The DeKalb County Board of Education met in the Chemistry lab at DCHS last Monday to discuss the state of the Science/Chemistry department at the school.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and board members Charles Robinson,  Billy Miller, Kenny Rhody,  Johnny Lattimore, W.J. (Dub) Evins, III, and John David Foutch, along with County commissioners Jimmy Poss and Jerry Adcock, DCHS principal Kathy Hendrix and teachers Dylan Kleparek,  Amanda Fuller, Kelly Daniels, and Kevin Burchfield, met to discuss the need for improvements and updates to the  facility.
According to some board members and teachers, the lab is woefully outdated, containing some of the same equipment that was installed when the building was constructed in 1963.
     “My periodic table is from 1965” Kleparek, who is a chemistry, physics,  and physical science teacher at the school, said in describing the situation at the lab.
     Other equipment could prove to be not only outdated but dangerous, say some teachers and board members.
“The periodic table is actually pretty cool,” Kleparek added, “ but we have things like Bunsen burners that are that old too.”
     Kleparek presented a plan to update the lab using the existing structure, an option  that would modernize facility, improve functionality, and make it more user friendly.
     "I've been to several workshops and talked to several different companies that design and build labs and found what I feel would be the best setup,” Kleparek said.
     “We could have eight basic islands that the students are at, four students per island, to accommodate 32 students,” Kleparek continued, “Each island would be equipped with gas, water, electricity and hopefully computer resources as well. Those stations would be lab stations and a classroom station so this room could still be used as a classroom and when its lab time we can put away the classroom things and bring out the lab components."
     Meanwhile, the issue was examined again at the regular April monthly meeting of the school board on Thursday night.
At the meeting, which was held at Smithville Elementary School, the board voted to request that Willoughby look into the matter and find out what  specifically needs to done, as well as obtaining preliminary estimates for the cost of updating the facility.
     The board may schedule a special meeting concerning the issue once the information has been acquired. Board members have expressed a desire to try and get the upgrades done before school starts this fall.
     The board also adopted resolutions honoring administrative and instructional support staff and teachers.
The resolution of appreciation honoring teachers states that:
     " Whereas, teachers nurture students and engage them in activities which will educate and graduate tomorrow's citizens and leaders; and
     Whereas, teachers spend countless hours preparing teaching materials, grading papers and projects, studying about issues in education, consulting with administration, parents, students, and fellow educators; and
     Whereas, teachers create a safe and healthy learning environment for the students to enjoy while they participate in daily lessons; and
     Whereas, teachers demonstrate an exemplary attitude and establish rapport with the students; and
     Whereas great teachers transmit their passion for learning onto their students; and
     Whereas, effective teachers give positive and constructive advice, praise accomplishments, and adjust their teaching styles as needed to meet the individual needs of students.
     Now, Therefore, Be it resolved that the DeKalb County Board of Education recognizes the numerous contributions that our teachers make each day by establishing May 3, 2011 as Teacher Appreciation Day in all DeKalb County Schools; and
     Be it further resolved that the board expresses appreciation and thanks to teachers in our school system and encourages each school and community to recognize them for their contribution to the success of our school system and its students".
     The resolution honoring administrative and instructional support staff states that:
     "Whereas, the administrative and instructional support staff in the DeKalb County School System is an outstanding group of dedicated school employees who care deeply about the students; and
     Whereas, our teachers and administrators depend upon administrative and instructional support staff members to prepare learning materials, operate the office, and carry out business functions of the school, tutor, counsel, advise, and guide individual students and perform a variety of other activities that result in an improved learning environment for students and their teachers throughout the school year; and
     Whereas, our instructional and administrative support staff is made up of individuals who have shown a commitment to our schools and the students they serve; and
     Whereas, most members of our administrative support staff bring into our schools a pleasant personality, a good measure of common sense, a calm demeanor, and a willingness to let others occupy the spotlight and receive credit for success; and
     Now, Therefore be it resolved that the DeKalb County Board of Education hereby establishes April 21, 2011 as Administrative and Instructional Support Staff Appreciation Day; and
     Be it further resolved that the board expresses appreciation and thanks to all the support staff in our school system and encourages each school to recognize and join in the celebration of these individuals on that day for the role they play in the success of our school system.
     Be it further resolved that the board endorses the use of an outer space theme to celebrate administrative and instructional support staff members because students can have fun with the theme, use what they have learned about space in the celebration and because many of our students consider them to be shining stars who help to guide them in the right direction".
     Willoughby then presented his monthly update on personnel. According to the director, Rebecca Purdue, a teacher at DCHS has resigned, Annie Walker, a Pre-K Educational Assistant at Smithville Elementary School has retired, and Candice Scarbro, a teacher at DeKalb Middle School, was granted a leave as requested.
     The board also voted to accept sealed bids on the sale of six buses being taken out of service as surplus property.
 The board approved the disposal of other surplus property including several computer monitors and printers as well.
Sealed bids will be opened on June 9.
     In other board business, Darrell Gill spoke on behalf of the Junior Pro Football Program, asking for and receiving permission for the architectural and engineers building plans to be submitted to the state fire marshal for the construction of a new 5,134 square foot field house at DCHS, subject to a review by the school system's maintenance supervisor Earl Jared.
     The new fieldhouse, being built with Jr. Pro and high school football funds, will also be for the use of high school  football team.
     It will be a complete facility with a training room, an office for the coach, a dressing room, locker room, utility room, showers and bathrooms, and two dry storage areas, one of which would be for the youth football league.
Construction on the new field house is planned to begin this summer using volunteer labor.