Demopolis High School will have a number of changes for the 2011-2012 school year, ranging from personnel to policy alterations.

Key changes will include the earlier start time and later conclusion of school hours. The first bell for students to report to first period classes will ring at 7:47 a.m., three minutes earlier than the 2010-2011 school year. Classes will end at 3:09 p.m. , three minutes later than the 2010-2011 school year.

The English department will see the addition of Carrie Dauphin, a transfer from within the Demopolis City Schools system. Other transfers include receptionist and secretary Becky Gibson, ACCESS Lab instructor Betsy Coplin and physical education aide Sonya Sanford. The assistant principal spot also takes on a new look as Virginia Goodlett replaces Tony Pittman, who replaced a retired Connie Brown as principal at Westside Elementary School.

New hires include history teacher Clay Massey, science teacher Shari Jones and health teacher Rodney Jackson.

Among the key policy changes implemented at Demopolis High School this year are the revamped dress code and cell phone protocols.

Included among the dress code changes is the ban on any pants or slacks with the appearance of sagging. Students are also prohibited from wearing “excessively frayed or torn clothing or clothing with holes.”

Students are also banned from wearing athletic wear of any type, including sweat pants, wind suits or athletic jerseys with the exception of game days and special events.

The revamped policy continues to put an emphasis on “clothing conducive to learning, and respectful to the learning environment.” As part of that emphasis, the policy outlines the need for clothing that is modest in nature, appropriate in size and worn in its intended manner. The cell phone policy is a strengthening over its previous incarnation. Students are still prohibited from having or using a cellular phone and other electronic devices such as iPhones, iPods and other MP3 players. Students are also not allowed to use their laptop computers unless under the direction of a teacher.

Students are allowed to put such devices in their car or locker until the end of the school day. The reinforced policy allows the school to confiscate such devices and penalize the student.

Upon the first offense, students can be given three days of in-school suspension. Parents will be contacted and the device will be available for pickup after 15 days.

Second-time offenders will receive five days of in-school suspension, parents will be contacted and the device will be retained for 30 days.

Third time offenses will merit three days of out-of-school suspension, the contacting of parents and the confiscation of the illegal device until the end of the school year.