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

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

The work session of the meeting was dedicated to hearing the concerns of the Moon Lake community regarding the possible closure of Moon Lake Elementary School. Principal Mary Bailey Lance addressed the Board regarding the success of the school and the dedication of the staff and community support.

“I’ve worked all over the country and never saw the support for a school like Moon Lake has,” said Lance. 

Community member Jessica Harper-Brown, alongside former principal Bill Berry and Marsha Merrell, all addressed the Board on the unity and superior performance exhibited by the school.

Superintendent Dr. Jason Barnett addressed the topics discussed and stated that the closure of Moon Lake had been ongoing for 90 years.

“We have positions that are serving 56 students that we pay the same that serves 1,200 at other schools,” said Barnett. “We have to provide an equal opportunity for all our students.” 

During the meeting, the BOE voted unanimously to close Moon Lake Elementary School at the end of the current school year.

The Board approved the following:

Bids

• Child Nutrition Program: Supplemental Grocery Bid, Osborn Brothers

Bus Purchases

• 12 - Type C 72 Passenger International Bus: Southland Transportation Group, $993,695.28
• 1 - Type C 54 Passenger International Special Needs Bus: Southland Transportation Group, $95,702.70

On the Job Injury

• Glenda Stephenson, itinerant special education paraprofessional at Geraldine (0 days)
• Misty McCallister, elementary teacher at Henagar (8 days)

Retirements/Resignations

• Westley King, principal at Sylvania (retirement)
• Dana Willis, CNP worker at Plainview (resignation)
• Megan Lea, itinerant library media specialist at Moon Lake/Ruhama (resignation)
• Dusty Darnell, head football coaching duties only at Crossville (resignation)
• Tanner Cowart, 2-hour sanitization custodian (contract) at Fyffe (resignation)
• Gary Hartline, bus driver at Ider (resignation)
• Aaron Wilbourn, bus mechanic at the bus garage (resignation)

Leave of Absence

• Shantelle Strickland, pre-K auxiliary at Henagar
• Loria Biddle, elementary teacher at Sylvania
• Kim Dalton, middle school math teacher at Henagar
• Cindy Harrison, English language arts teacher at Valley Head
• Kodie Smith, elementary teacher at Crossville
• Angie Harper, CNP worker at Crossville
• Jadie Chester, special education teacher at Geraldine
• Rodney Haymon, bus driver at Valley Head
• Karen Prestwood, elementary teacher at Moon Lake

Placements

• Josh Scott, secondary science teacher at Crossville
• Jase Proctor, business education teacher at Crossville
• Lesa Smith, bus driver (tech route) at Valley Head
• Corey Dupree, bus driver (teacher) at Valley Head
• Judy Houston, pre-K auxiliary at Henagar
• Lisa D. Garmany, assistant custodian at Plainview (9-month/4-hour)
• Beatriz Felipe, migrant home liaison at the District
• Chelsea Patterson, itinerant special education paraprofessional at Collinsville

Coaching Supplements

• Samuel Tidmore, JH/JV Soccer at Crossville

Volunteer Coaches

• Fyffe: Logan McKenzie (baseball), Brant Rowell (baseball), Tyler Wilks (golf)
• Geraldine: Todd Dismuke (softball), William Cofield (softball)
• Sylvania: Brett Vinson (soccer), John Shelly III (soccer), Ron Stopyak (soccer)
• Valley Head: Coby Lee Harrison (baseball)

Contracts

• Go Play Therapy: occupational therapy
• Molly Bowlan: 21st Century Crossville Teacher
• Melissa Croft, Tammy Williams: 21st Century Crossville Site Coordinator
• David Bailey: Custodial Support Moon Lake
• Chase Wooten: Custodial Support Fyffe
• Wanda Burt, Heather Conkle, Emily Ferguson, Lori Morgan, Lezlie Pope, Sonya Pope, Melissa Warren: After School Instructor at Ruhama
• Carrie Atchley: DVA Course Building
• Taylor Finch, Lyndsey Franklin, Melissa Gilbert, Teresa Jamison, Laura King, Sharon Sibert: After School Tutor Geraldine
• Megan Lea: Interventionist Henagar
• Nicole Jenson, Ariel Johnson, Peyton Knop: Remediation Tutor at Crossville
• Jamie Pruett: DVA Math Teacher
• Jacob Brown: Reading Instructor/Director
• Janie Sherrod: Reading Specialist
• Gary Talley: Contracted Retired PE and Intervention at Sylvania
• Lakala Willingham: Contracted 6th Grade Math Teacher
• Matthew McCollum: student computer technician

The next meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education will be held on Thursday, March 25.