2 weeks Ago By Story by Donna Thornton [email protected]
Geraldine High School added a highly-trained member to its school security team, with the donation of Roxy, a chocolate Labrador retriever, from Auburn University’s Canine Performance Sciences program. A former Crossville student, and former student of Geraldine High School Principal Robert Richey, helped make the addition of Roxy to the school’s SRO program possible. Richey told the DeKalb County Board of Education how that came about at the board’s most recent meeting.
He recalled an incident last year at Geraldine, when a student brought a gun on campus. He said there was nothing to indicate any threat or bad intentions; it was “stupidity on the part of the student,” he said. But it raised concerns about detecting guns on campus.
Richey investigated the use of dogs to detect weapons, but knew the school system didn’t have $40,000 for a trained canine. Fortunately, there was a former DeKalb County Schools student in a position to help. Bart Rogers is Chief Canine Instructor for CPS at Auburn and works with the school’s training and breeding programs.
He knew of an excellent dog, ready to retire from the breeding program, but still needing to put her training to work. Thanks to Rogers, Roxy has made her way to Geraldine High School. “This is the perfect spot for her,” he said.
At Thursday’s meeting, Rogers accepted a resolution from the school board recognizing the Auburn program Roxy comes from. He told the board about the program and Roxy’s role in it. She’s produced four litters of puppies for the program, which received training to detect person-borne improvised explosive devices.
It’s the kind of training, he explained, that would allow dogs to detect devices like those used at in the Boston Marathon bombing. For quite a while dogs have been used to scan an area for explosives or weapons, but in the case of that bombing, devices were brought onto the scene when people were allowed in. Dogs trained at Auburn have been tested in detecting a device hidden in a pressure cooker, as those were in Boston.
Rogers said he’d watched the news related to a bombing or bomb threat and recognized dogs from the AU program – “Atticus and Amy” – who are relatives of Roxy. She has produced dogs that are now working for Amtrak, TSA, the NFL, and USDA. The first 30 dogs the TSA put into action to improve safety at airports came from Auburn’s school, Rogers said and the programs history of canine research and training goes back to World War II.
The board thanked Rogers and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for their roles in bringing Roxy to Geraldine and to the service of DeKalb County Schools. Richey told board members that Rogers’ accomplishments at Auburn have taken him all around the world, from his start here in DeKalb County. The board approved early graduation for two Fyffe High School students who’ve completed requirements to finish their high school careers.
Early graduation was approved for Maci Jae Doty and Jordis Matthews. The board approved a number of personnel actions, as listed: On the Job Injury : Jennifer Henderson - Itinerant Special Education Teacher - Collinsville High School – 0 days Leaves of Absence Jennifer Bryan - Elementary Teacher - Fyffe High School – April 8-May 22 Nicky Harcrow - Bus Driver - Sylvania High School – April 21-May 22 Georgana Crisson - Counselor - Collinsville High School – April 24-June 6 Retirements William White - Agri-Business Teacher - Ider High School - Retirement – June 1 Traci Roper - Itinerant EL Teacher - System - Retirement - June 1 Joy Mitchell - Elementary Teacher - Sylvania High School - Retirement - June 1 Lucy Bright - TEAMS Mathematics Teacher - Crossville High School - Retirement - June 1 Tamala Campbell - Elementary Teacher - Plainview High School - Retirement - June 1 Cristie Brothers - PE Teacher - Geraldine High School - Retirement - June 1 Heath Thrash - Assistant Principal - Fyffe High School - Retirement - June 1 Martha Durham - Assistant Secretary (9-month) - Ider High School - Retirement - June 1I. Kathan Hicks - Elementary Teacher - Plainview High School - Retirement - June 1 Denise Roberts - Elementary Teacher - Fyffe High School - Retirement - June 1 Karan Shankles - TEAMS Science Teacher - Plainview High School - Retirement - June 1 Resignations Sicily Mitchell - Itinerant Special Education Paraprofessional - Plainview High School - Resignation – April 7 Susan Bowen - Bus Driver - Crossville Elementary School - Resignation – March 31 Shea Bruce - JV Girls Basketball Coach and Varsity Assistant Girls Basketball Coach - Plainview High School - Resignation – March 21 D.
Taylor Hogue - Science Teacher (Leave from April 10-May 22) - Crossville High School - Rescinded Position Alyssa Smith - Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Sylvania High School - Resignation - May 22 Chris Conde - Secondary Teacher - Sylvania High School - Resignation – May 30 Justin Little - Secondary Teacher - Sylvania High School - Resignation – April 11 Courtney Rowe - Elementary Teacher - Geraldine High School - Resignation – June 1 Transfers Dwight Roper from Intervention Teacher to Itinerant K-5 Building –Based Math Coach (10-month) at Henagar Jr. High School (2025-021) – effective July 1 Ashley Bunch from Elementary Teacher to Itinerant K-5 Building –Based Math Coach (10-month) at Plainview High School (2025-022) – effective July 1 Jim Womack from Custodian (12-month) at Fyffe High School to Custodian (12-month) at Geraldine High School (2025-026) - effective April 21 Jason Wayne Godwin from CNP Worker at Fyffe High School to Custodian (12-month) at Fyffe High School (2025-031) – effective April 21 Kenzi Traylor from Itinerant Special Education Teacher at Geraldine High School to Itinerant Special Education Teacher at Ider Special Services Center (2025-033) – effective Aug. 21 Lydia Peek from Assistant Principal at Collinsville High School to Principal at Crossville Elementary School (2025-017) Placements (All placements are made pending a background review meeting suitability criteria and negative, pre-employment drug screen and appropriate certification) Certified Rodney Davis - Science Teacher (Leave from April 10-May 22) - Crossville High School (2025-015) Support Leslie Godshall - Bus Driver - Crossville Elementary School (2025-030) Volunteer Coaches Ider High School Peyton Hood - Baseball Sylvania High School Jonathan Guffey - Softball Contracts April 17, 2025 Contracts Report In other action the board: Approved policy committee recommendations.
Approved a job description for newly-created behavior analyst position. Approved purchase property adjoining Geraldine school’s campus. Approved a lease agreement for a building on Sylvania’s campus that is occupied by Community Action of Northeast Alabama.
The board’s next meeting will be May 1, with work session at 4:30 p.m. and regular meeting beginning at 5 p.
m. in the meeting room at the facilities building..
