Interim superintendent named; K-5 students return to campus learning

At its meeting Tuesday, the Demopolis City Schools Board of Education approved Dr. Walter Davie to serve as interim school superintendent while the board conducts a search to replace Supt. Kyle Kallhoff.

Kallhoff leaves at the end of March to become superintendent of Cullman City schools. Davie, the former Tuscaloosa County Schools superintendent, retired at the end of the last school year.

The board decided to end the virtual education option for students in grades K-5. Those attending school virtually will return to campus learning beginning Monday, March 22, and will be required to return to campus by Monday, April 5.  

DMS and DHS will keep the virtual option for the remainder of this school year. The only exception is for virtual students who have a failing grade in any core subject. They will be required to return to campus. 

The board also decided that April 7 will be the last Remote Learning Wednesday for Westside and U.S. Jones Elementary. DMS and DHS will continue Remote Learning Wednesdays until further notice. 

The board approved Morgan Nelson to be the new chief school financial officer. She steps into the position vacated by Evelyn James who retired in December.

Bids for the WES multi-purpose center were opened earlier Tuesday. Kallhoff told the board the lowest bid still was $610,000 over the budgeted $1.7 million. Architects for the project will negotiate with the bidder to see what can be eliminated from the plan, which included a walking track at USJ and an access road from Demopolis High to U.S. Hwy. 80.

On the plus side, the school system is in line to receive another $2.5 million in COVID relief funds. The money must be used for projects benefit educational, social and emotional support related to the coronavirus and/or physical improvements to campuses to combat any other pandemic.

In response to board member Carolyn Moore’s concern about the DHS bathrooms, Kallhoff said total replacement costs for the project are estimated to be $650,000. Money may be found in the COVID relief package, but other projects would take precedence.

The school system will enter a five-year contract with Mississippi State University for student teachers to practice in Demopolis beginning in the fall. DCS already has agreements with UWA and UA.

In other action, the board approved:

• Advertising for summer school teachers.
• Extending contracts with two student workers through August.
• Suspending employee attendance bonuses.
• Setting summer hours for the Central Office as Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Senior Prom April 17 at the Civic Center and graduation for May 28.
• Funding math coaches at WES and USJ.
• Football and tennis team trips.
• Requiring masks for the remainder of the school year.
• Renewal of the supplement schedule template.

The board okayed the following personnel changes:

• Retirement of Dee Ann Road and Terri Speegle, second grade teachers at WES; William Jackson, WES lunchroom worker; Cloria Anderson, USJ lunchroom manager; Victoria Sharpe, lunchroom worker at DHS; Ramona Larkin, WES lunchroom manager, and Gloria Mims, fourth grade teacher at USJ.
• Conditional employment of Cleopatra Jones, assistant lunchroom manager at USJ, and Tommy Perkins Jr., 9-month custodian at DHS.
• Transfers of Robert Howze, from 12-month custodian at USJ to WES as 9-month lunchroom worker and 3-month custodian, and Michael McClain, 9-month lunchroom worker at USJ, to 12-month custodian.
• Alyssa Martinez as a substitute for K-5.
• Unpaid leave for Jackie Tripp, DMS teacher, to return Aug. 6.
• FMLA for Elizabeth Claire Bell, pre-K aide, to return April 12.
• Change of FMLA start date for Lindsey Robinson, WES teacher, to March 9.
• FMLA for Casey Morgan, DMS lunchroom worker, to return April 5.
• Nicole Larkin as Elementary Summer Program coordinator, with a $3,500 stipend.
• Allene Jones as Secondary Summer Program coordinator, with a $3,500 stipend.