By Marla Jones, Managing Editor, marla@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — At Tuesday’s meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education, Dr. Jason Barnett submitted his resignation as DeKalb County Superintendent of Education, effective June 8, 2021.
Barnett has accepted the position of Superintendent of Education for Guntersville City Schools.
“This item is the most difficult item I have ever had to make,” stated Barnett as he was bringing up his resignation.
“I have really poured over this for several days, weeks, and months. It's tough. I have had good times and I have some bad times in this room.”
“It's been an honor and a blessing serving you,” Barnett concluded.
After Barnett submitted his resignation to the board, Taylor Brooks, Board Attorney advised the board of the legal process of hiring a new Superintendent.
Brooks shared a timeline for the replacement of Dr. Barnett. State statute 16-9-11 governs what happens in a Superintendent vacancy. Within 90 days of an opening, the board must announce the opening in a regular or special called meeting. The job must be posted for 30 days and a replacement shall be made
within 180 days.
The Board agreed to reimburse the Town of Fyffe for half of the Baseball and Softball Fence Repair in the amount of $3,613.13 and the pedestrian crosswalk speed table in the amount of $1,908.52.
The following non-renewals/terminations were made:
Beth Thomas - CNP Worker - Plainview High School - Non-Renewal (Effective 5/28/21)
Ashley Hudgins - Elementary Teacher - Crossville Middle School - Non-Renewal (Effective 5/28/21)
The following Retirements/Resignations were approved:
David Holt - Career Coach - DeKalb County Technology Center - Retirement 6/1/21
Delenia Parker - Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional - Plainview High School - Retirement - 6/1/21
Amy Childress - Elementary Teacher - Plainview High School - Retirement - 6/1/21
Karen Owens - Elementary Teacher - Plainview High School - Retirement - 6/1/21
Patricia Bryant - Elementary Teacher - Sylvania High School - Retirement - 6/1/21
Tiffany Conner - CNP Manager - Henagar Jr. High School - Resignation - 5/12/21
Holly Currie Murdock - Head Softball Coaching Duties Only - Sylvania High School - Resignation - 5/28/21
Larry Colvin - Assistant Custodian - Crossville Elementary School - Resignation
5/28/21
Amber Igou - Elementary Teacher - Crossville Middle School - Resignation - 5/27/21
The following Transfers were made:
Mary Lance - Principal at Moon Lake Elementary School to Academic Recovery Supervisor for the District (Effective 6/1/21)
Barbara Davis - Secretary at Moon Lake Elementary School to Secretary at the DeKalb County Student Support Services (Effective 6/1/21)
John Kincer - Bus Driver at Moon Lake Elementary School to Bus DriveratValleyHead High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Vanessa Henderson - Itinerant Elementary Counselor at Moon Lake Elementary School / Plainview High School to Itinerant Elementary Counselor at DeKalb Virtual Academy / Plainview High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Cheryl Wilborn - Itinerant School Nurse at Moon Lake Elementary School to Itinerant School Nurse at Plainview High School (Effective 6/1/21)
David Bailey - Elementary Custodian at Moon Lake Elementary School to Jr. High School Custodian at Ruhama Jr. High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Lea Long - Elementary Teacher at Moon Lake Elementary School to Elementary Teacher at Valley Head High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Jennifer Gorham - Elementary Teacher at Moon Lake Elementary School to Elementary Teacher at Valley Head High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Karen Prestwood - Elementary Teacher at Moon Lake Elementary School to Elementary Teacher at Valley Head High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Kelbi Ballenger - Elementary Teacher at Moon Lake Elementary School to Elementary Teacher at Sylvania High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Christa Sims - Elementary Teacher at Moon Lake Elementary School to Intervention Teacher at Crossville Elementary School (Effective 6/1/21)
Andrea White - Elementary Teacher at Moon Lake Elementary School to Elementary Teacher at Crossville Middle School (Effective 6/1/21)
Ashlyn Benefield - Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional at Ider Special Services Center to Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional at Plainview High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Terri Hunter - Itinerant Elementary Special Education Teacher at Plainview High School to Itinerant Elementary Special Education Teacher at Geraldine High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Jaclyn Ashley - Itinerant Elementary Special Education Teacher at Geraldine High School to Itinerant Elementary Special Education Teacher at Plainview High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Crystal Gladden - Itinerant Elementary Special Education Teacher at Fyffe Special Services Center to Itinerant Elementary Special Education Teacher at Collinsville High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Jessica Turner - Store Worker at Sylvania High School to Assistant Secretary at Sylvania High School (Effective 5/12/21)
Nathan Parham - General Sciences Teacher at Ider High School to Elementary Teacher at Sylvania High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Traci Hulgan - Elementary Teacher at Ider High School to Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Ider High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Dustin Bryant - P.E. Teacher at Ider High School to Secondary Teacher and Head Boys Basketball Coaching Duties at Fyffe High School (Effective 6/1/21)
The following Placements were made: (All placements are made pending a background review meeting suitability criteria and negative, pre-employment drug screen and appropriate certification)
Certified:
Dustin Brock - Science and Math Teacher (Leave from 4/19/21-5/27/21) - Geraldine High School
Brandon Renfroe - Secondary General Sciences Teacher - Geraldine High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Matthew Duncan - Secondary General Sciences Teacher - Plainview High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Tyler Vann - Secondary Teacher and Head Football Coaching Duties - Sylvania High School
Dana Conley - Business Education Teacher - Geraldine High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Chad Grant - Secondary Social Sciences Teacher and Head Football Coaching Duties - Ider High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Audre Gilbert - Secondary English Language Arts Teacher - Ider High School (Effective 6/1/21) Brianna Guest Lighter - Band Director - Ider High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Kelsey Smith - Secondary Science Teacher - Geraldine High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Sheila Frix - Elementary Teacher - Collinsville High School
Carly Feemster - Elementary Teacher - Crossville Middle School
Support:
Maddison Willoughby - Itinerant Nurse (9-month) - Geraldine High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Michael Phillips - Bus Driver - Plainview High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Kelley Lackey - Bus Driver Tech Route - Plainview High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Ronald Stalvey - Bus Driver - Ider High School (Effective 6/1/21)
Joyclyn Salter - Bus Driver - Ruhama Jr. High School (Effective 6/1/21)
The next meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education will be on May 27, 2021, at 5 p.m. with a work Session at 4:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room at the Facilities Building.
