Body Found a week ago identified as Rebecca Ann Maxfield

August 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Almost a week after a body was found inside a car in a cornfield on New Bildad Road a positive identification has been made

In a joint statement, Sheriff Patrick Ray and Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said Thursday the body is that of 29-year-old Rebecca Ann Maxfield of Smithville.

“A missing persons report was filed with the Smithville Police Department on August 4 in which a friend stated she (Maxfield) had not responded back to them for a couple of days,” said Sheriff Ray and Chief Collins.

Investigators discovered that Maxfield’s phone had pinged in Warren County where she was last seen.

“Both the Smithville Police Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department were working together with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department when the body was discovered in DeKalb County last Friday, August 9,” according to Sheriff Ray and Chief Collins.

“The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Warren County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Smithville Police are still investigating the death of Maxfield”.

No more information will be released at this time.

August 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Fewer students are enrolled in the DeKalb County School System than this time last year.

Comparing the numbers for the period of August 7-14 total enrollment from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade district wide was 2,955 as of Wednesday (August 14), down by 33 students from 2,988 last year.

This marks the third year in a row that enrollment district-wide has been lower than the year before. Two years ago, enrollment to start the school year in August 2022 was 3,007 which was 52 students more than this year.

“Our enrollment numbers are down, and I think it goes back to the easy availability of home schools. Its affecting enrollment in school districts across the state,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.

More than a decade ago in August 2013, DeKalb County’s student enrollment district-wide was 3,052 or 97 more than today.

According to Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, the August numbers are down from last year by 33 students at Northside Elementary School, 16 at Smithville Elementary, and by 13 pupils at DeKalb Middle School but the count is up by 12 at DeKalb County High and by 15 students at DeKalb West School.

Currently, the largest class by grade district-wide is kindergarten with 246 students followed by the fourth and nine grade classes each with 243 students. The smallest class district-wide other than the pre-K classes is twelfth grade at 189 students.

As of Wednesday, August 14 enrollment at each school was as follows compared to last year:
DCHS: 826 (up by 12 students) * In August 2013 DCHS enrollment was 834.

DeKalb Middle School: 559 (down by 13 students) *In August 2013, DMS enrollment stood at 592.

Northside Elementary: 559 (down by 33 students) *In August 2013, the Northside enrollment was 591.

Smithville Elementary: 534 (down by 16 students) * In August 2013, the Smithville Elementary enrollment was 621.

DeKalb West School: 475 (up by 15 students) *In August 2013, the DWS enrollment stood at 414.

The following is the current enrollment by grade system-wide:

Pre-K: Smithville Elementary-66 (down by 20)

Pre-K: DeKalb West-13 (down by 2)

Kindergarten: 246 (up by 32)

First Grade: 210 (down by 8)

Second Grade: 207 (down by 23)

Third Grade: 217 (down by 30)

Fourth Grade: 243 (up by 32)

Fifth Grade: 218 (down by 30)

Sixth Grade: 242(up by 11)

Seventh Grade: 234 (down by 3)

Eighth Grade: 231 (down by 7)

Ninth Grade: 243 (up by 32)

Tenth Grade: 193 (down by 13)

Eleventh Grade: 202 (same)

Twelfth Grade: 189 (down by 6)

TOTAL ENROLLMENT DISTRICT-WIDE: 2,955 (down by 33)

The enrollment by school breaks down as follows:

Smithville Elementary: Pre-K 66, Kindergarten-190, First grade-162, and Second grade-116: Total 534

Northside Elementary: Second grade-37, Third grade-162, Fourth grade-192, Fifth grade-168: Total 559

DeKalb West School: Pre-K 13, Kindergarten-56, First grade-48, Second grade-54, Third grade-55, Fourth grade 50, Fifth grade-50, Sixth grade-54, Seventh grade-47, and Eighth grade 48: Total 475.

DeKalb Middle School: Sixth grade-188, Seventh grade-187, Eighth grade-184: Total 559

DeKalb County High School: Ninth grade-243. Tenth grade-193, Eleventh grade-202, and Twelfth grade-189: Total 827

Reeder also provided numbers on how the enrollment has been trending over the last 11 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)

2022: 3,007 students (down by 37 students)

2023: 2,988 students (down by 19 students)

2024: 2,955 (down by 33 students)

Enrollment numbers at each school from 2014-2024:

Smithville Elementary: Year 2014-609; Year 2015-569; Year 2016-540; Year 2017-578; Year 2018-556; Year 2019-561; Year 2020-552; Year 2021-574; Year 2022-581; Year 2023-550; Year 2024-534

Northside Elementary: Year 2014-623; Year 2015-658; Year 2016-640; Year 2017-639; Year 2018-603; Year 2019-594; Year 2020-552; Year 2021-578; Year 2022-577; Year 2023-592; Year 2024-559

DeKalb West School: Year 2014-389; Year 2015-382; Year 2016-376; Year 2017-409; Year 2018-389; Year 2019-397; Year 2020-384; Year 2021-425; Year 2022-447; Year 2023-460; Year 2024-475

DeKalb Middle School: Year 2014-554; Year 2015-536; Year 2016-521; Year 2017-546; Year 2018-572; Year 2019-607; Year 2020-579; Year 2021-577; Year 2022-544; Year 2023-572; Year 2024-559

August 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Goodbye Jamie!

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps and the Board of Education said their goodbyes to fellow board member Jamie Cripps during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting.

For the last four years Jamie has served the fifth district as a member of the Board of Education, but she decided not to seek re-election to a new term this year. Thursday night’s meeting was her last. Jamie’s term officially ends August 31.

“We would like to recognize Ms. Jamie Cripps,” said Director of Schools Cripps. “This is her last night on the board. She has served for four years. I thought she had served without missing a meeting but she said she missed one in four years and that is a tremendous feat. On behalf of myself, the entire board, and the community that you have served, we do want to thank you Jamie for your dedication to our students and doing what you thought was best for our school system while you served,” said Director Cripps.

Her successor Megan Moore will take office September 1.

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