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Due to last-minute resignations from teachers within the school system, the Demopolis Board of Education approved a personnel report to cover those empty roles at a called meeting on August 9.

Demopolis Middle School’s Brad Daniel will be transferred to Demopolis High School as an English teacher and U.S. Jones Elementary School’s Jami Webb will take his place at DMS.

Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff admits that the first day with the new grades may not go as smoothly as they would like, but adjustment will come with time.

“On day one, we’re not expecting a grand slam. Let’s just get over there, get acclimated, and we’ll figure it out,” he said.

He also added that the principals of DHS and DMS are flexible and “they understand the situation.”

Of the resignations, Kallhoff said “It’s frustrating when teachers leave a week before school starts. At the same time, if their heart is not here … I want to support them with that, but it would be nice to know that in June, not early August.”

He explained that Alabama law does allow for teachers to leave with proper notice, though it still “puts us in quite a bind.”

Kallhoff and other board members expressed appreciation for the teachers who were willing to be relocated on such short notice.

“Luckily we have employees like the two that are being transferred that are willing to step up and help us out and are as flexible as they are, so we appreciate the two of them,” Kallhoff said.

In addition to the transfers, Anna Foy, USJ; Donna Randall, DHS; Suzann Hughes, Westside Elementary School Transition Class Paraprofessional; and Donna Dodson, WES Special Education teacher were all approved for conditional employment at the meeting.

Also approved were Mandy Fields, Desinta Parker, Brittney Stacey and Shanell Tate as substitutes and Reginal Hill as a long-term substitute for WES’ Trena Reynold’s maternity leave. Suzann Hughes was originally tapped as Reynold’s substitute but was hired full-time at the meeting.

Resignations include Loreal Moore, DHS English teacher; Rodney Lewis, DHS JROTC instructor; and Allene Jones, DHS English teacher. Aide Judy Pritchett and special education teacher Judith Moore also resigned from Westside Elementary School.

Heidi Nettle also introduced herself to the board as the new Uniserve Director for the Alabama Education Association for Demopolis. She is a former resident and former teacher at DMS.

The next regular meeting of the board will be held August 20 at 5:15 p.m. at the central office.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, August 15 issue of the Demopolis Times.)