Hathcock resigns as DHS principal

Demopolis High School principal Blaine Hathcock is resigning as of June 1 to become Wallace Community College’s Demopolis campus director.

His resignation was one of many personnel matters approved by the Demopolis City Schools Board of Directors during its remote meeting Monday.

In a statement released after the meeting, Supt. Kyle Kallhoff praised Hathcock for his guidance at DHS.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, we are very happy for Mr. Hathcock and his family for the career opportunity presented to him,” Kallhoff said.

“As the director of a two-year college campus, Mr. Hathcock becomes one of few administrators in the state of Alabama with this title…We are proud that a principal who has been serving the Demopolis community for the last eight years is amongst this company. Mr. Hathcock’s new role will continue to strengthen the dual enrollment opportunities for the students at Demopolis High School.”

Kallhoff said the School Board will begin a statewide search immediately for Hathcock’s successor. “Ideally, a recommendation can be made in late June, and the next principal can be in office in early to mid-July.  Mr. Hathcock has agreed to be available as much as possible to help the new DHS principal with a smooth transition.”

Other personnel matters included:

• The transfer of Kristina Kallhoff from Westside Elementary to U.S. Jones Elementary.
  • Resignations of Bradford Daniels, DHS history teacher and Linda Anderson, USJ.
  • Retirement of Donna Randall, DHS English teacher.
  • Conditional employment of Leeanne Moseley, Sarah Chelsea Morgan, Desha Anderson, Ashton Linder and Sherita Pickens, all at USJ;  Joseph Brandon Allen as band Instructor split between DMS and DHS; Dale Foster as music teacher split between WES and USJ; Langdon Colburn, Brittany Osborne, Jeffrey Stanley (P.E.) and Melissa Reid (Special Education) all at WES, and Rickey Pulliam as Special Education Teacher at DHS.
  • Transfers include Emily Low, Aide at WES to Aide at USJ, Stacy Wright from nine-month secretary at Demopolis Middle School to 12-month bookkeeper at USJ, Kristi Stokes from USJ to WES, Bill Barley, from a 10-month Guidance Counselor split between DMS and DHS, to 1/2 time 10-month Guidance Counselor at DHS and 1/2 time arttTeacher at DHS, and Chandler Warren from P.E. teacher at WES to Career Prep teacher at DMS.
  • Kathleen Randall was placed on the substitute list.
  • Joseph Brandon Allen was contracted June and July 2020 for one-time only additional band duties at $2,000.
  • Six non-renewal contracts.

The board began its meeting by reelecting Conrad Murdock as chairman and Olen Kerby as vice chairman.

In her monthly financial report, CFO Evelyn James reported the expected downturn in sales tax revenue because of the stay-at-home policies connected with the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue was down $9,462 from April of 2019 and $15,820 from year-to-date 2019.

The figures mean the board will be paying careful attention to where money is spent, said Kallhoff.

One of the ways to save, he continued, was the elimination of a local teaching unit by contracting for an art instructor at DMS and having Bill Barley return half time as the art instructor at DHS. The board approved the contract with Kirk Brooker to teach 15 hours a week at DMS.

James also said the school system is eligible to receive $675,961 as part of the CARES Act to help offset some of the expenses incurred from the coronavirus outbreak. Once the Demopolis application for the funds is approved, it can draw down what it needs to pay expenses.

ETF funds also are expected, although the amount is being cut in half from the original $1 million. The money would be used to update servers and the telephone system and replace the DMS gym floor.

The state bond issue is expected to bring another $2.4 to $2.9 million for capital improvements. Top on the priority list is a new multi-purpose facility at WES. Once the money is allocated, the Capital Planning Commission will determine where the money will be best spent.

Becky Holley’s contract as art teacher for WES using Title I funds also was renewed.

In other action, the board approved Kallhoff’s attendance at the School Superintendent Association Summer Conference June 20-24 at Point Clear.

Members also gave the okay to sell annual naming rights to the ticket gates at the DHS stadium.

Following the suggestion by State Supt. Eric Mackey, Kallhoff said the school system is working on a revised calendar for the next term. He said the schedule has yet to be decided since he still is getting input from teachers, administrators and parents. Under the proposed plan, school would start Aug. 24 instead of Aug. 13 and have a 175-day year with remote learning days built in.

The plan also calls for the system to be better prepared in case remote learning is required during the next term.

“We were caught off guard like everybody in the world,” said Kallhoff. “We can get better.”

Summer programs are anticipated to start on June 8 for students 12 years of age and older, Kallhoff continued. This will include summer school and athletic practices. Proper social distancing and other precautions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus will be followed.

Summer programs for students under 12 years of age should begin in July.

Kallhoff ended the meeting by thanking everyone, especially parents, for their patience during the unusual second semester of school.

“We asked a whole lot of our parents,” he said. It was especially difficult for working parents.