Director of Schools Patrick Cripps Presented Upper Cumberland Regional Superintendent of the Year award

August 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Back in May, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps was named the 2024-25 Tennessee Upper Cumberland Regional Superintendent of the Year awarded by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS).

During Thursday night’s monthly meeting of the Board of Education, the formal award was presented to Director Cripps by the TOSS Executive Director Dr. Gary Lilly.

“I am here in honor of Superintendent Cripps,” said Dr. Lilly. “I certainly appreciate Mr. Cripps who is always a great collaborator, and he is engaged in our events. He is an active participant in those and is respected throughout the state. Mr. Cripps is not always the loudest voice in the room but when he talks people listen. They value his experience, judgment, and advice. Its my honor to let you know that Mr. Cripps has been selected as the Upper Cumberland Superintendent of the Year,” Dr. Lilly continued. “What’s even more important is that this is not a TOSS award. Mr. Cripps was selected by his peers so that shows how much they value, respect, and appreciate him and we are very proud of him. The criteria that those selections are made from are set by the National organization in the areas of leadership for learning, communication, professionalism, and community involvement,” said Dr. Lilly.

“I want to thank Dr. Lilly and TOSS and the Upper Cumberland Directors that nominated me,” said Director Cripps. “This is not a Patrick Cripps award. It’s a DeKalb County award. It takes everybody. All of our employees are the ones behind it. I just get to speak. It’s a privilege and an honor to serve in this capacity. I’m starting my 10th year as director. When I started I was a scared little boy. Its still a scary job but God has seen me through it and it is a blessing to be able to serve our community. I am thankful for the opportunity that you guys (board members) have entrusted me with to do the job. I also appreciate the support of my family. I just want to say thank you and I love you. I also want to thank the community,” added Director Cripps.

TOSS is a membership association for Tennessee’s school superintendents and directors of schools. TOSS provides high quality professional learning, legislative advocacy and many other services.

An overall State Superintendent or Director of the Year is selected by TOSS each year along with eight regional winners. Cripps is this year’s winner for the Upper Cumberland Region.

August 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Would you want a nurse tending to your child at school in the event of an injury or medical episode?

Under a new state law (the Family Rights and Responsibilities Act) which went into effect July 1, parental consent is now required before a school nurse can treat students for a wide variety of conditions.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said the consent forms are being sent home for parents/guardians to sign.

“They are being sent out this week. Some schools have already sent them so they (parents) will be getting them this week. It’s a new law that requires school nurses to get permission to treat students at the building (schools). We are asking our parents and guardians to please fill out the form and get that back in so that in case treatment is needed we are able to treat students and their needs,” said Director Cripps.

The new law says if there’s an emergency, any person, including a school nurse, can provide a child with medical assistance. This includes treating a wound or taking a child to the emergency room in the event of a serious injury.

However, for non-emergencies, a doctor or nurse must first consult with the parents by phone call or text message.

The new law also applies to school counseling. However, lawmakers said counselors can still listen to student’s problems or concerns without parental consent.

Seven other states have similar laws that require parental consent for non-emergency medical services: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The consent form being sent home to DeKalb County parents/guardians states as follows:

“Pursuant to the Family Rights and Responsibilities Act and Tennessee Code Annotated, I am the parent/guardian and I hereby

GIVE

WITHHOLD

The school nursing staff of DeKalb County Schools permission to care for my child as follows:

*To render aid and to treat any non-emergency health conditions such as stomachache, headache, vomiting, cuts and abrasions, nose bleeds, etc.

*To render aid and to treat emergency health conditions such as allergic reactions, serious wounds or injuries, etc.

*To dispense over the counter medications as may be required to treat the child

* To follow medical orders received from treating physicians or other health care professionals

I understand that, if I give consent, then I have the right to revoke consent at any time upon informing the school nursing staff in writing.

I also understand that, if I withhold or revoke consent, then I agree that I will come to school immediately to care for my child myself. I also understand that the school staff, in its discretion, may call 911 to deal with any emergency and that, if they do so, then I may be responsible for any charges”.

August 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

An investigation continues into the death of a person found inside a car last Friday afternoon in a cornfield on New Bildad Road near the DeKalb/Warren County line.

Investigators are awaiting results of an autopsy to determine the person’s identity as well as the cause of death.

Could the case be connected to a recent missing person investigation?

According to the Southern Standard, Warren County Sheriff Jackie Matheny, Jr. said his department had been requested by the Smithville Police Department to assist in the search effort for a missing person, Rebecca Maxfield, who had been reported missing in DeKalb County last month.

During a search along New Bildad Road Friday afternoon, Sheriff Matheny told the Southern Standard that his investigators located a car in a cornfield containing the body of a deceased person and notified DeKalb County authorities after concluding that the car was not in Warren County but across the county line in DeKalb County.

Again, results of the autopsy have not yet been released and a positive identification of the body has not been made.

Sheriff Patrick Ray issued the following prepared statement.

“At approximately 3:23 pm on August 9, 2024, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a body that was found on New Bildad Road Smithville. Members of the Smithville Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Warren County Sheriff‘s Department, District Attorney General Offices from both DeKalb and Warren County and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents from both DeKalb and Warren County were summoned to the scene. The body which was located in a vehicle was found in a cornfield. The body was sent to Nashville TN for an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the identity of the person. No more details are available at this time. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Smithville Police Department, DeKalb County and Warren County Sheriff‘s Departments are investigating the case”.

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