Director of Schools Patrick Cripps updated the Board of Education on personnel moves during Thursday night’s monthly meeting held at DeKalb West School.

Since last month, Laura Patterson has been employed as an educational assistant at DeKalb Middle School to replace Josh Melton.

Ginda Kilgore, an educational assistant at Northside Elementary School has been transferred to DeKalb Middle School.

Hunter Collins has resigned

Tena Edwards, Janet England, Sonja House, and Carol Sampley have all been granted a leave of absence as requested.

The DeKalb County School district has set the state assessment testing dates at each school for April.

The following testing dates are specific for each school.

DeKalb County High School:
* April 16th-26th-Grades 9-12
* April 30th-May 4th-Grades 9-12
* Make-up dates for TNReady: April 20th, May 4th

DeKalb Middle School- Grades 6-8
* April 17th-April 27th
* Make up dates: April 18th, April 26th

DeKalb West School:
*Grade 2 and Grades 3-8
* 2nd Grade Assessment -April 23rd-April 26th
* Make-up date: April 27th, April 30th

* 3rd-4th-April 17th-April 25th
* Make-up dates: April 26th, April 27th

5th-April 17th -April 26th
* Make-up dates: April 27th, April 30th

6th-8th -April 17th -April 27th
* Make-up dates: April 30th, May 1st

Northside Elementary School:
*Grade 2 and Grades 3-8
* April 18th
* April 23rd-May 1st
* Make-up dates: April 27th Grades 3-4; April 30th-May 1st-Grade 2-5

* 2nd Grade Assessment -April 24th-April 26th
*Make up date: April 26th, April 30th, May 1st

DCHS Principal Randy Jennings briefly addressed the board to mention that Raiden Martin has been elected as FBLA State Treasurer and that Ashley Reynolds was recently elected FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) state vice president of STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events for the upcoming year. Nicholas Birmingham has been accepted to the Tennessee Governors School for the Arts and FBLA Advisor Marilyn Roberts named State Advisor of the year. The prom will be Friday, April 27.

In her brief report to the board, Smithville Elementary Principal Julie Vincent announced that May 4 is the date for DeKalb West School and Smithville Elementary to have Pre-K and kindergarten registration (subject to pre-k funding) from 8 until 1:30 p.m. for incoming students.

Sabrina Farler, Principal at DeKalb West School announced that DeKalb Middle and DeKalb West School’s top math students attended the Tennessee Tech Math Contest Thursday and Alex Antoniak, a 6th grade student at DeKalb West finished 1st out of 107 students in the contest.

Karen Knowles, Principal at Northside Elementary School, announced testing dates for students (as noted above).

The Center for Search & Investigations (CFSI) will be having a postering event Sunday at noon for 16 year old Hannah Grisham of Liberty who went missing from her home in February. The event will be held at Mapco Express located at 128 East Broad Street in Smithville.

Hannah is 5’ 2” tall and weighs 125 pounds. She has hazel eyes and light brown hair.

No one has seen or heard from her and police have no leads as to her whereabouts.

If you should see or speak to Hannah or know where she is please contact Central Dispatch at 615-215-3000 or her mother at 615-318-3040 or 615-580-9064

The CFSI assists & trains families and communities in facilitating the search and location of missing children worldwide in order to safeguard children from abduction, child trafficking & exploitation. The Center for Search & Investigations is an approved 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization. CFSI has a STRICT NO-CONTACT policy concerning children. All current and future members of CFSI Leadership are subject to a criminal background check.

Why We Do It:
The United States Department of Justice reports over 2,100 children go missing a day equaling approximately 800,000 reported missing every year. Many missing children are in danger of child trafficking. The truth is no missing child should be labeled as a “runaway”, as they are in as much danger as those abducted. CFSI refuses to ignore these facts. They dedicate their services to help find missing and endangered children. When families have felt abandoned and hopeless CFSI has been there to extend their resources. CFSI treats every missing child case with the utmost importance and is committed to getting the cooperation of Law Enforcement while demanding local as well as national media attention. CFSI is devoted to locating & returning children home SAFE in a fast, efficient, and caring manner. CFSI’s services are always offered free of charge to the parents of missing children whom meet the non-profit’s criteria.

Our Goal:
With 3,000 + volunteers, our ultimate goal is to continue to build a Worldwide network of Advocates & Professional Investigators to provide services to families of missing children. We are confident that in accomplishing this goal we will be able to put an end to the child trafficking epidemic. For CFSI it’s all about hearing these 2 words… FOUND SAFE!

NHC Smithville was recently recognized at NHC’s Management Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. They received the award for the Highest Customer Satisfaction in the company and were recognized as a Center of Excellence. NHC Smithville was also a finalist for the Quality of Life Award and Highest Percent Increase in Customer Satisfaction. The banquet was held on Thursday, April 5, 2018. NHC owns and/or operates 76 skilled healthcare centers in 8 states.

“We are truly humbled to receive these important awards,” said Clint Hall, Administrator at NHC Smithville. “These achievements are a reflection of our commitment to quality and excellence in patient care. Our expectation is excellence, nothing less. Our partners work closely to make sure that we communicate effectively with our patients and families. We believe that when a patient comes to our center, they become a part of our family, the NHC Smithville family. It is an honor for our family to serve the Dekalb County community.”

NHC Smithville had the Highest Customer Satisfaction for 2017 for the entire company. Customer Satisfaction is measured independently through a third party vendor (NRC Health, My InnerView). Satisfaction surveys are sent to patients and families on the quality of care they received while at the center.

The Center of Excellence is awarded to previous Center of the Year recipients who maintain the highest level of quality care and service. It is the equivalent to being a finalist for Center of the Year again. NHC Smithville won the Center of the Year in 2000 and is ineligible to win the award again until 2021. NHC Smithville also received a Center of Excellence Award in 2007.

NHC Smithville offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, workers compensation, managed care, and private funds. The inpatient healthcare center offers skilled nursing and rehabilitation services to adults of all ages on a short-term and continuing care basis. NHC Smithville’s outpatient clinic offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. For more information about NHC Smithville, visit www.nhcsmithville.com or call (615) 597-4284.