By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — At Tuesday’s DeKalb County Board of Education workshop, Valley Head Athletic Club President and concerned parent Dave Vest addressed the Board regarding the lack of a baseball field for Valley’s Head Varsity Baseball team.

Since 2016, the Town of Hammondville, DeKalb BOE and Valley Head High School have been in talks to find a resolution. 

Vest stated that Barnett had previously advised that due to legal reasons, county funds could not be used for renovations without a lease or being the owner of the property. The Board could be held liable and would not be covered by insurance.

Recently, Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative deemed the light poles at the field a safety hazard and that the Town of Hammondville would be liable if any incident occurred. The Town removed all the lighting, virtually giving the team no place to play. 

After a back and forth between the town and the school system, there was no resolve and Vest came to the Board looking for a solution.

“I’m hopeful that a solution is come up with for our kids,” said Vest. “That’s been my only priority this entire time. We are in a unique position that we don’t have a town that supplies us with a park. I stand by my statement that the Board is lucky that they have these other towns that are basically furnishing their schools with a place to play and absorbing the cost.”

“With insurance changing all the time, [who's] to say they will not eventually run into this issue with another town and school at some point down the road,” he concluded. 

In a statement made to Southern Torch, Dr. Barnett said:

“It is very unfortunate that the Hammondville baseball field lease taken this long to resolve. There has been many, many hours and days spent on finding a mutually agreeable resolution. Unfortunately, we are not able to agree to the terms they have presented. To that effort, we have provided various avenues to come to an agreement. I want to note that we will continue to work to come to a resolution and am hopeful this will come sooner rather than later.”

In the regular session, Brad Green of Raymond James reported that while obtaining their first bond issue, the Board received an A+ in their credit rating. 

John Whitley of SunTrust presented the Board with a $25,889.83 check for rebates that the Board received from issuing purchasing cards to their employees through SunTrust. 

The Board approved the following:

Retirements / Resignations

• Diane Pointer, Secondary General Science Teacher at Crossville High School (retirement, 6/1/19)
• Ray Troxtel, Maintenance Worker at Facilities (retirement, 5/1/19)
• Jeanie Croft, Elementary P.E. Teacher at Ider High School (retirement, 6/1/19)

Leave of Absence

• Lindsay Little, Elementary Teacher at Fyffe High School (3/5/19-5/22/19)
• Miranda Edwards, Elementary Teacher at Collinsville High School (4/1/19-5/23/19, revised from 4/15/19-5/24/19)
• Katie Willingham, Elementary Teacher at Ruhama Jr. High School (2/8/19-5/13/19, extended from 4/15/19)

Placements

Certified

• Leah Faye Vaughn, Elementary Teacher at Fyffe High School (Leave from 4/1/19-5/23/19)
• Amelia Fugatt, English Language Arts Teacher at Crossville High School (ending 5/23/19)
• Brenda Trotman, Elementary Teacher at Collinsville High School (ending 5/23/19)

Support

• Cynthia Wilt, Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional at Crossville Middle School (ending 5/23/19)

Volunteer Coaches

• Jeremy Henderson at Valley Head High School (softball)

Principal Contracts

• Jon Peppers, 12-month principal at Crossville High School (7/1/19-6/30/20)
• Wayne Lyles, 12-month principal at Ider High School (7/1/19-6/30/20)
• Westley King, 12-month principal at Sylvania High School (7/1/19-6/30/20)

The next meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education will be held on Thursday, April 18 at 5pm with a work session beginning at 4pm.