The Demopolis High School band program will have new leadership as Frederick Scott was hired as band director during a Demopolis City Schools Board of Education meeting Monday.

Scott is currently the band director of Red Level High School. He is a graduate of Walter Wellborn High in Anniston, received his bachelor’s in Music Education from Jacksonville State University and holds a Master’s in Music Education from Auburn University.

“He’s got four years experience as a band director,” Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff said. “His current superintendent and principal speak very highly of him. He has leadership training. (Interim DHS Principal Blaine Hathcock) and I interviewed him and five others over the last month, so we’re excited about bringing him to Demopolis.”

Jillian Arthur served as the interim director during the current school year after Matt Fields resigned in the latter portion of the summer break in 2016.

“We need the leadership skills that he brings and that was important,” said Kallhoff. “Our interim director did a great job getting us through the year, but we needed some leadership skills and he has those, so we are very eager to get him in there.”

Kallhoff said he hopes to schedule a meet-and-greet between Scott, the band boosters, and others in the community in the near future.

Other personnel actions include the following:

• The retirement of Beverly “Poncho” Robinson, custodian at Westside Elementary School, effective June 1.

• Substitute licenses for Janelle Adams, DaMarcus James, Clint Humphrey and Lindsey Thorne, who will receive her professional certificate on May 6.

During his report, Kallhoff confirmed that the school system would not have to schedule make-up days for missing school on April 3 or April 5 due to the threat of inclement weather after a waiver was officially granted by State Superintendent Mike Sentance.

Adjunct instructor contracts were approved for Madelyn Jacobs, choir director, and Jeremy Smith, broadcasting/journalism.

The board accepted landscaping bids for all four campuses, concrete and awning bids for U.S. Jones Elementary School and Demopolis Middle School and to advertise positions for DMS teacher and DHS JROTC.

The next board meeting is set for May 15 at 5:15 p.m. at the central office on Cedar Avenue.