The Demopolis City Schools Board of Education met Monday night and approved a state Pre-K expansion proposal from the Alabama State Department of Education Office of School Readiness.

The proposal will allow DCS to apply for a grant to expand the system’s Pre-K program by adding an 18-student class. The students for the new class would be chosen by lottery. There can be no more or no less than 18 students in the class. The application for the grants will be available in mid-March.

The board also approved the state-approved textbook list for English Language Arts. The list will be evaluated to decide which books the system will use.

The agreement between the University of South Alabama and the Demopolis Board of Education was also approved, which will reimburse the school system $25,000 for the substitute teacher at Demopolis High while Keith Jackson is in his principal candidate semester residency.

In addition, the board recognized Jones Colgrove with a resolution for being the youngest winner of the Senior Bowl National Anthem contest.

In other business, the board also did the following:

•Approved expenditures and payroll of January 2013

•Approved child nutrition program equipment bid for Westside Elementary School

•Approved job description for DCS Compliance Director

•Approved the Coaches Information Guide and the Student Athlete and Parent Handbook

•Approved the DCS Athletic Facilities Plan

•Approved modifications to five board policies to meet state policies

•Approved overnight field trips for the DHS Student Council to Samford University on April 28-30 and the fourth grade enrichment class at U.S. Jones to DeSoto Caverns

•Approved the use of the DHS auditorium for the filming of a music video