Demopolis BOE recognizes USJ, DHS students and staff

Students and staff from U.S. Jones Elementary and Demopolis High schools were honored at the Demopolis City Board of Education meeting Monday, but board members themselves also were recognized.

Formal honors will be bestowed at the Alabama Association of School Boards meeting in December for board member professional development. Carolyn Moore has earned Master First Year, the highest level. Chairman Conrad Murdock has reached Level 4, and both Owen Kerby and Floy Mayberry receive Level 3 status.

Supt. Kyle Kallhoff said the Demopolis board has earned the President’s Award for nine of the last 11 years for its completion of board member training.

Fifth grade teacher Jennifer Helms, computer facilitator Jessica Raulston and fifth grade student David Walker received certificates and gift cards for being chosen from USJ. The DHS recipients are Brandi Dannelly, career coach; student body president Breanna Braxton, and custodian Donald Richardson.

LaToya Witherspoon, director of the Marengo County Community in Action, received the okay from the board to hold a “silent dance” in the DHS gym on Oct. 27, the end of Red Ribbon Week. Music will play through headphones, she said, and students can choose which song to dance to.

Also approved was a kickball event at the Demopolis Middle School baseball field on Oct. 15 by the United Methodist Church and a 5K run/walk, hosted by the Demopolis Citizens Public Safety Alumni Nov. 3 in the DHS parking lot.

Kallhoff said a Threat Assessment Protocol was developed over the summer to determine the severity of any possible threats by students. The protocol already has been used twice, with one issue resolved and another continuing to be addressed.

In the same vein of school safety, Kallhoff said the access control doors at the school will go live on Monday, Oct. 22.

A number of girls at DMS are asking for a softball team, Kallhoff said. No money is in the budget for middle school softball, but the school system is willing to work with parents to try to field a team.

In other action:

• Colony Office Products was the low bidder for new copy machines at all the campuses for the next four years.
• The board approved a contract with Bereshith Davis to assist varsity boys basketball coaching.
• Outdated science textbooks at Westside Elementary will be disposed.
• The board will advertise for a P.E. teacher at DHS, USJ teacher and lunchroom worker at WES.
• The board approved an agreement with Franklin Covey and DMS for “The Leader in Me” license for 2019.

Out-of-state/overnight field trips that were approved include:

• DMS Honor Band Dec. 6-8 to Troy.
• USJ Gifted Program dates to travel to Dauphin Island was moved to Dec. 11-13.
• DHS Boys Basketball to Cleveland, TN Dec. 27-29
• DHS Science Department trip to Dauphin Island Feb. 12-13.

The personnel report included:

• Transfer of Jessica Henson from WES lunchroom worker to classroom aide and Beth Lindsay from USJ to science teacher at DMS.
• Resignation of Blythe Smith, DMS science teacher.
• Conditional employment of Brandi Parten as Central Office administrative assistant and Anthony Bassett as JROTC NCO instructor effected Jan. 16, 2019, pending military authorization.
• Removal of Linda Johnson from the substitute list at her request and the addition of Kathy Moody.

Kallhoff said attendance for the first quarter was 97.68 percent, but there are a very few students who have missed so much school that truancy complaints will be filed. He also said that infractions during the first quarter stand at 158, down from 190 at the same time in 2017.

The next meeting will be Monday, Nov. 26, at 5:15 p.m.