School Board Appreciation Week January 24-30

January 17, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

January 24-30, 2021, is School Board Appreciation Week in Tennessee. This week helps build awareness and understanding of the vital functions locally elected boards of education play in the community.

The DeKalb County School District is joining public school districts from across the state to celebrate School Board Appreciation Week and honor local board members for their commitment to DeKalb County and its children. “Our school system is the backbone of our community, and these men and women devote countless hours to making sure our schools are helping every child,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.. “There is no greater honor that can be bestowed upon a citizen than membership on a local board of education. They spend countless hours studying the issues and regulations and make the tough decisions when called upon to ensure the type of accountability people expect.”

Cripps said the key work of school boards is to:

• Create a vision for what the community wants the school district to be and for making student achievement the top priority;

• Establish standards for what students will be expected to learn and be able to do;

• Ensure progress is measured to be sure the district’s goals are achieved and students are learning at expected levels;

• Create a safe, orderly climate where students can learn and teachers can teach;

• Form partnerships with others in the community to solve common problems; and

• Focus attention on the need for continuous improvement by questioning, refining and revising issues related to student achievement. “Our local school board impacts every student every day in DeKalb County by influencing the high quality of education that our children and youth receive. The DeKalb County school board shows its commitment to educational excellence and equity – and for that we are very grateful for their attitude of service,” added Director Cripps.

The members serving DeKalb County are as follows: Danny Parkerson, Alan Hayes, Jim Beshearse, Kate Miller, Jamie Cripps, Jason Miller, and Shaun Tubbs.

January 17, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Board of Education met briefly Thursday night at the DCHS cafeteria.

In his monthly personnel report, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced that Emily Estes has been hired as the district’s school nutrition supervisor replacing Amy Lattimore who has resigned. Teresa Steele has also resigned as FS Manager at Northside Elementary School. Rachel Hernandez was granted a leave of absence as requested. The board also named an intern school physiologist and gave the okay for DeKalb Middle School Junior Beta Club Fundraisers to proceed for a planned trip to the national convention. Should the trip be cancelled due to COVID-19, the money raised would remain in that account.

January 17, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Fire Department reached new heights in service to the community in the year 2020 and Chief Donny Green highlighted them during the annual awards program Saturday evening held in a virtual setting this year due to COVID-19.

For the 12th consecutive year, the department was recognized as among the elites in Tennessee for outstanding training achievement.

“Of the 732 fire departments in Tennessee, both volunteer and career, the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department ranked # 22 for 2019-20 training achievement by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy. Among volunteer departments in the state, the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department ranked # 1,” said Chief Green.

Other achievements included the following:

*The department’s recruitment success was excellent in 2020. There were 39 new members added to the roster.

*In March the department sent a team to Putnam County to assist with the tornado search and recovery efforts.

“In August, the department was awarded a $427,360 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the purchase of new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA). Also, in August, Blake Cantrell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant to serve on the county-wide leadership team.

*In September, the department was awarded a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $339,518 to purchase a new fire tanker truck.

*In November, the County Commission approved the purchase of two used fire engines to update the county-wide fleet.

*During Thanksgiving and Christmas, several of the department’s members participated in the DeKalb Emergency Services Association (DESA) meal preparation and delivery efforts for needy and underserved DeKalb County residents.

“For the year, the 81-member department donated a total of 8,866.53 hours responding to calls, attending training, participating in work sessions and fundraising events, and attending administrative meetings and special events. To put that in perspective, that’s 109.46 hours per member,” said Chief Green.

“We are extremely proud of every member of our department for their personal sacrifice; and not only their personal sacrifice, but the sacrifice and support it takes from their families to allow them to serve. It takes a very dedicated individual to step up to the task and demands of being a volunteer firefighter in this department. Because of the support from our award sponsors, we have this opportunity to recognize and reward those who have achieved excellence so that others can clearly see our department’s mission in action,” added Chief Green.

Wilson Bank & Trust was the headlining sponsor of the awards program

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