The Dade County School Board Regular Meeting began with Superintendent, Josh Ingle, inviting Emma Hayes, a DCS student who placed first in the Trenton-Dade Optimist Club Oratorical Contest, to present her winning speech to the Board and those in attendance. Ingle then gave shout-outs to the DCS Character award winners for the month of February. The month of February was focused on the word “Caring” and each school named students and teachers who best displayed this attribute.
Following this, Mr. Ingle had representatives bring their inter-department reports.
- Tanner Bradford spoke about two pieces of equipment for the school system’s technology that he recommended for purchase, including a firewall and 36 Promethean Active Panels monitors and 8 boards for Dade Elementary School that will replace all the current panels at the high school and begin the process at the other three schools.
- Patrice Whitt, the Nutrition and Food Science teacher at DCHS, spoke about Family Career and Community Leaders of America (formerly known as “Future Homemakers of America). DCHS FCCLA entered the Legislative Contest during their recent visit to the capital and ended in the top 6 in the state with their flyer.
- The 2022 Annual Report was presented. This report shows each school’s academics, activities, parent engagement, and student focuses. The bulk of it breaks down the athletics and arts as well as numbers, performance in academics, performance rate, scholarships awarded, employee development, and annual financials.
Ryan Moore and Trenton City Police Chief Steve Beaudoin presented about Blue Line Solutions and sought the Superintendent’s signature as an addition to the City Commission to allow them to begin placing speed monitoring equipment out in the community, including in the local school zones.
Loran Grasham presented the monthly financials to the board and reported that the school system currently has a general fund balance of $8,739,417.70.
Superintendent Ingle recommended the purchase of a new county car for the school system to use which was approved by the board. Current owned vehicles were recommended to be rotated out on a 5-7 year basis. Also recommended and approved was the purchase of diesel fuel at 3.4037 per gallon as well as Cherokee Mechanical’s bid (the only company to bid) to work the HVAC project at Dade Elementary school for the price of $1,274,000.
The School Board also approved of personnel changes including the following:
- Voluntary Transfer
- Alicia Bell – from DMS to DCHS – FY24 school year
- Retirement
- Marsha Townson
- Brian Watkins
- Cynthia Daniels
- Lloyd Ellison
- Tammy Crane
- Hire Transportation/Custodial
- Rodney Cartwright
- Loraleigh Patrick
- Melissa Gordy
- Hire Paraprofessional
- Grace Smith
- Heather Holder
- Hire School Nutrition
- Angela Dabbs – Cafeteria Worker
- Sandra Lawrence – Cafeteria Worker
- Michelle Poore – Substitute
- Andrea Spurlock – Substitute
- Resignations
- Terrie O’Donnell
- Justin Spurgin
- Substitute Teachers
- Bailey Roberts
- Jasmine Crabtree
- Sophie Buckner
- Diana Gregg
- Other:
- Jessie Plumlee – community coach DMS Soccer
By Matt Wheeler
Watch the full School Board Meeting below!