Robertson Bank, Foster Farms recognized at third annual Stakeholder Luncheon

Business, community and industrial leaders committed to supporting excellent schools in Demopolis learned of the school system’s progress and its hopes for the future at the third annual Stakeholder Luncheon Wednesday at Demopolis High School.

They also received high praise from educators.

“I appreciate you. I appreciate what you do for our school system,” said DHS principal Blaine Hathcock.

Supt. Kyle Kallhoff told the audience than in his 20 years in education, “I’ve never, ever seen support like there is in Demopolis.”

Kallhoff said at a meeting Wednesday in Montgomery on early childhood education Gov. Kay Ivey repeated her education initiative “Strong Start. Strong Finish.” The three-pronged approach to the initiative includes making sure students read at grade level by the time they leave third grade, intensive computer science curricula and advanced training and job placement.

In all those areas, he continued, the Demopolis school system is making long strides.

“I feel comfortable with what we’re doing,” he said. “Our children are in good hands.”

Principals of the city’s schools gave an update on their accomplishments. All of them stressed not only academic advancement but creating a strong social and emotional foundation in their students as the system works toward its vision of being in the top 10 percent of systems in the state in all categories.

Total enrollment this year is 2,310, said the superintendent. As expected, Kallhoff told the group, Demopolis lost some Sumter County students who transferred to the new charter school. In addition, another dozen students from outside the city limits were let go because of attendance and grade issues.

Because attendance determines funding for the system in the next school term, truancy is taken very seriously. Parents are legally responsible for making sure their children attend school. Kallhoff enumerated the steps Demopolis schools use to curb truancy before the matter is referred to juvenile court.

Kallhoff said the school system has in place a detailed five-year capital improvement plan so that if funds become available, “We want to be crystal clear and transparent.” He said there is “chatter” in Montgomery about a possible bond issue and local interest in a penny sales tax.

He added that making all those plans happen “would be a huge recruitment tool.”

Right now U.S. Jones Elementary and Demopolis Middle schools are strapped for space. In addition, the high school needs to expand its athletic facilities, which he called “the front door of your school system.” Westside Elementary is in dire need of a multi-purpose center.

Technology is always being upgraded. What was state-of-the-art five years ago is obsolete today, he said.

Kallhoff also addressed the issue of school safety. To the two School Resource Officers that had been covering the four campuses, the system added two police officers this year. They will be going through training to be fully vetted as SROs. Limited access and upgraded cameras are being installed at each school as well.

The superintendent especially noted the Threat Assessment Protocol to intervene if a student shows signs of being a danger to himself or others. Within the first few weeks of school the protocol was used to help two students.

The program ended with Kallhoff recognizing two businesses named Tiger Champions for their generous support of Demopolis City Schools: Robertson Banking Company and Foster Farms.