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School hail damage expensive

By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal

Published June 17, 2009

DeKalb County Superintendent Charles Warren estimates it could cost as much as $500,000 to $750,000 to repair buildings at Geraldine School damaged by hailstorms this past Spring.

Warren cited the figure during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education in Rainsville.

“Those buildings got hit by golf-ball sized hail,” Warren said. “The storms obviously caused quite a bit of damage.”

He said insurance should cover repair costs, which is limited mostly to asphalt shingle rooftops and metal sidewalk covers.

Warren said he would like to complete repairs while school is out of session.

“It would be easier to get the work done while kids are out of school, but that might not be feasible,” Warren said.

Warren also updated the board on several other construction projects. He said state officials would soon conduct the final inspection of a media center and classroom addition at Plainview School, and said the addition should be ready when school resumes.

Warren said bids would be opened Sept. 25 for the addition of five classrooms and a computer lab at Fyffe School. The board voted unanimously to allow Warren to accept the low bid, contingent on the board’s final approval.

Warren said construction of a new gym at Valley Head is also “progressing well” and is also on track to be completed by fall adding, “people in the Valley Head community are very excited about this.”

He noted funds being spent on these and other building projects is designated for capital improvement projects, and cannot be used in other ways.

“A question both I and school board members are often asked by the public is why, in this economy, do we continue to build?” Warren said. “It’s because the state has not cut construction capital. Money for renovation and construction projects is still being provided, but it’s earmarked specifically for that, and it’s not legal for us to use the money for other things, such as hiring teachers.”

In other business, the board:

nnamed Debra Hall as the new assistant principal at Crossville High School. Hall, a Crossville native, previously taught at the school, most recently as a special education instructor. She will serve as an assistant to Crossville High School Principal David Uptain.

nentered into an executive session for one hour and fifteen minutes, citing “good name and character.” The board took no action after emerging from the session.

nrecognized Albert Norris, a Collinsville bus driver who, towards the end of the school year, noticed a child on his bus was choking on a piece of candy. Norris stopped the bus, and performed the Hymlek, causing the candy to eject.

“Most people would have panicked in that situation, but Norris kept a cool head,” Warren said, after presenting Norris with a certificate of appreciation.

“I was just doing my job,” Norris said.

The board also approved the following personnel moves:

nplacements: Adam Niblett, secondary math at Geraldine; Rachel Martin, secondary language, Ider; Karen Harper, CNP worker, Sylvania; Jenny Bolin and Rachel Bobbitt, Crossville elementary; Doug Benefield and Sara Parker, itinerant special education teachers; Brinston Brock, bus driver, special service center.

nresignations, retirements and non-renewals: Jan Kirby and Betty Hawes and Robin Wade, Summer Reading Academy.

nleaves of absence: Skyla Gray, Plainview elementary; Rosemarie Chavez, transliterator; Jana Shankles, Sylvania elementary; Amy Smith; Geraldine elementary.

nBeverly Ledbetter from secondary math itinerant to secondary math at Sylvania: Regina Jones, from elementary to sixth grade at Crossville; Shanna Talley, from instructional aide itinerant to Indian education teacher itinerant; Anthony Greeson from secondary social science at Crossville to secondary social science at Ider; Jennifer Williams from ELL itinerant to language acquisition coach.

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