Demopolis schools to return $410,000 to city
Demopolis Board of Education members unanimously approved setting up a business credit card with Robertson Banking Company at its meeting Monday.
RBC representative Lee Pritchett told the board that one percent of all purchases on the card would come back to the school system at the end of the year.
Supt. Dr. Al Griffin directed CFO Evelyn James to set up the procedures the school system will use to administer the cards, including spending limits. James said all users still will be required to submit purchase orders and turn in receipts.
In her monthly report James said the school system will have to reimburse the City of Demopolis for sales taxes that were overpaid. She said a glitch in the system occurred when the taxes from Marengo County, which in the past had been sent to the city, were sent directly to the school system. Neither the school system nor the city were informed of the change, and Demopolis also sent tax money to the system.
The total amount that will be returned to Demopolis is almost $410,000, but James assured the board that the school system still has more than $2 million in the general fund.
Griffin announced that schools will not have to make up the three days lost to weather in January because Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency.
Demopolis Middle School principal Blaine Hathcock received a certificate of achievement from the state Department of Transportation for excellence in maintaining the bus fleet. Hathcock said any system in the state that has less than 10 percent deficiency in their bus fleet during the year is recognized with the award.
He said credit goes to Black Belt Truck and Tractor in Demopolis, which maintains the fleet of six buses for the school.
Alabama Education Association representative LeBaron Mack told the board that the fight in the state legislature this year will be over a pay raise for the teachers. The AEA is pushing for a six percent raise instead of the proposed two percent.
The board approved a bid of $95,258 from Dixie Store Fixtures of Birmingham for a new serving line at Westside Elementary School and a new freezer at Demopolis Middle School.
Members also voted to accept the retirement of U.S. Jones special education teacher Mary Sewell effective June 1. Sewell has taught in the Demopolis system for 32 years.
WES principal Tony Pittman said pre-registration for kindergarten will be Feb. 25-28.
Lady Liberty will be on hand for the kick-off of Liberty Legacy, a nine-week citizenship training program, at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at U.S. Jones Elementary, said principal Leon Clark.
“It is a highly developed program which brings a lot of attention to history, civics, character education, financial literacy and also career readiness,” said Clark.