Masks required at all Demopolis schools until Sept. 30

Masks will be required of anyone entering a school building in Demopolis beginning next week.

The Demopolis City School Board of Education at a called meeting Thursday set the mask mandate until Sept. 30 because the of the spike in cases of COVID-19, especially among school-aged children.

Supt. Tony Willis said mask requirements are being urged by several state agencies, including the Department of Public Health, Department of Public Transportation and of Education.

The rate of infection has increased faster in the last two weeks than any time during the pandemic, he said. All surrounding school districts have already mandated masks or are waiting for a board meeting to do so, he added.

The state Attorney General has said schools don’t have the power to require proof of vaccination or to quarantine students or personnel unless they test positive. Masking and other requirements are being implemented to slow the spread.

Willis said the Sept. 30 date is to cover any COVID-19 surge after the Labor Day holiday. The board will review the need to extend the mask mandate at its September meeting.

Each school will have a supply of masks for those who can’t provide their own. “There is no danger of running short,” Willis said. “We won’t turn away a kid if they don’t have a mask.”

Other precautions being taken were implemented last spring, such as serving lunch in the classroom and not dressing out for PE.

“We’re picking up where we left off last year,” he said.

At this time the school system isn’t offering virtual learning, but it may be an option for later in the year, he continued. Educators learned during the last school year that students should have a face-to-face interaction with their teacher for the best learning experience.

The board agreed to TEAMS contracts for 14 teachers who meet the requirements. Alabama is offering an additional pay scale for teachers in math and science, especially in high need areas such as Demopolis.

The board approved purchase of a new $45,000 dishwasher at DHS to replace the one installed when the school opened in 1997.

The salary and supplement schedule received updated approval to “clean up some things,” according to Willis. The amounts do not change, but an additional $5,000 was approved for any teacher who earns a doctorate.

Contracts were approved for personnel who already hold certain positions: Kirk Brooker, DMS art; Becky Holley, WES art; Leon Clark, Truancy Supervisor, and Jessica Dial, Central Office assistance. Two students who were under contract received new ones: Dustin Bedwell for maintenance assistance, and Shon Jones for groundskeeping assistance.

The vote to approve the personnel report officially filled all the teaching vacancies.

• Conditional Employment: Angel Beville, WES special education; Katelyn Thomaston, WES aide; Charlotte Fowlkes, USJ teacher.
• Transfers/Reassignments:  Eugena Williams from DMS to USJ as gifted teacher; Labrina Dunklin from WES lunchroom worker to assistant manager at WES.
• Supplement for Derrick Hester for Professional Development Coordinator was discontinued because of a change in job title.