DeKalb School District Records Significant Increase in Student Enrollment

August 12, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Enrollment in the DeKalb County School System is up by 163 students compared to last year at this time.

Comparing the numbers for the first full week of school, total enrollment from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade district wide is 3,044 as of Thursday (August 12), up from 2,881 last year.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps told WJLE Thursday that he believes the reasons for the increase in enrollment are that the county has grown in population, students and parents are anxious to get back to all in-person learning at school after a year of on campus learning for some and remote learning for others which so many became disenchanted with last year, and the fact that there is no mask mandate this year at school.

According to Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, the numbers are up at every school but one. “We’re up by 163 students county wide from where we were a year ago. Of course, this is an ever changing number and it will be changing daily from now until probably after Labor Day. Usually it’s the Monday after Labor Day before you get numbers firmed up about who has moved in and moved out,” said Reeder.

As of Thursday, August 12 enrollment at each school is as follows compared to last year:

DCHS: 890 (up by 58 students)

DeKalb Middle School: 577 (down by 2 students)

Northside Elementary: 578 (up by 26 students)

Smithville Elementary: 574 (up by 22 students)

DeKalb West School: 425 (up by 39 students)

Reeder also provided numbers on how the enrollment has been trending over the last eight years district-wide

Year 2014: 3,005 students

2015: 3,015 students ( up by 10 students)

2016: 2,950 students (down by 65 students)

2017: 3,039 students (up by 89 students)

2018: 2,993 students (down by 46 students)

2019: 2,999 students (up by 6 students)

2020: 2,881 students (down by 118 students)

2021: 3,044 students (up by 163 students)

August 11, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A man indicted for vehicular homicide in a 2018 fatal crash has been sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

32 year old Raymond Rollins entered a guilty plea to the charge Monday and received a six year sentence to serve at least 30%. The term is to run concurrently with another case against him. Rollins has been given 904 days of jail credit.

The crash occurred December 13, 2018 on Highway 70 at Liberty.

According to the accident report filed by Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 28 year old Amanda L. Smith and Rollins were in a white 1998 Ford Mustang traveling west in the eastbound lanes and struck a 2014 Honda Accord, driven by 37 year old Charlie R. Holman of Sparta who was eastbound in the right hand lane. As Holman attempted to swerve left to avoid a collision, the right front end of the Mustang struck his car on the passenger side. Both Rollins and Holman sustained non-life threatening injuries in the crash

DeKalb EMS performed CPR on Smith at the scene and transported her to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where she was pronounced dead. A helicopter ambulance had been summoned but was later cancelled.

Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.

August 11, 2021
By: Leigh Fuson, 4-H Agent

Over 250 high school aged 4‐H members from across the state traveled to the University of Tennessee at Martin for State 4‐H Roundup and All Star Conference during the week of July 19‐23rd.

Representing DeKalb County this year were Riley Fuson, 10th grade, and Jacklyn Kleparek, 11th grade.
4‐H’ers competed in projects such as communications, livestock, computers and technology, healthy living, and photography for college scholarships and trips to National 4‐H Congress in Atlanta. The State 4-H theme in 2021 is “The Great Comeback” which is fitting after a challenging year of virtual and postponed events due to the pandemic. Both youth and 4-H leaders were excited for this in person event to take place.

After years of hard work, 4-H involvement, and record keeping, both Fuson and Kleparek were State Finalists in their project areas and attended Roundup on scholarship. This is an award and great honor within itself! They submitted portfolios at the regional level and then were selected to participate in competition interviews at Roundup. Fuson competed in the Horse project, while Kleparek was named a Level 1 State Winner in the Creative Arts and Design project. She received the Horizon Award along with a $500 college scholarship to a University of Tennessee school.

Fuson and Kleparek also attended as State 4-H All-Star members where they participated in a service project, special ceremonies, and elections. As a whole, Tennessee 4-H All Star members complete hundreds of thousands of service hours each year. DeKalb County is proud to be a small part of this endeavor and to be able to give back to our wonderful community.

Conference attendees also enjoyed a banquet, dance, learning sessions, and campus tours, all while making lifelong friends. Roundup is one of the highlights for Tennessee’s 4‐H program. Delegates who attend have spent years of work in their respective project areas. Over $75,000 in scholarship money is awarded each year.

For more information about DeKalb County 4-H, please call 615-597-4945. 4‐H is the Youth Development program for University of Tennessee Extension and Tennessee State University. Tennessee Extension offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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