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By Andrea Burroughs

 The Demopolis High School Tiger Arts Guild performed for the Board of Education on Feb. 21 before the regular meeting began.

While students did not perform the entire play, they did sing three of the many songs they have been rehearsing for weeks. The group performed “The Prince is Giving a Ball,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” and “It’s Possible.”

Demopolis frama teacher Jodie Tartt expressed her thanks to the board for allowing her students a chance to perform for them.

“We’ve missed about six rehearsals because of weather and a power outage. But we have kept working and these kids are doing a great job,” said Tartt.

Professor of Vocal Music at University of West Alabama Christopher Shelt has worked as the musical director for the guild for two years. Shelt has helped train students to use their voices and said that “it’s not something you just have. There is skill and training that goes along with it.”

“It has been a privilege working with these students. Everything in education begins with early experiences,” said Shelt. “God puts talent everywhere, but you only discover talent where you test it and give students early experiences. It’s a gradual process.”

The Arts Guild will be performing “Cinderella” Feb. 29 through March 3. Tickets are available on Gofan.com.

The regular board meeting that followed the recognitions saw approval of contracts and policy updates.

The board approved dual enrollment contracts with Snead State Community College and the University of Alabama. The board also had a second reading of the dual enrollment policy revision.

The board approved the first reading of Policy 4.23 – Library Materials Selection. The policy acts as a proactive step for managing selections and revisions of library content across the school district.

The board also approved the Demopolis City Schools (DCS) Calendar for 2024-2025 Instructional Calendar at a called meeting on Feb. 22.

Consent items approved by the Board:

• DHS HOSA State Leadership to Montgomery Feb. 28 – March 1
• DHS Educational Trip to Europe in March 2025
• Hold Harmless request for use of DHS Auditorium

Personnel Report

• Employment: Taquisha Reese James, as Special Education Aide, effective Feb. 22
• Retirement/Resignations: Rosa Wasington, Special Education Aide, retiring June 1, Nicole Pettis, Kindergarten teacher, retiring June 1, Shanda Early-Brown, Elementary Ed. teacher (5th grade), resignation effective Feb. 23, and Rosie Tuck, Special Education Aide and Special Education bus driver, resigning effective May 24.
• Transfer: Emily Law, Special Education Aide, transferred from U.S. Jones to Westside Elementary, effective Feb. 27
• Substitutes: Martha Minus, with Sub license, Charlotte Young, as Sub for Child Nutrition only, and Linda Jackson, with Professional Certificate- ELA (English Language Arts) General Social Science/Special Education
• Miscellaneous: Meaghan Bott, resignation as DHS Assistant Volleyball Coach, Anna Ezell Hasty, resignation as DMS Cheer Head Coach, Brian Bradley, resignation as Transportation Director, effective May 1 or earlier if a replacement is hired. Alana Acker, as Sub for FMLA leave of Jennifer Helms, Donna Dodson, as Sub for FMLA of Jessica Brooke Vaughan, Alyssa Stewart, Westside Elementary teacher, on intermittent FMLA through Jan. 22, 2025, Jesicca Brooke Vaughan, Westside Elementary Pre-K teacher, on FMLA beginning April 15 with return date to be the first day of school in August, Jennifer Helms, U.S. Jones Elementary teacher, on FMLA beginning Feb. 26 with anticipated return date of March 25, Kate Lee, System Wide RN, modify begin date of approved FMLA to be April 4, Kendrick Office, reclassified as Teacher-P.E. effective Dec. 20, and Jacob McKinley, Maintenance Assistant, approved at Dec. 11 board meeting with Feb. 1 hire date.

The next meeting of the Demopolis Board of Education is scheduled for March 18, but will be moved due to Spring Break.