No Technology Fees for DeKalb Students

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

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — (Full video on southerntorch.com) On Thursday, the DeKalb County Board of Education (BOE) held their regularly scheduled meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Jason Barnett gave the Board a COVID-19 update and it was agreed to enter into a contract with Cintas to sanitize all schools weekly. The Board also agreed that In light of COVID-19, to waive the 2020-21 technology fee for all students.Dr. Barnett advised the board that after speaking with Ridgeway family members, that it was their desire to rename the Long-Ridgeway Stadium to Paul Benefield Stadium at Long-Ridgeway Field, which was approved by the Board. Paul Benefield is a legend in the coaching world. He is 9th on the all-time wins list for the State of Alabama. Benefield's overall record is 297-53 with a winning percentage of 84.9 percent. He has won four state championships and has never coached a losing record over his 28-year long career.

In other business, the Board approved the following:

On the Job Injury: Adam Haynes - Maintenance Worker - Facilities - 16 days

Retirements/Resignations

Terry McNew - Bus Driver - Ruhama Jr. High School - Retirement
Connie McFall - Elementary Teacher - Plainview High School - Retirement
Tracy Gilliland - English Language Arts Teacher - Crossville High School - Retirement
Clifford Millican - Bus Driver - Ider Special Services Center - Resignation
Tiffany Jenkins - Itinerant Special Education Teacher - Crossville Middle School (Resignation)
Leah Smallwood - Itinerant Elementary Special Education Teacher - Geraldine High School - Resignation
Brandon Renfroe - General Science Teacher - Plainview High School - Resignation -

Leave of Absence

Misty Brooks - Itinerant Special Education Teacher - Geraldine High School - 8/3/20-8/31/20
Ashlea Veal - Elementary Teacher - CollinsvilleHigh School - 8/3/20-5/31/21

Transfers

Justin Croley - Middle School Math Teacher at Crossville Middle School to 1⁄2 Assistant Principal / 1⁄2 Instructional Coach at Crossville Middle School
Riley Edwards - Elementary Teacher at Crossville Middle School to Secondary P.E. Teacher and Assistant Football Coaching Duties at Crossville High School
Tracy Butts - Elementary Teacher at Crossville Middle School to Elementary teacher at Geraldine High School
Joanna Howell - Itinerant EL Teacher at Crossville Middle School to Elementary Teacher at Crossville Middle School
Christy White - Itinerant EL Teacher to English Language Arts Teacher at Crossville High School
Jacob Brown- Elementary Teacher to Assistant Principal at Collinsville High School

Placements

Certified

Christopher Self - Itinerant Special Education Teacher - Geraldine High School
Clay Mitchell - Agri-Science Teacher (10 months) - Crossville High School
Amy M. Lewis - Itinerant Elementary Special Education Teacher - Geraldine High School
Michaela White - Itinerant EL Teacher - Collinsville High School
Ryan Stanley - Elementary Teacher - Collinsville High School
John Mayfield - Middle School Math Teacher - Crossville Middle School
Melanie Wren - Mathematics Teacher - Sylvania High School
Deborah Young- Elementary Teacher - Valley Head High School
Jonathan Ty Cole - Social Sciences Teacher - Crossville High School
Brandy Dupree - High School Counselor - Valley Head High School
Cassey Donielle Hall - Itinerant EL Teacher - Crossville High School
April Ivey - Itinerant Special Education Teacher - Crossville Middle School
Tobey Hicks - Jr. High Volleyball Coaching Duties Only - Crossville Middle School

Support

Beth Thomas - CNP Worker - Plainview High School
Lona Kilgo - Itinerant Bus Paraprofessional - Fyffe Special Services Center
Vickie Gary - Break Store Worker - Geraldine High School
Scott Psalter - Bus Driver - Ruhama Jr. High School

Volunteer Coaches

Collinsville: Bear Jones - Basketball, Jeff Chandler - Baseball, Rodney Hamilton - Basketball, Teddy Helms - Football, Chad Wilks - Softball, Perry Hughes - Baseball, Kelvin Stewart - Baseball, David Hernandez - Soccer, James Coker - Softball, Jeff Patton - Softball, Mike McElrath - Football
Geraldine: Karlee Hale - Volleyball
Plainview: Phillip Jackson - Football, John Prose - Football
Valley Head: Alex Carpenter - Football, Zachery Neal Ridgeway - Football

Contracts

GO PLAY Therapy - Occupational Therapy - IDEA B
Jennifer Willoughby - Contracted Computer Technician - Local
Levi Maness - Contracted Computer Technician - Local
Margaret Brown - Central Office Clerical Help - Local

The next meeting of the BOE will be held on August 27 with a work session at 4 p.m. and a meeting at 5 p.m.