Bobby Armstead was administered the oath of office Monday as the newest member of the Demopolis City Board of Education.

The board also approved a resolution commending former board member Wilbur Rowser for his years of service.

In other action from Monday’s BOE meeting, Perry Little, president of the Tiny Tigers football league, asked the board to consider funding the installation of lighting at the football practice field at Demopolis High School.

The program will be moving its games from the old baseball field across from Demopolis Middle School to the DHS practice field.

Board chairman Mike Randall said such lighting would be expensive, but the board would look and see if it is feasible.

Linda Agee, custodian of funds, announced there would be a three percent raise for employees across the board beginning October 1.

In administrative reports, DHS Principal Ronald Roberts reported that roughly 57 students are attending summer school taking mainly math courses.

DMS Principal Clarence Jackson said 110 students were enrolled in summer school, and approximately 30 involved in enrichment activities after summer school.

U.S. Jones Principal Tony Speegle said summer school was running fairly smooth.

The school is preparing for the large influx of new students from Westside for the 2002-2003 school year, he said. The number of classes at U.S. Jones will increase from 12 to 15 next year.

Westside Elementary Principal Mary Glass said teachers are involved in summer workshops. "You would almost think school is in," she said. Approximately 125 students are taking summer school.

The Demopolis school system is advertising for the position of a parental involvement facilitator through funds provided by the "No Child Left Behind" Title One program. The facilitator will work at Westside one day and U.S. Jones one day each week to help parents become more involved in their child’s achievement.

The construction of the geo-thermal air conditioning systems at three systems is currently at a standstill due to the replacement of the engineer on the project. The project is 60 percent complete, Agee said, and two buildings at U.S. Jones are already using the system. Speegle is hopeful work at U.S. Jones will be completed by August.

July 29 and August 5 are the dates for public hearings on the 2002-2003 budget, Agee said. The hearings will be held at 4:45 p.m.

Low bids were awarded for system purchase of bread (Sara Lee Bakery, $7,498.50), milk (Dairy Fresh, $37,230.07), a 60 quart floor mixer for U.S. Jones Elementary and Westside Elementary (Sanford Store, $7,305.00 each), electric range for DHS (Hawk, $6,004.61) and electric convection oven for DMS (Goodwin Bros., $5,500.00).

Randall was again chosen as chairman of the board for the coming year, and Eddas K. Easley was chosen again as vice chairman.

The board approved the use of the DHS auditorium for a November 5 concert featuring the Tuscaloosa Symphony and the use of the U.S. Jones cafeteria for a religious fellowship program June 23 and a wedding reception July 27.

The following field trips were approved:

Demopolis Middle School eighth graders December 12 to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and March 10-14, 2003 to Washington D.C. and New York;

DMS students, April 16 and 17, 2003 to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

There are also plans for a private trip for Demopolis High Students, May 2003 on a 10-day trip to France and Spain.