By Sherri Blevins
DeKalb County Board of Education President Carol Hiett presided over the January 25, 2022, meeting. This was her first official duty since replacing Chris Andrews, who left his board position to assume the principal role at Guntersville High School. Andrews held the District 2 Board seat. The Board filled this vacancy Tuesday by appointing Kelly Armstrong to the spot. Armstrong stated, “Thank you to the Board for the opportunity that I have to serve on such a wonderful Board in a wonderful county. I look forward to representing not only Geraldine but Fyffe as well. I grew up in the area all my life. I am here to work hard and do whatever I can to help not only the Board but help the students, faculty, parents, and everybody in the community. I am here to help, and I look forward to working with each of you. Thanks again for the opportunity. I am ready to go to work.”
During the work session before the regular meeting, Chris Graben addressed the Board concerning the District 2 appointment. Graben spoke on behalf of his father, Boyd Graben, who applied for the Board appointment. Chris wanted his feelings on record even though he promised to support whomever the Board appointed to the job. He described his dad as a good man, not just because he was his dad, but he said that because he had done many things for a lot of folks and helped a lot of people. This discussion can be viewed on MVN’s Facebook page during the work session.
The Board approved a concession and vending beverages contract for Ider High School with Scottsboro Coca-Cola. It awarded the CNP Vending bid to VendTek Wholesale Equipment, Inc. for $27,450.00.
In personnel matters, the Board approved the following actions:
Retirements/Resignations
A. Ricky Butts – Maintenance Supervisor – District – Retirement – 4/1/22
B. Sandra Treadaway – Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional – Geraldine High
School – Retirement – 1/1/22
C. Ariel Johnson – Varsity Volleyball Head Coaching Duties only – Crossville High School – Resignation – 1/5/22
D. Matthew Allison – Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional – Ider Special Services
Center – Resignation – 1/13/22
E. Courtney Waldrop – Itinerant Special Education Teacher – Plainview High School – Resignation – 1/1/22
F. Rachel Turvey – CNP Worker – Collinsville High School – Resignation – 12/17/21
G. Amanda Moses – Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional – Geraldine High School
- Resignation – 11/22/21
H. Dawn Osborne – Special Education Director – Annex – Resignation – 2/7/22 Leave of Absence
A. Marleni Corona – Itinerant Translator – District – 12/6/21-1/31/22
B. Crystal Gladden – Itinerant Special Education Teacher – Collinsville High School –
12/6/21-2/28/22 (Extension from 1/31/22)
C. Rebecca Jane McClendon – Bus Driver – Geraldine High School – 8/18/21-6/1/22 (Extension from 1/18/22)
D. Cory Amos – English Language Arts Teacher – Crossville High School – 1/3/22-2/25/22
E. Christy Cooper – English Language Arts Teacher – Plainview High School –
1/24/22-5/27/22 (Intermittent) Transfer
A. Ronnie Stiefel – Maintenance Worker to Facilities Improvement Manager for the
District (2021-301)
B. Megan Stone – English Language Arts Teacher to Assistant Principal (10-month) – Crossville Middle School (2021-317)
C. April Hughes from Assistant Custodian (9-month/7-hour) to Bus Driver at Collinsville
High School
Placements
Certified
A. Annabelle Brown – Elementary Teacher – Plainview High School (2021-288)
B. Allison Davis – Itinerant Indian Education / Migrant Teacher – District (2021-320)
C. Sherri Phillips – Elementary Teacher – Crossville Middle School (2021-325)
D. Emilee Blanchett – Itinerant Special Education Teacher – Plainview High School
(2021-330) (Effective 1/3/22)
E. Mallory Stiefel – Pre-K Teacher – Henagar Jr. High School (2021-331) (Effective 1/3/22)
F. Colby Cochran – Science Teacher (Leave from 1/18/22-4/3/22) – Fyffe High School
(2021-340)
Support
G. Heather McSpadden – Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional – Geraldine High
School (2021-326) (Effective 1/3/22)
H. Tera Tatum – CNP Worker – Collinsville High School (2021-333)
I. Tammy Miller – Bus Tech Route – Collinsville High School (2021-334)
J. Kaitlyn Knopps – Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional – Geraldine High
School (2021-335)
K. Brenda Nash – Assistant Custodian (9-month/7-hour) – Collinsville High School
(2021-339) (Effective 1/3/22)
L. Marisol Munoz – EL Aide – Crossville Middle School (2022-001)
M. Deondre Woody – Title I Aide – Crossville Middle School (2022-001)
N. Nathaniel Pannell – Title I Aide – Crossville Middle School (2022-001)
O. Dortha Higgins – Title I Aide – Collinsville High School (2022-002)
P. Madelyn Shankles – Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional – Plainview High
School (2022-003) (Effective 1/18/22)
Q. Sheri Spurgin – Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional – Ider Special Services
Center (2022-006)
Volunteer Coaches
A. Collinsville High School
a. Pedro Sierna – Soccer
b. Sandra Vazquez – Soccer
B. Crossville High School
a. Harley Hicks – Baseball
b. Jimmy Franco – Boys Soccer
c. Noel Balcazar – Boys Soccer
C. Geraldine High School
a. Taylor Freeman – Softball
b. Todd Dismuke – Softball
Contracts
A. Summer Program Directors – ESSER 3
a. Jacob Brown – Collinsville High School
b. Eric Bryant – Crossville Elementary School
c. Jodi Buttram – Sylvania High School
d. Nicole Carroll – Sylvania High School
e. Leslie Day – Valley Head High School
f. Lydia Peek – Crossville Elementary School
g. Melissa Warren – Ruhama Jr. High School
B. After School Programs
a. Diane Church – After School Literacy Teacher Substitute – Plainview High
School – GEER
b. Emily Ferguson – After School Literacy Teacher – Ruhama Jr. High School – GEER
c. Natasha Hilley – ACT Bootcamp – Crossville High School – Title I
d. Cia Lindsey – Literacy Teacher – Plainview high School – GEER
e. Magon McAnelly – Teacher – Crossville High School – ESSER 3
f. Emily Moore – Science Teacher – Crossville High School – CHS Title I C. Patrick Blevins – Physical Science Teacher – Crossville High School – Title I
D. Ashlie Bryant – Science Teacher – Crossville High School – Title I
E. Ashley Croft – Paraprofessional – Fyffe Special Services Center – IDEA B
F. Leah Johnson – Bus Nurse – Valley Head High School – Local
G. Anna Naylor – Art Teacher – Crossville Elementary School – CES Title I
H. Sonya Smith – Data Entry Aide – Plainview High School – PHS Title I
During the Superintendent’s recommendations, comments, and reports the English Language Arts Committee was approved, and Monty Darwin and Robert Elliott were added to the Policy and Procedures Committee. The Board approved the 2022-23 System Calendar stating it was very similar to the previous year’s calendar. They discussed the possibility of providing a supplement to the person in charge of the PowerSchool SIS Rollover. Superintendent Lyles reported that the DeKalb County AASB Snapshot Report 2022 showed the County had a 2.25-month reserve which was excellent. Still, he was concerned about the low system ranking in local funds.
Also, Lyles announced that the date for the Parenting Partners Graduation had been changed to March 9, 2022.
Finally, Johnathan Phillips revealed the new mascot for the DeKalb County Tech School. The students will now be known as the “miners” in honor of the school’s 50th anniversary coming soon.
The next meeting will be on February 22, 2022, at 4:30.