News
Local Pilot Receives Prestigious “Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award”
May 17, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
A local pilot has earned the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for more than 50 years of safe flying.
Lee Bridges of Smithville was presented the award at a dinner in his honor Wednesday evening at the Smithville airport.
The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is presented to pilots who have flown for more than 50 years with no accidents, incidents, violations or civil penalties. It is the most prestigious award the Federal Aviation Administration issues to pilots certified under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61.
The award is named after the Wright Brothers, the first US pilots, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as “Master Pilots”.
Bridges met all the prerequisites for this award including zero accidents, incidents or deviations in his 50 years of flying with over 30,000 flying hours. His career over these 50 years includes Flight Instructor, Corporate Pilot, and Airline Captain flying for both United Airlines and US Airways.
Bridges retired from US Airways in 2012 with over 32 years of service. He is an aircraft owner and also a certificated Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic and he holds an Inspection Authorization. His love of flying was passed down from his father who was a World War II pilot and Airline Captain as well.
Lee’s wife Ginnie is also a certified pilot as are his two children, Bo and Heather. His wife, his two children, his four grandchildren, and many other well-wishers were all present at the dinner when Lee received this award.
DCHS Seniors Visit Elementary Schools for “Senior Walk” (VIEW VIDEOS HERE)
May 17, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Donned in their caps and gowns, DeKalb County High School seniors walked through their old stomping grounds – Smithville Elementary School and DeKalb West School – during the Annual Senior Walk held today (Thursday, May 17).
(VIEW DCHS SENIOR WALK AT SMITHVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BELOW)
School administrators and staff, some showing emotion, joined in and congratulated each of the soon to be graduates upon their arrival by school bus. Many of the elementary students, lined down the halls, greeted the seniors with waves, high fives, confetti, and cheers as they passed by. Some seniors also got hugs from proud parents and former teachers. Cheerleaders at DeKalb West School led cheers to welcome the graduates there.
(VIEW DCHS SENIOR WALK AT DEKALB WEST SCHOOL BELOW)
The Senior Walk is an opportunity for students to return to their elementary campuses and parade through the hallways in their caps and gowns while the Graduation Pomp and Circumstance (song) is played over the P.A. While we hope this will inspire our future graduates, we are excited about our seniors being able to see their elementary school teachers one last time before they graduate,” said DCHS Principal Randy Jennings.
Proposed New School Budget Includes Pay Raises for Teachers and Other Staff
May 17, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
The Board of Education wants to give teachers and other certified personnel a $3,000 pay raise and is asking the county commission for sufficient funding to help make it happen.
During a brief special called meeting Wednesday evening, the Board approved a proposed budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year which includes pay raises for teachers and support staff.
If approved, the actual local increase for the 228 teachers would be $2,400 each since the state is funding a $600 raise per teacher. Non-certified staff would get a $1,500 pay raise, all funded by local dollars.
The county commission’s budget committee will get its first look at the proposed spending plan for schools when it meets Monday night, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the courthouse.
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said giving teachers a significant pay raise is needed and would help their retirement. “When you look at retirement and what is going to help the teachers long range, it’s their salary because their retirement is based on their high five years,” he said.
As for teacher concerns about rising out of pocket health care costs, Cripps added “We will try to cover the costs with the increase that the state sends. They (state) are looking at probably 3% (increase) so we’ll try to cover that within our budget so that the teachers won’t incur another increase on their insurance,” he said.
In addition to asking for pay raises for personnel, the Board of Education wants more money to purchase Chrome Books for the 3rd through 5th grades. Students from the 6th grade through high school already have Chrome Books. Extra funds would be included to repair and replace existing Chrome Books; to purchase new text books; and to implement a Dyslexia Program to help children at the elementary school grade level in reading. Due to the increasing demands of technology, the board wants to create a new full time computer tech position which would give the school system three techs. One new bus is usually purchased each year. The board wants to buy two new school buses this year.
The proposed new spending for schools in this budget comes to more than $1.7 million dollars over expenditures budgeted this past year. Unless cuts are made or more money is taken from the school system’s fund balance/reserves to balance the budget, a significant property tax hike might be needed to fund the school board’s request.
The overall county property tax rate is $1.8335 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The rate is distributed as follows:
County General: 0.9635 cents
General Purpose Schools: 0.6100 cents
Debt Service: 0.1200 cents
Highways/Public Works: 0.0300 cents
General Capital Projects: 0.1100 cents
Revenue from the current property tax assessments for the 2018-19 fiscal year based upon estimated assessed valuations of $497 million dollars is $49,700 per one cent of the property tax rate. However the county is actually expected to receive $46,658 per cent of the tax rate based on a 94% collection rate or a 6% delinquency.
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