One Treated for Burns in Monday Night Liberty Fire

January 31, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

One person suffered burns in a fire at Liberty Monday night.

Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were summoned to a structure fire at 7:08 p.m. Monday at a commercial laboratory business on Highway 70 at Liberty.

“Upon arrival, county firefighters observed heavy flames showing from the structure. Firefighters were able to quickly gain control of the blaze which resulted in most of the structure being saved. The DeKalb County Fire Department and the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency worked with the operator to identify and contain bulk chemicals that were onsite,” said DeKalb Fire Chief Donny Green.

“One employee received burn injuries and was transported by a family member to the local hospital emergency room. The patient was later transported to a Nashville hospital,” said Chief Green.

DeKalb County firefighters from several stations, along with the Alexandria Fire Department responded to the scene. The department’s Rehabilitation Unit, the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, and DeKalb Emergency Medical Services also rendered assistance.

January 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

More state funding for rural public schools.

State Representative Michael Hale has introduced legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly to revise the weighted allocations in the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funding formula based on the number of students who are members of the LEA (school district) in which the student resides. If approved the end result would be an increase in the base state funding to rural school districts of from 2% to 5% according to the LEA (school district) membership (enrollment).

“If they (LEA’s or school districts) have 999 students or less they would get 5% more on their base funding and it (increased funding) would stair step down from there,” said Representative Hale.”

According to the legislation, “the proposed weighted allocation for a student who:

(A) Resides in an LEA with a membership of between four thousand (4,000) and four thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (4,999) students, both inclusive, is one percent (1%);

(B) Resides in an LEA with a membership of between three thousand (3,000) and three thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (3,999) students, both inclusive, is two percent (2%);

(C) Resides in an LEA with a membership of between two thousand (2,000) and two thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (2,999) students, both inclusive, is three percent (3%);

(D) Resides in an LEA with a membership of between one thousand (1,000) and one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (1,999) students, both inclusive, is four percent (4%);

and (E) Resides in a small district with fewer than one thousand (1,000) students is five percent (5%).

“Under my proposal DeKalb County would get a 3% increase in state funding and throughout the 40th district what this bill would do is add another $2 million more to our rural schools,” Representative Hale told WJLE. “Its about a $40 million ask. While I support school choice, we still have to make sure our county rural public-school systems are taken care of and this is one of the ways to do that. We want to provide the very best for our students, teachers and our families across the state,” said Representative Hale.

For the 2023-24 school year, the state of Tennessee has invested around $9 billion in education funding through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act, and this investment has brought with it a new funding formula, as well as additional accountability measures, for public schools.

The new TISA model was signed into law by the governor in May of 2022 and went into effect for Tennessee’s public schools at the start of the 2023-24 school year.

The TISA funding model is made up of four components: base funding, student weights, direct funding and outcomes-based funding. Each district starts out with a base funding amount of $6,860 per student enrolled. These enrollment numbers are calculated based on the average enrollment for each month of the previous school year.

In addition to this base amount, weights are then added per student depending on whether or not their school or district meets certain criteria. Additional funding is given per student in a small or sparse district and per student that is considered economically disadvantaged or enrolled in a school that qualifies for Title I funding.

Weights are also added for students based on their “Unique Learning Needs.” These needs may include additional tutoring or support for students with special needs, English Language Learners and students with learning disabilities like dyslexia.

Funding weights per student are then calculated based on the level of service and education assistance that that student needs during the school day.

The total amount of base and weighted funding that is “generated” by each student is then divided in a 70/30 split, where the state is responsible for funding 70% of the total, and local governments must fund the remaining 30%.

The final piece to the financial puzzle are two categories of funding that are flat dollar amounts paid for by the state.

The TISA funding formula also includes Direct Funding, which is a flat dollar amount that is given to each district by the state to pay for additional learning opportunities like enhancing literacy supports for students in grades K-3, offering tutoring for fourth grade students who struggle with English Language Arts (ELA) in the third grade and administering the ACT in high school.

Finally, each district can earn additional funding based on student outcomes and levels of academic achievement. The amounts of money awarded for meeting outcomes will be defined annually by the State Board of Education

The sum total of education funding allotted to a district is disbursed by state and local funding bodies in 10 payments, one for each month that students are in school. Districts are then able to use that money for whatever needs they have, whether it be paying teacher salaries, purchasing materials, paying utilities or funding facility upgrades.

Transitioning to this new TISA funding has brought with it some new accountability measures and requirements for data reporting.

With the TISA model, the state requires each district to submit an annual accountability report to the Tennessee Department of Education, to outline the district’s five-year goals and related benchmarks to show increased student achievement each year.

January 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers and Lady Tigers will try to get back in the win column tonight (Tuesday, January 30) as they travel to Crossville to face the Cumberland County Jets.

https://www.wjle.com/tiger-talk/

The girls game tips off at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game and WJLE will broadcast both LIVE.

The Tigers have lost three straight games. In fact their last win was a 60 to 51 finish on January 9 at home against Cumberland County.

The Lady Tigers are on a five game losing skid. In the last meeting on January 9, the DC girls lost to Cumberland County at home 54 to 42.

The Tigers are now 10-12 on the season and 1-4 in the district. The Lady Tigers own a record of 9-13 overall and 0-5 in district play.

Listen for WJLE’s Tiger Talk program at 5:40 p.m. featuring Tiger and Lady Tiger Coaches Joey Agee and Brandy Alley with players Dallas Kirby, Jon Hendrix, Chloe VanVranken, and Ella VanVranken and the host of the program, John Pryor the Voice of the Tigers and Lady Tigers.

The remaining schedule of the DCHS Tigers and Lady Tigers is as follows:

Tuesday, January 30 at Cumberland County in Crossville

Thursday, February 1 at Livingston Academy in Livingston

Friday, February 2 vs. Upperman in Smithville

Monday, February 5 vs. Livingston Academy in Smithville

Thursday, February 8 at Stone Memorial in Crossville

Saturday, February 10 at Warren County in McMinnville (starting at 3 p.m. with the girls game and the boys game to follow)

All other games will start at 6 p.m. with the girls and the boys to follow.

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