DeKalb County BOE Meeting
By Sherri Blevins
Financial affairs were the topic of the last DeKalb County Board of Education meeting held on Tuesday, September 12, 2019. During the work session preceding the meeting, DeKalb County Board of Education Chief Finiancial Officer, Anthony Cooper, presented the budget to the board for the second reading and opened the floor for questions from the audience concerning the items listed in the budget. The budget amounts to approximately $92 million for the 2019-2020 school year. Complete copies of the documents are available at the Board of Education and were given out at the meeting. The board agreed to pass the budget during the official meeting.
Gwen Griggs, an Alabama State Examiner, reported on the 2019 audit of the school system. Superintendent Dr. Jason Barnett stated he was pleased with the results of the audit with only two areas requiring improvement in the system. One area has to do with an outdated law restricting the use of specific funds. The other area concerned money left in teachers’ classrooms overnight. Barnett indicated they are working on both areas.
The board approved the following resignations:
Marcella Brown – Itinerant Special Education Aide- Ider Special Services Center
Linda Thacker – CNP Worker – Crossville Elementary School
Heather Bethune – CNP Worker – Itinerant Special Education Teacher – Ider Special Services Center
Jayce Ervin – Computer/Software Technician- Facilities Building
Tommy Williams – Bus Driver – Plainview High School
The board approved the following Leave of Absences:
Monte Thompson- Speech Pathologist- Ider High School
Thomas Henderson – Custodian – Ruhama Jr. High School
Judith Releford – CNP Worker – Sylvania High School
Jerry Lee Prestwood – Secondary Science Teacher – Sylvania
Jessica Corsentino – Pre-K Lead Teacher – Collinsville High School
The board approved the following Transfers:
Tracy Tidmore from Teacher at Collinsville High School to Middle School Counselor at Crossville Middle School
Joanna Howell from Instructional Aide at Ruhama Jr. High School to Itinerant El Teacher at Crossville Middle School
Amber Parker from Bus Driver at Valley Head High School to Bus Driver at Plainview High School
The board approved the following Placements:
Will Dodd – Agri-Science Teacher – Sylvania High School
Marlene Bryant – Elementary Teacher – Collinsville High School
Marc Walsh – Elementary Teacher – Valley Head High School
Christina Watkins – Elementary Teacher – Ider High School
Kennedy Brown – Itinerant Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant – System
The board approved the following Support Placements:
Michael Edmonson – Bus Driver – Crossville Schools
Blake Wigley – Bus Driver – Crossville Schools
Stephanie Lacey – Bus Driver Tech Route – Crossville High School
Andrew Meador – Computer Hardware/Software Technician – Facilities Building
Jackie Davis – CNP Worker – Henagar Jr. High School
DeLaine Wiggonton – Itinerant Vocational Rehabilitation Job Coach – Annex
Kristie Dobbins – Itinerant Special Education Aide/Paraprofessional – Ider Special Services Center
The board approved the following Volunteer Coaches:
Collinsville High School – Rodney Hamilton (Basketball), Bear Jones (Basketball), James Coker (Softball)
Crossville High School – Danny Smith (Football)
Fyffe High School – Avery Samples (Volleyball), Buddy Goolesby (Boys Basketball)
Plainview High School – Eric Sanders (Girls Basketball), Brandon Freeman (Softball), Monty Price (Softball), Elijah White (Football), John Prose (Football), Josh York (Football), Phillip Jackson (Football), Jason Traylor (Softball), Saul Jose (Football), Don Black (Baseball), Chris Davis (Football), Mike Smith (Basketball)
Sylvania High School – LaBron Hill (Golf)
Valley Head High School – Craig Hulgan (Football, Basketball, and Softball), Jimmy Phillips (Basketball)
The board approved contracts with Kim Keena (Homebound) and Courtney Kirby (Occupational Therapist Assistant. Superintendent Barnett recommended approving the job description for a McKinney Vento Homeless Liaison, a Parent and Family Engagement Specialist, and a School Social Worker. He also asked for permission to place pending board approval.
The date of the next meeting is Thursday, October 17, 2019, with a work session scheduled for 4:30 pm and the meeting scheduled at 5:00 pm.