CHS Robotics Team Visits Board
By Sherri Blevins
The Crossville High School Robotics Team paid a visit to the DeKalb County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2019. The team recently competed at the North East Alabama Best Robotics Competition held at the Agri-Business Center in Rainsville, where they placed second overall. This award earned the group the right to participate in the state competition on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at Auburn University. Robotics Instructor, Emily Moore, and Crossville Principal Jon Peppers spoke highly of the group’s performance at the competition and to their dedication and commitment to the team.
Angel Agustin, Fernando Guzman, Ivan Franco, and Jose Soriano represented the 40 member CHS Robotics Team at the meeting, recreating a demonstration performed at the competition. At the end of the presentation, a team representative asked the board members for a donation to fund their upcoming state competition trip. The board eagerly agreed to support their efforts.
David Marks, the newly hired County Registrar, reported on the success of his first three months of operation in his new position. Marks, a former high school counselor, showed that taking the job of registering new students off the plates of the high school counselors, has freed the counselors to spend more time in one on one consultations with students. So far, Marks has registered 186 new students saving the counselors 13.29 days spent away from students.
The board approved the following items during the meeting:
Early Graduation of Carli Watwood, Amanda Hamilton, and Brittany Aul from Collinsville High School
- Early Graduation of Addison Nicole Puckett, Judson Smith, William Smith Jr., and Kirby Smith from Geraldine High School
- Early Graduation of Rebecca McGee from Plainview High School
- Early Graduation of Daisy Hernandez and Brian Rosales from Valley Head High School
- Purchase of 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD with work bed from Donohoo Chevrolet for $31,854.28
- Purchase of 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 from Donohoo Chevrolet for $21,022.20
- On-The-Job Injury Claim for Connie Coots (Fyffe High School CNPWorker) and Alice Durham (DeKalb County Technology Center Store Worker)
- Retirement of Kathy Lingerfelt Plainview High School CNP Worker effective 1/1/20
- Resignations of Carol Goodridge (Ider High School Store Worker-12/31/19) and Brittney Graham (Crossville Middle School Pre-K Teacher 12/20/19
- Leave of Absence for Monty Thompson (Ider High School Speech Pathologist), Julie Abbott (Crossville Elementary School CNP Manager), Kimmy Hanners (Geraldine High School CNP Worker), Natalie Greeson (Fyffe High School Elementary Teacher), Teresa Word ( Crossville Elementary School Teacher), Kendra Varner (Ruhama Jr. High School Pre-K Auxiliary Teacher), Terry White (Bus Mechanic at Bus Garage), Ashley Williamson (Sylvania Secondary English Language Arts Teacher), Kelbi Ballenger (Moon Lake School Elementary Teacher), Jessica Corsentino (Collinsville High School Pre-K Lead Teacher), Jimmie Faye Kilgo (Crossville Middle School 12 Month Custodian), and Susan Lowden (Geraldine High School Pre-K Auxiliary )
- Placements of Jimmy Benefield (Technology Coordinator), Jason Lindsey (Ruhama Jr. High Instructional Aide), Misty Gilbert (Ider High School Bus Driver), Larry Colvin (Crossville Elementary School Assistant Custodian), Alicia McDaniel (Crossville Elementary School CNP Worker), and Anitra Brooke Frazier (Ider High School CNP Worker)
- Volunteer Coaches at Collinsville High School – Perry Hughes (Baseball), Jeff Chandler (Baseball), and David Hernandez (Soccer)
- Volunteer Coach Andrew Hatch (Indoor/Outdoor Track) at Fyffe High School
- Volunteer Coaches at Geraldine High School – Thomas Willoughby (Football), Kelly Armstrong (Softball), Cassie Black (Girls Softball), Jody Harper (Football, Baseball) and Carlos Benitez (Football, Baseball)
- Contracts with Kelbi Ballenger (Homebound), Brittany DuBose (Sign Language Interpreting Services Substitute), GO PLAY Therapy (Pediatric Speech Therapy), Tawnya Bob, Haley Harbour, and Tracey Walker (Crossville 21st Century Teachers), Joanne Maze (ESL Newcomer Tutor), Karen Prestwood (Moon Lake After School Program), Tim Janzen (Central Office Landscaping), Lori Willyard (Ruhama CNP Support), Rhonda Jolley (21st Century Teacher), and Gary Gattis (Student Technician)
- Easement for Fire Hydrant at Ider High School
- Geraldine Lease Agreement for Field House
- Tech School Sub Route Increase from $25 to $30 per day effective 11/1/19
- Permission to Place Pending Board Approval
- Superintendent Barnett also congratulated the Geraldine Volleyball Team for being 3A State Runner-Up, Collin Mayfield for being 3A Cross Country State Champion, and Jake Peppers for signing a JSU Baseball Scholarship.
The next DeKalb County Board of Education meeting is Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 5:00 PM with work session at 4:30 PM.