The Ider community, Building Contractors, and DeKalb County Board of Education members gathered for a groundbreaking for the Ider gymnasium. Cheryl Boydston | Southern Torch
By Marla Jones
Managing Editor
Ider, Ala.-- (Full video on Southern Torch Facebook) The DeKalb County Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting at Ider High School, on Thursday, March 23.
Prior to the meeting, the DeKalb County Board of Education broke ground at Ider School for the new 21,500-square-foot gymnasium. The new gym will have a 1,200-person sitting capacity.
“Thank you to all the community members that attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new gymnasium today. Thank you to Senator Steve Livingston and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter for securing the funding for this much-needed facility” stated DeKalb County Superintendent Wayne Lyles.
“We are planning and working diligently to replace the softball field that was moved for this project. Thank you to Ider Mayor Wendy Hammonds Lassetter and the Ider City Council for assisting in providing a facility for the softball team for this season” concluded Lyles.
The following bids were approved by the Board:
• Central Office Cleaning Services Bid - CJC Cleaning
• Sylvania High School Football Field Lighting Project - Musco Sports Lighting
• Collinsville High School Auditorium Stage Curtains - Georgia Stage LLC
The following Retirements were approved:
• Karen Barnett - Elementary Teacher - Fyffe High School - Retirement - 6/1/23
• Lisa Shrader - Itinerant Indian Education Teacher - District - Retirement - 6/1/23
• Robin Pair - Elementary Teacher - Sylvania High School - Retirement - 6/1/23
• Linda Chambers - CNP Worker - Sylvania High School - Retirement - 6/1/23
• Kathy Dodd - Elementary Teacher - Fyffe High School - Retirement - 6/1/23
The following Resignations were approved:
• Otis Washington - Social Worker/Mental Health Services Coordinator-District - Resignation - 4/3/23
• Rachael Walker - Cheerleading Coaching Duties Only - Crossville Middle School - Resignation - 2/14/23
• Lillian Hawkins - Junior High Volleyball Coaching Duties Only - Crossville Middle School - Resignation - 3/1/23
• Misty Day - CNP Worker - Geraldine High School - Resignation - 3/17/23
• Kendi Alverson - CNP Worker - Geraldine High School - Resignation - 3/17/23
• Heather Harris - Assistant Custodian (9-month/7-hour) - Plainview High School - 3/22/23
• Taylor Clough - Jr. High Girls Basketball Coaching Duties Only - Crossville Middle School - Resignation - 3/16/23
The following Leaves of Absence were approved:
• Avery Collins - Pre-K Teacher - Fyffe High School - 2/2/23-5/26/23
• John Daniel Pope - Shop Foreman - Transportation - 11/23/22-7/30/23 (Extended from 2/8/23)
• Kim Maness - Academic Supervisor - Central Office - 2/22/23-4/13/23
• April Hall - Elementary Teacher - Plainview High School - 2/22/23-4/28/23
• Sonya Stephens - Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional - Fyffe Special Services Center - 1/26/23-3/9/23
Tracie Ford - Ele • mentary Teacher - Crossville Middle School - 8/1/22-5/26/23 (Extended from 1/1/23)
• Lacie Fricks - Elementary Teacher - Sylvania High School - 2/6/23-4/3/23 (Extended from 3/10/23)
• Madison Willoughby - School Nurse - Geraldine High School - 5/1/23-5/26/23
• Monique Kittle - Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Sylvania High School -
Intermittent Catastrophic Leave - 3/1/23-3/20/21
• Hannah Vann - Elementary Teacher - Sylvania High School - 4/10/23-5/25/23
• Jordon Wright - CNP Worker - Plainview High School - 3/24/23-5/5/23
The following On the Job Injuries were approved:
• Selina Alexander - CNP Worker - Plainview High School - 0 days
• Trina Land - CNP Worker - Plainview High School - 0 days
• Devin Bouldin - Science Teacher - Collinsville High School - 0 days
• Jennifer Gilbert - EL Teacher - Geraldine High School - 3 days
The following Transfers were approved:
• Brittany Rhodes from CNP Worker at Crossville Middle School to Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional at Geraldine High School (Effective 2/23/23)
• Tim Coppock from Assistant Custodian (7-hr/9-month) at Crossville Middle School to Assistant Custodian (7-hr/9-month) at Fyffe High School (Effective 3/24/23)
The following Placements were approved (All placements are made pending a background review meeting suitability criteria and negative, pre-employment drug screen and appropriate certification):
Certified
• Melissa Snyder - Elementary Teacher (Leave 10/20/22-5/26/23) - Crossville Middle School
• Megan Hearn - Secondary Mathematics Teacher (Leave 3/17/23-5/26/23) - Crossville High School
• John David Willoughby - Itinerant Special Education Teacher - Henagar Jr. High School (Effective 3/7/23)
• Skyla Gray - Varsity Volleyball Coaching Duties - Plainview High School (2023-016)
• Lola Cortez Garcia - Secondary English Language Arts Teacher - Crossville High School (Effective 4/3/23)
• Lily Wills - Elementary Teacher (Leave 2/22/23-4/28/23) - Plainview High School (Effective 2/27/23)
Support
• Candice Painter - Assistant Custodian (7-hr/9-month) - Crossville Middle School (Effective 3/24/23)
• Tori Rogers - CNP Worker - Crossville Middle School (Effective 3/7/23)
• Sam Griggs - Itinerant Social Worker - Mental Health Services Coordinator - District (Effective 4/17/23)
The following Volunteer Coach was approved:
Geraldine High School
•Blake Truett - Baseball
The following Contracts were approved by the Board:
• March 23, 2023 Contracts Report
• Myra Burgess - Math Teacher - Geraldine High School
• Christie Deere - Math Teacher - Geraldine High School
• Jenny Mann - After-School Bus Driver - Ider High School
Superintendent Wayne Lyles requested the following, which was approved by the Board:
• Permission to Place Pending Board Approval
• K-3 English Language Arts Textbook Adoption - McGraw Hill - Open Court and the entire supplemental list approved by the Alabama State Department of Education
• 4-5 English Language Arts Textbook Adoption - McGraw Hill - Open Court
• Support for State Alabama Skills Contest - $2,000.00
• FinalSite Website Contract
Superintendent Lyles also recognized the following for their outstanding achievements:
• State Beta Winners 2023
• Crossville High School - 2022 CLAS School of Distinction
• Coach Robi Coker and the Plainview Bears Boys Basketball Team on another AHSAA 3A Championship. Luke Smith was the tournament MVP and Landon White was recognized on the state all-tournament team.
• Coach Jamie Pruett and the Ider Lady Hornets Basketball Team on finishing as Northeast Region Runner-Up! Record 22-11
• Ider PTO - Thank you for extending your hospitality and providing refreshments for this meeting.
The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday, April 27. The Work Session will begin at 4:30 P.M. and the Regular Meeting will begin at 5 p.m. in the Meeting Room at the Facilities Building.
