Pre-Kindergarten Applications Available

July 12, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Any parent interested in applying for the Pre K program for their child may pick up an application at the DeKalb County Board of Education central office (Ernest Ray Education Center) downtown.

Children need to be 4 years old on or before August 15 to qualify

Parents/Guardians should bring the following items for their child:
*Original Birth Certificate
*Current Physical Examination
*Current Certification of Immunization
*Proof of Income for all Household Members
*Proof of Residency

The DeKalb County School System has been awarded a grant from the Tennessee Department of Education to fund five voluntary Pre-K classes to serve up to 100 students for another year.

“We are excited to receive this news”, said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps. “With the funding, the school system will continue to offer four Pre-K classes at Smithville Elementary and one class at DeKalb West School,” he said.

Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn announced in May that 18,560 students in 928 classrooms across Tennessee will benefit from the Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) program in the 2019-20 school year. 138 districts applied for and received VPK funding through the competitive grant designed to serve 4-year-old students who are at-risk and students in high-priority communities. Sixty-eight of these 138 districts are rural.

July 12, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Board of Education met briefly Thursday evening at the Ernest Ray Education Center.

During the short session, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps gave his monthly personnel report to the board. In it he announced that Corey Rathbone has been granted a leave of absence as requested. Lesa Hayes, teacher has been transferred from DeKalb Middle School to DCHS. Bradley Hendrix, transferred from Smithville Elementary School to the DCHS Alternative Learning Center. Tad Webb has been transferred from DeKalb Middle School as assistant principal to a teaching position at DCHS. He will also be the high school baseball coach. Meanwhile Adam Kefauver, DCHS teacher and high school baseball coach has resigned. Jimmy Sprague, transportation supervisor has resigned. Heather Shehane, Gabriella Turner, and Victoria Vincent have also resigned.

In other business, the school board appointed the student disciplinary hearing authority board for the year. This board considers appeals on student disciplinary issues. It is made up of three supervisors from the district office and an administrator and teacher from a school not involved with the student discipline issue. Joey Reeder, district attendance supervisor will serve as the chairman of this board as appointed by Director of Schools Cripps.

July 12, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A 12 year old boy was airlifted from the scene of a two auto crash Thursday afternoon on Highway 56 (Cookeville Highway) near the old Cherry Hill Community Center building. The child was flown by a helicopter ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital.

Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said the boy was a backseat passenger of a 2004 Chevy pickup truck, driven by his uncle 38 year old Abraham Andres of Cookeville. 41 year old Christopher Watson of Lebanon was also a passenger.

According to Trooper Delong, Andres was traveling north when his truck was hit by a southbound 2016 Nissan Sentra, driven by 38 year old Jeremy Burnsides of Cookeville who crossed the center line into the northbound lane while trying to negotiate a curve. Upon impact the truck overturned and flipped over a guardrail before coming to rest off the highway. The car spun around in the road and came to a stop facing south.

Watson was transported by EMS to Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb Fire Department were on the scene. Trooper T.J. Withers of the THP assisted Trooper Delong with the crash investigation.

Burnsides was charged with failure to exercise due care.

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