By Marla Jones
Managing Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala.-- (Full video can be found on Southern Torch) The DeKalb County Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting on June 15. This was the first meeting led by Interient Superintendent, Scott Timmons.
Brian Thomas, DeKalb County Assistant Superintendent updated the Board on the TEAMS ACT. The Teams Act passed the legislature on May 6, 2021. TEAMS was designed to attract more math and science teachers in the state of Alabama.
Teachers that teach six classes of math or science per day and who hold an advanced credential (or who areworking toward the certification) could receive a salary increase of $5,000 to $21,000. This increase would be based upon experience.
Jennifer Willihams, Assistant Superintendent and Federal Programs Director gave an update to the board on ESSER 2 funding and upcoming projects. ESSER is Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funding. DeKalb County received funding from ESSER in the amount of $11.8 million dollars. According to Williams, fifty percent of this funding can be used for facility upgrades.
The DeKalb County Board of Education will allocate 3 million dollars toward the HVAC upgrades within the school system.
Improvements of up to one million dollars will go toward updating windows and doors for better air quality in the older school buildings. New flooring will be installed to prevent the spread of COVID in several athletic facilities and prominent nursing stations will be constructed.
Board Member Chris Andrews, gave an update on the superintendent selection process. Several qualified candidates have applied to replace Dr. Jason Barnett, who took a position as Superintendent of Guntersville City Schools.
In other business the DeKalb County Board of Education, approved the following items:
Principal Contracts:
Phil Bryan - Principal - Assigned to Crossville Elementary oHeath Blackwell - Voluntary transfer from Principal to previous tenured status
Jason Mayfield - Principal - Assigned to Geraldine High School - Three-Year Contract - 7/1/2021-6/30/2024
The following Retirements/Resignations were approved:
Melinda Lands - Itinerant School Nurse - Fyffe Special Services Center - Retirement - 8/1/21
Samuel Tidmore - Secondary English Language Arts Teacher / Varsity Boys Soccer Coach - Crossville High School - Resignation - 6/1/21
Brad Waldrop - Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Geraldine High School-Resignation - 6/7/21
Brook Davidson - Elementary Teacher - Geraldine High School - Resignation - 5/27/21
Jennifer Wayner - Elementary Teacher - Crossville Middle School - Declined Position - 6/9/21
The following transfers were made:
Carla Hamilton - Library Media Specialist at Henagar Jr. High School to Itinerant Library Media Specialist at Henagar Jr. High School / Ruhama Junior High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Lezlie Blevins Pope - Elementary Teacher at Ruhama Jr. High School to Itinerant ARI Instructional Coach for the District (Effective 8/1/21)
Amanda Bryan Smith - Pre-K Teacher at Fyffe High School to Elementary Teacher at Fyffe High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Carmella McAllister- Secondary Mathematics Teacher at Crossville Middle School to Secondary Mathematics Teacher at Sylvania High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Tonia Gilbert - Itinerant Special Education Teacher at Plainview High School to Assistant Principal (10 months) at Ider Special Services Center (Effective 7/1/21)
Avery Collins - Itinerant EL Teacher at Collinsville High School to Pre-K Teacher at Fyffe High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Crystal Bramblett - Pre-K Teacher at Geraldine High School to Pre-K Teacher at Sylvania High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Amy Thomas - Pre-K Auxiliary at Plainview High School to Pre-K Auxiliary at Sylvania High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Molly Bowlan - Elementary Teacher at Crossville Middle School to Elementary Teacher at Crossville Elementary School (Effective 8/1/21)
Pam Knight from Instructional Coach at Geraldine High School to Itinerant Secondary Literacy Coach for the District (Effective 8/1/21)
Jesse Martin - Itinerant Special Education Teacher at Crossville High School to Itinerant Special Education Teacher at Fyffe Special Services Center (Effective 8/1/21)
Jake Peek - Physical Education Teacher at Crossville High School to Physical Education at Collinsville High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Casey Isbell- Elementary Teacher at Collinsville High School to Elementary Teacher at Geraldine High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Kristen Bates- Elementary Teacher at Collinsville High School to Elementary Teacher at Plainview High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Ethan Jones - Secondary Social Sciences Teacher at Crossville High School to Secondary Social Sciences Teacher with Assistant Football Coaching Duties at Geraldine High School (Effective 8/1/21)
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
Lisa Dollar - Itinerant Special Education Teacher - Crossville Middle School (Effective 8/1/21)
Denise Downer - Elementary Teacher - Crossville Elementary School (Effective 8/1/21)
Jonathan Nelson - Secondary Social Science Teacher - Crossville High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Jeffrey Adkins - Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Crossville High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Kolby Brannon - Secondary Social Sciences Teacher - Valley Head High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Brynn Hayes - Secondary General Sciences Teacher - Ider High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Amanda Wilbanks - Secondary English Language Arts Teacher - Plainview High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Casey Goble - High School Counselor (10 months) - Geraldine High School (Effective 7/1/21)
Jessica Aldridge - Elementary Teacher - Collinsville High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Heather Headrick - Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Sylvania High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Autumn McMunn - Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Valley Head High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Jase Jones - Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Fyffe High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Support
Starr Shaunta Dalton - CNP Secretary - Central Office (Effective 7/1/21)
Kinsey Hawkins - Bus Driver - Henagar Jr. High School (Effective 8/1/21)
Debra Dianne Hamby - Bus Driver - Crossville Elementary School (Effective 8/1/21)
Ryan Johnson - Assistant Custodian (9-months/7-hours) - Crossville Elementary School (Effective 8/1/21)
Contracts -
Special Education:
Jaclyn Ashley-Summer Program SPED Services
Janice Brown-Visually Impaired Instruction and IEP Support
Jadie Chester - Summer Program SPED Services
Amanda Chisenhall - Summer School Nurse
Lee Anna Faulkner - Summer School Nurse
Richlon Sabrina Gore - Summer Program SPED Services
Jeanie Green - Pre-K Testing and IEP Planning
Amy Lewis - Summer School Nurse
Baylee Rogers - Occupational Therapy
Tracy Tidmore - Learning Platform Manager
Whitney Tinker - Summer Program SPED Services
Courtney Waldrop - Summer Program Paraprofessional
Migrant Summer Program:
Tanya Ford - Teacher Substitute
Joyce Haygood - Teacher
Ashley Hudgins - EL Teacher
Lorraine Kiker - Art Teacher
Emily Lozada - Bilingual Aide
Deb Myers - Nurse
Julie Needham - Nurse
Janie Peppers-Sherrod - Teacher Substitute
Alexandria Spurgin - Teacher Substitute
Krista Tilley - Bus Driver
Summer Programs:
Amelia Juan - 21st Century Student Aide
Maria Barrientos - 21st Century Teacher Assistant
William Edge - Custodial Services - Fyffe High School
LeeAnna Faulkner - Nurse - Plainview High School
Darlene Mosley - Teacher - Geraldine High School
Amy Thompson - Teacher - Fyffe High School
Selina Alexander - CNP Worker
James Barton - CNP Worker
Betty Bowman - CNP Worker
Sandra Bryan - CNP Worker
Holly Dupree - CNP Worker
Sarah Dupree - CNP Worker
Kim Ford - CNP Worker
Kristen Ford - CNP Worker
Leslie Foster - CNP Worker
Pauline Fountaine - CNP Worker
Judy Hall - CNP Worker
Stacie Harris - CNP Worker
Angela Johnston - CNP Worker
Judy Rains - CNP Worker
Mandy Santiago - CNP Worker
Libby Smith - CNP Worker
Rita Tharp - CNP Worker
Gloria Wilbanks - CNP Worker
Harley Wilborn - CNP Worker
Miscellaneous:
Heath Blackwell - DVA Preparation - ESSER
Josh Strange - Custodial Services - Geraldine High School
Jennifer Willoughby - Custodial Services - Geraldine High School
Beverly Ledbetter - Instructional Coach -
Summer Grounds Worker:
Eli Wade Carter - Technology Center
Charles Kilgo - Crossville High School
Wendy Olchawa - Geraldine High School
Carson Walston - Fyffe High School
The next meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education will be July 8, 2021, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
