At Thursday night’s Dallas County Board of Education (DCBOE) meeting, several concerned parents of Dallas County High School (DCHS) students took to the podium to voice their frustrations.

In addition to concerns about the hiring process of the most recent DCHS head football coach hire, two other parent’s concerns regarded the cheerleading and dance teams.

Sandra Russell stated before the board that the total cost for her daughter to participate in cheerleading at DCHS is approximately $2,253, not including the price of a $400 cheerleading camp in Tuscaloosa, in which transportation is not provided by the school.

“As a concerned parent,” said Russell, “If I’m going to pay that kind of money, I want the cheerleaders to be able to cheer. From my understanding, the cheerleaders don’t do anything but sit down on the bench.”

“They need to be cheering for the girls, the C team and the B team,” added concerned parent Tamara Jackson.

“That’s just too much money for them not to be able to do anything,” said Russell.

The next round of concerns pertained to the DCHS dance team.

“Last year we payed $354 for them to be on the dance team,” said Russell. “The dance team got cancelled. They never danced.”

“Not one dance, nothing. And we didn’t recuperate any of our money,” added Jackson.

Both parents added that the DCHS principal would not meet with them to discuss the issue.

DCBOE Chairman Leroy Miles then responded to the parents’ concerns.

“I will say this,” said Miles, “I am a supporter of cheerleading and I think it plays a very important role. And I agree that they should cheer for B team, varsity, boys and girls. That’s your school spirit. And normally your cheerleaders set the tone for your school spirit.”

Miles suggested that Dallas County Schools Superintendent Hattie Shelton serve as a mediator in a meeting between the concerned parents and the DCHS principal.

After the concerns from parents were heard, including the ones pertaining to the hiring of the football coach, Miles expressed his gratitude to the parents for showing up and being involved.

“I welcome your support. I welcome your involvement. This board meeting should be like this every meeting,” said Miles. “And you shouldn’t only be concerned about the kids at Dallas County [High School], you should be concerned about the ones at Southside and the ones at Keith. If we’re going to make a difference this is what it’s going to take.”

Elsewhere in the meeting Shelton announced that Southside High School AFJROTC Instructor Lt. Colonel Steve Ruiz is this year’s recipient of the 2019 AFJROTC Outstanding Instructor Award.

Items approved on the consent agenda included: Dallas County BOE Consolidated Plan, Technology Education Textbook Adoption, DCS Jamari Terrell Williams Student Bullying Prevention Act Policy, Athletic Policy and the school board minutes for May 14 and May 20.