By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — At last week’s meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Jason Barnett reported on the reopening of schools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We’ve had a really successful opening to the school year. I think it’s went outstanding,” said Barnett. “We really want to thank our staff, our faculty, our teachers, our CNP, our custodial staff, our nurses, our bus drivers, secretaries, translators, maintenance, and our administrators for all their work.”

“I’ve watched school reopenings all across our nation and state, and I really don’t know that anybody’s done any better than we have right here in DeKalb County,” Barnett continued. “Our students are doing a great job coming to school, wearing their masks like they’ve been asked to, distanced liked they’re asked to, and using those sanitizing stations.”

At the meeting, the Board approved the order of petroleum products from Cedar Bluff Oil Company with gasoline at $1.52 per gallon and diesel at $1.33 per gallon. They also approved the UPG Settlement Agreement and the construction of an Ag/FACS Building at Collinsville in the amount of $2.98 million dollars.

The Board approved the following On-The-Job Injuries: 

• Eddie Hill, custodian (12 months) at Sylvania - three days
• Brenden Schlageter, assistant secretary at Geraldine - one day

The Board approved the following retirements, resignations, or terminations:

• Myra Dalton, assistant secretary at Fyffe (retirement, 9/1/20)
• Dana Bowman, elementary teacher at Plainview (retirement, 9/1/20)
• Danny Johnson, custodian at Plainview (retirement, 9/1/20)
• Sheila Greeson, paraprofessional at Plainview (retirement, 11/1/20)
• Laura Hill, English/language arts teacher at Geraldine (resignation, 7/24/20)
• Jonathan Haynes, P.E. teacher at Crossville (resignation, 8/3/20)
• Addison Fugatt, English/language arts teacher at Crossville (resignation, 7/23/20)
• Kristie Dobbins, itinerant special education paraprofessional at Ider (8/5/20)
• Piyush Bhatt, secondary mathematics teacher at Crossville (8/4/20)
• Kaitlyn Griffin, itinerant speech-language pathologist at the District (resignation, 7/30/20)
• Mary Dixson, P.E. teacher at Moon Lake (resignation, 7/31/20)
• Nick Moses, bus driver at Crossville (resignation, 8/1/20)
• Kathy Brown, counselor at Geraldine (resignation, 9/4/20)
• Christopher Haston, computer hardware technician at Facilities Building (termination, 8/27/20)

The Board approved the following leaves of absence: 

• Megan Jones, business education teacher at Crossville (8/18/20-9/25/20)
• Stanley McClendon, bus driver at Geraldine (8/17/20-11/1/20)
• Becky Nelson, CNP worker at Crossville (8/17/20-10/12/20)
• Tim Hixon, custodian at Fyffe (8/3/20-8/21/20)
• Kendall Durham, English/language arts teacher at Fyffe (9/18/20-12/18/20)
• Helen Jones, CNP worker at Collinsville (8/3/20-9/30/20)

The Board approved the following transfers:

• Whitney Tinker, itinerant special education teacher at Valley Head to itinerant speech language pathologist for the System
• Chris Wallace, elementary teacher to itinerant EL teacher at Crossville
• Misty Gilbert, itinerant special education bus aide to bus driver at Ider
• Lindsey Franklin, elementary teacher to secondary English/language arts teacher at Geraldine
• Denise Downer, itinerant special education paraprofessional to elementary teacher at Plainview

The Board approved the following certified placements:

• Sierra Crider, science teacher at Plainview
• Cynthia Wooten, elementary teacher at Collinsville (leave from 8/1/20-5/31/21)
• Amber Igou, elementary teacher at Crossville
• Brenda Trotman, elementary teacher at Collinsville
• Anna Strother, elementary teacher at Crossville
• Ashley Hudgins, elementary teacher at Crossville
• Robin Potter, elementary teacher at Geraldine
• Shannon Chappell, itinerant special education teacher at Valley Head (effective 8/18/20)
• Lorrie Cleveland, itinerant special education teacher at Geraldine (leave from 8/1/20-9/1/20)
• Taylor Clough, P.E. teacher at Crossville
• Peyton Knop, secondary mathematics teacher at Crossville (effective 8/6/20)
• Andrea White, elementary P.E. teacher at Moon Lake
• Daniel Williams, secondary mathematics teacher (virtual school support) at DeKalb Virtual Academy (8/28/20-5/27/21)
• Isaac Dismuke, secondary business education teacher (leave from 8/18/20-9/25/20)

The Board approved the following support placements:

• Shawn Hutcherson, CNP worker at Plainview
• Nancy Eberhart, bus driver (tech route) at Plainview
• Charlotte Guttromson, bus driver at Ider
• Dedra Brown, itinerant special education bus aide at Ider (effective 8/10/20)
• Gary Matthews, custodian (12 months) at Collinsville
• Luke Frasier, computer hardware/software technician at the Facilities Building
• Jaclyn Ashley, itinerant special education aide/paraprofessional at Plainview
• Holly Berrong, itinerant nurse (9-month) at Crossville
• Victoria Farrow, itinerant nurse (9-month) at Ider
• Taylor Davis, itinerant special education aide/paraprofessional at Ider
• Elizabeth Kathy Gray, bus driver (tech route) at Fyffe

The following contracts were approved: 

• Holly Farmer, homebound at IDEA B
• Janice Brown, vision assessments at IDEA B
• Angie Broyles, speech therapy at IDEA B
• Kimberly Ford, tutor at Title 1
• Carrie Atchley, DVA course building (CARES Act), ESSER
• Louise McCarty, 21st CCLC Nurse at 21st Century
• Bris Torres, 21st CCLC translator at 21st Century
• Montana Gattis, student technician at local
• Alex Thomas, student technician at local
• Philip Mosley, part-time EL teacher at EL
• Lorraine Willyard, Ruhama CNP cashier at CNP
• Berenise Luna, 21st century translator at Crossville
• Kodie Smith, 21st CCLC teacher at 21st Century

Volunteer Coaches 

A. Crossville High School 

a. Robby Mays - Football, Baseball b. Johnny Chacon - Football c. Danny Smith - Football B. Fyffe High School 

a. Avery Collins - Volleyball b. Tommy Mayes - Girls Basketball c. Alan Goolesby - Basketball d. Tonya Myers - Softball e. Jamie Hatch - Softball f. Steve Cowart - Softball g. Andrew Hatch - Track h. Rodney Coots - Football i. William Norris - Cheerleaders j. Destiny Ridgeway - Girls Basketball k. Dallas Burt - Softball C. Geraldine High School 

a. Brian Waldrop - Football b. Shelby Brothers - Volleyball c. Cassie Black - Girls Basketball d. Thomas Willoughby - Football e. Jody Harper - Football, Baseball f. Carlos Benitez - Football, Baseball D. Ider High School 

a. DeWayne Heard - Football b. John Massey - Football c. Cole Wootten - Basketball E. Plainview High School 

a. Micah Haynes - Football b. Elijah White - Football F. Sylvania High School 

a. Chad Murdock - Softball b. Bartley Raulston - Football c. Nathan Parham - Football d. Labron Hill - Golf e. Josh Turner - Football f. Scott Smith - Football g. Lucas Smith - Football G. Valley Head High School 

a. Cindy Lee - Volleyball b. Sam Graham - Football c. Craig Hulgan - Football d. Kevin Worthey - Basketball e. Jimmy Phillips - Basketball f. Charity Michaela Worthey - Basketball 

Fall Literacy Camps 

A. Collinsville High School 

a. Jacqueline Clanton - Teacher b. Lorilyn Owen - Teacher c. Patsy Chambers - Teacher d. Sherri Haas - Teacher B. Crossville Elementary School 

a. Lydia Peek - Teacher b. Samantha Flaherty - Teacher c. Clarinda Hambrick - Teacher d. Whitley Dillard - Teacher e. Laura Smith - Teacher f. Tammy Williams - Teacher C. Fyffe High School 

a. Tiffeny Cowart - Teacher b. Jennifer Kerby - Teacher c. Tracey Monroe - Teacher d. Kristi Underwood - Teacher e. Jessica Mayes - Teacher D. Geraldine High School 

a. Melissa Gilbert - Teacher b. Emily Slaton - Teacher c. Jennifer Gilbert - Teacher d. Ginger Hill - Teacher e. Samantha Finch - Teacher f. Sharon Sibert - Bus Driver E. Henagar Jr. High School 

a. Tabatha Greenwood - Teacher b. Jennifer Ridgeway - Teacher c. Tammi Womack - Bus Driver F. Ider High School 

a. Tina Ferguson - Teacher b. Traci Hulgan - Teacher c. Shannon Pruett - Teacher d. Nancy Frost - Substitute Teacher e. Deborah Durham - Substitute Teacher f. Diane Laney - Substitute Teacher g. Tammy Smith-Foster - Bus Driver G. Moon Lake 

a. Karen Prestwood - Teacher H. Plainview High School 

a. Cia Lindsey - Teacher I. Ruhama Jr. High School 

a. Sonya Pope - Teacher b. Melissa Warren - Teacher c. Lezlie Pope - Substitute Teacher d. Chris Murdock - Bus Driver J. Sylvania High School 

a. Amy Gurley - Teacher b. Robin Pair - Teacher c. Tina Wilks - Teacher d. Regina Davis - Teacher e. Tamikah Holbrook - Nurse K. Valley Head High School 

a. Renee Fraley - Teacher b. Lynne Wagner - Teacher c. Christi Black - Teacher d. Michelle White - Substitute Teacher e. Renae Day - Substitute Teacher f. Amy Burrows - Substitute Teacher 

Bus Sanitizing 

A. Brenna Williams - Bus Sanitizing - Collinsville High School (2020-170) B. James Hamby- Bus Sanitizing - Crossville Elementary School (2020-170) C. Michael Edmondson- Bus Sanitizing - Crossville Middle/High School (2020-170) D. Randy Webb- Bus Sanitizing - Fyffe High School (2020-170) E. Suzanne Armstrong- Bus Sanitizing - Geraldine High School (2020-170) F. Tammi Womack - Bus Sanitizing - Henagar Jr. School (2020-170) G. Jenny Mann- Bus Sanitizing - Ider High School (2020-170) H. Troy Mueller- Bus Sanitizing - Plainview High School (2020-170) I. Chris Murdock - Bus Sanitizing - Ruhama Jr. High School (2020-170) J. Kevin Womack-- Bus Sanitizing - Sylvania High School (2020-170) K. Terry Scott- Bus Sanitizing - Valley Head High School (2020-170) 

Custodial Support 

Joyce Barnes - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Crossville Elementary School (2020-187) C. James Hamby - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Crossville Middle School (2020-188) 

D. Robert Bryant - Custodial Support (1-hour) - Crossville Middle School (2020-188) E. Francisca Espinosa Ovalle - Custodial Support (1-hour) - Crossville Middle School 

(2020-188) F. Mark Quarles - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Crossville High School (2020-189) G. Tanner Cowart - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Fyffe High School (2020-190) H. Cori Willoughby Benitez - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Geraldine High School 

(2020-191) I. Carlos Benitez - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Geraldine High School (2020-191) J. Todd King - Custodial Support (1-hour) - Henagar Jr. High School (2020-192) K. Shelley Cooper - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Ider High School (2020-193) L. Sara Welden - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Ider High School (2020-193) M. Ricky Willyard - Custodial Support (1-hour) - Ruhama Jr. High School (2020-195) N. Eddie King - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Sylvania High School (2020-196) O. Dianna King - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Sylvania High School (2020-196) P. Lindsey Cole - Custodial Support (2-hour) - Valley Head High School (2020-197) 

The next meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 10 with a work session at 4:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Facilities Building.