The Education Committee of the County Commission met with Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, County Mayor Tim Stribling, and members of the Board of Education last Wednesday to discuss options on how to move forward with a new school building plan.

A facilities study released late last year by Upland Design Group, the Board of Education’s architect, concluded that DeKalb West School was in the best condition and should remain as is; that Smithville Elementary needs to be replaced and repurposed; and that issues exist at Northside Elementary, DCHS, and DeKalb Middle Schools which should be addressed. Upland Design initially presented six options for the board to consider but later narrowed them down to three at the Board’s request.

During last Wednesday night’s meeting, Education Committee Chairman Anita Puckett asked Director Cripps and the School Board which option they were looking to recommend to the committee and county commission.

“I think it comes down to how much money you are going to give us,” said Director Cripps.

While the Board has not yet settled on a specific proposal, Cripps said there is a need for three schools.

“I am just one of eight, but as a board we haven’t decided exactly on what we want but I know what we need. We need three schools, a high school, middle school, and an elementary school,” said Director Cripps.

“How would you rank them according to the greatest need,” asked County Mayor Stribling

“The first one would be the elementary school in my opinion,” said school board member Doug Stephens.

“I don’t think we can have three school projects going on at the same time but I would like to see a plan that when we get the first one done then we immediately go into the next one followed by another one,” Stephens added.

Jonathan Norris, member of the education committee, said while he agreed that a new elementary school should be the first priority, the county commission and board of education should come to an understanding on a long range plan of building both an elementary school and a high school.

“Nobody is going to argue that Smithville Elementary is not the most immediate need that should be addressed first but then the second one that comes to mind is the high school. Those two schools are always in everybody’s conversation. But if we build another elementary school like we did Northside (by issuing a 30 year bond) our high school will be 86 years old before we can get another bond. We can’t just build one every 25 years. To me that is not a good plan,” he said.

Norris suggested that the school board consider asking the county to commit to building a new elementary school (pre-K through 2nd grade next to Northside Elementary on 17 acres the school district already owns ) by securing a 12 year note. Norris said a short term note is more appealing than a 30 year bond and it will allow the county and school board to move forward on building a new high school within 10 to 12 years after the Board of Education purchases a suitable site. According to Norris, the debt on Northside Elementary will be paid off by next year and funds for that project could be re-directed to the construction of a new elementary school. Still, Norris cautioned that the county would need to create a new revenue stream to help pay for the project.

“If we can do an elementary school at around $19.5 million and I am just talking structure and furniture, not land acquisition, we have $470,000 that will free up next year on the Northside bond and in six years we will free up another $635,000 from the county complex (when that debt is paid off) but there still needs to be a new $1.3 million revenue stream,” said Norris.

“My thought is to do this (elementary school) on a 12 year note and not a 30 year bond because a note can be gotten at a lower interest rate around 2.3% versus a bond at 4%. It could feasibly be paid off in 10 years and then after that we can issue a 30 year bond for a high school,” he continued.

Norris said the county could not afford to build both a high school and elementary school at the same time with a 30 year bond issue.

“There is no way we can borrow more than $45 million in a 30 year bond issue without downgrading the bond rating of the county. That is not fiscally smart because it would mean nothing else could happen in terms of growth or building to meet county needs for the next 30 years but using a short term note first and a bond later we could do it. It is conservatively the right way to go about it because it doesn’t break the bank and it helps our county,” said Norris.

Should the current county commission and board of education agree on such a long range plan, could future commissions and school boards be held to the commitments made by their predecessors?

“As a commission, we can’t lock another commission in,” said Norris.

“But If there is a land purchase (for a new high school), you begin to constrain how far a new commission can go 12 years down the road if you’ve made an initial investment in the land,” replied Jack Barton, member of the education committee.

“That’s why I say if we can get a plan as to what we are going to do and say we are going to build an elementary school and the board of education will purchase land for the high school and then as soon as this (elementary school) pays off within 10-12 years we will start a high school I think you stand a better shot of making that plan a realization,” added Norris.

Should the plan be approved, Norris urged the school board to get started on finding property for a new high school.

“If the county can find a way to generate the funds for the elementary school, the school board needs to find a way to purchase land for the high school even though it is ten to twelve years away,” he said.

County Mayor Stribling added that the Tennessee Department of Transportation must also be consulted on the location of any new school.

“Whatever DeKalb County decides to do as to where a new school is going we have to get TDOT involved on the front end because a traffic study will have to be done to determine the impact to state roads,” he said.

A man and woman suspected of dealing in methamphetamine were arrested last week after the Sheriff’s Department conducted a search at their residence on Cecil Hale Road.

(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL- Intakes & Releases From: 5/21/2018 Thru: 5/28/2018)

Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR_4.pdf (3.14 MB)

53 year old David Sandlin, Jr. and 53 year old Angela Louise Howell of 153 Cecil Hale Road are each charged with the manufacture, sale, or delivery of methamphetamine. Howell is under a $50,000 bond and will make a court appearance on June 14. Sandlin’s bond is $25,000 and he will be in court on June 7.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that a search warrant was obtained on Wednesday May 23 and was served at the residence of Sandlin and Howell by himself along with sheriff’s department detectives and deputies.

According to Sheriff Ray, Sandlin was in possession of 7.4 grams of methamphetamine and hypodermic needles and scales were also found in his bedroom. Sandlin admitted that the needles were intended for illegal drug use.

Howell was in possession of 17.3 grams of methamphetamine packaged in three separate baggies. She was also in possession of digital scales, plastic baggies, and other drug related items. Howell admitted to selling methamphetamine.

37 year old Michael Chad Owens of Shady Drive, Smithville is cited for simple possession of methamphetamine. His court date is June 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, May 15 a deputy went to a residence on Earl Avenue to serve a warrant on Owens. Upon entering the home, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana. After obtaining consent to search, the deputy found a blue container which held a small amount of methamphetamine. Owens said it belonged to him.

36 year old Willie Ray Murphy of West Bryant Street, Smithville is charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt, or search. His bond is $4,500 and his court date is June 7.

Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, May 20 a deputy was dispatched to Toad Road in response to a call of “shots fired”. Upon arrival, the officer encountered Murphy, who came out of a camper on the property. After being asked by the officer to show his hands, Murphy replied “why”? When the officer ordered Murphy a second time to show his hands, Murphy responded “Okay man, okay” and then turned and fled on foot. He was later arrested.

32 year old Joshua Joel Bain of Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500. He also has a failure to appear warrant against him. Bain’s bond for that is $1,000. His court date is June 7.

Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, May 24 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Jacobs Pillar Road due to a possible domestic between a father and son. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Bain and another person who had been in an altercation. Bain struck his victim in the face causing multiple knots and a cut above the victim’s eye. Bain was placed under arrest.