and 28 and, if qualified, May 2, 7 and 9.
  • DHS Baseball Team for competition April 24 and 25 and, if qualified, May 2, 3, 8, 9, and 11-16.

The school board also approved the following:

  • The use of the DMS Athletic Complex for National Night Out August 11.
  • The use of the DMS gymnasium for 5-on-5 Basketball Tournament May 23.
  • The use of the DHS auditorium for a Dance Recital May 6-8.
  • The use of the DHS auditorium for a program by Mike Lutzenkirchen on drinking and driving. The school system is splitting the $1,500 cost of his appearance and travel expenses with Marengo County Schools. Lutzenkirchen’s son, an Auburn University football standout, was killed in an automobile accident involving alcohol last summer.