Decatur City Schools Foundation

For 8 years, Paul Allen had been pining after a laser cutter to use in his engineering classes at Decatur High School. But after his 39 years of teaching, Allen knew better than to assume that he would ever round up $38,000 to spare on buying one. Then while doing research, Allen heard of a company called Boss Laser in Sanford, Florida which offered a laser cutter three times more powerful than he had been expecting, but also small enough to fit in a classroom door. Also, it was only $20,000. But even though everything seemed perfect, $20,000 was still a lot of money to drum up. That’s where 3M came in. In September 2016, 3M representative Lendon Haggard met with the Decatur City Schools Foundation to discuss career tech needs, and together they decided to meet the need of $19,995, the exact amount needed to buy a laser cutter for Allen’s classroom. Haggard says, “Since a lot of employees (at 3M) are hired from surrounding communities, it’s critical that 3M s...

It’s been quite the journey, hasn’t it? From the original pool of 43 applicants, to the public interviews of the top 5, and even down to the final 2 decided on June 23, the Board of Education has been diligently searching for the best fit as Superintendent of Decatur City Schools. Vice president of the board, Donnie Lane expounded on the search saying, “Regarding our selection process, the number and quality of the candidates was exceptional. The top two were literally millimeters apart in my opinion.” But the search is over, and on Monday, June 26, 2017, Board of Education members appointed Dr. Michael Douglas as the Decatur City Schools Superintendent. Douglas, 44, has a long history of involvement in education, and comes directly from the Superintendent position within Oneonta City Schools. Prior to his position in Oneonta, Douglas was principal of Arab High School, and has 8 years of administrative experience as principal of elementary, middle, and high schools...

June 23, 2017 (7am) Please note that the following are the highlights of this interview session. Not every question is represented, and answers have been abbreviated to provide an abridged and balanced representation of the candidate. Mr. Keith Lankford had withdrawn from the Superintendent pool, leaving only 4 left in the race by Friday morning. At 7am, board members listed their top two candidates, and agreed unanimously that Mr. Chresal Threadgill and Dr. Michael Douglas should proceed to the final round. Following that decision, board members called both Threadgill and Douglas with a few more questions which would aid in their final decision. They called Threadgill on the phone first, who had to stand outside (hopefully not in the rain) to have enough service to hear every word they said. Questions to Threadgill are as follows: How do you plan to raise student achievement, specifically regarding the developments of yesterday concerning the change from ACT...

Interview of Mr. Chresal Threadgill by the Board of Education June 21, 2017 (4pm) Please note that the following are the highlights of this interview session. Not every question is represented, and answers have been abbreviated to provide an abridged and balanced representation of the candidate. General questions 1.      Please tell us what you would like us to know about yourself. Married for 15 years, 3 children, originally from Mobile. Demonstrated leadership ability as principal, assistant Superintendent, director of special ed. programs, federal programs director, curriculum director, discipline officer, liaison between Troy city schools and Troy state, and Superintendent. These many jobs prepared me for many things. During job as Superintendent of Elba City Schools, Threadgill raised graduation rates from 63-96% 2.      Why did you apply for this position? This school system and community has such a family atmosph...

Kiwanis Club of Decatur funds Robotics Engineering for Kids program DECATUR, Alabama (June 22, 2017) – Kiwanis Club of Decatur is donating $5,000 toward a Robotics Engineering for Kids program as a result of funding requested by the Decatur City Schools Foundation (DCSF). This funding will empower 4th-12th grade students enrolled in Decatur City Schools to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) hands-on. Funding from Kiwanis Club of Decatur comes directly from their 2017 Annual Pancake Day fundraiser and will fund equipment and components for engineering and robotics classes and robotics competition teams. As a result of this program, students will enter the workforces of Decatur and Morgan County with a deeper understanding and appreciation for STEM-based fields. Jesslyn Reeves, Executive Director of DCSF says that the Foundation is particularly focused on supporting STEM areas in education in Decatur City Schools. “This is a growing need in our are...

June 20, 2017 (2pm) Please note that the following are the highlights of this interview session. Not every question is represented, and answers have been abbreviated to provide an abridged and balanced representation of the candidate. General questions 1. Please tell us what you would like us to know about yourself. I’m a 27-year educator. That includes positions as teacher, assistant principal, principal, curriculum director, and then superintendent. Each position allows me to see the whole picture of the education process. Married 27 years, 2 children. Enjoys sports, church, and singing. Basic tenant of education: I think educating children is one of the most challenging things we face as a society today, but also very rewarding. 2. Why did you apply for this position? I am very passionate about K-12 education, and after looking at DCS, I think Decatur is a good fit for me. I don’t want to bounce around. Once I find a place, I dig in my heels and get to w...