Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented his monthly report on personnel to the Board of Education Tuesday night.
Those who have resigned since the last meeting are as follows:
Rob Robinson, Special Education Assistant at DCHS
Alisha Rice, teacher at DeKalb County High School
Barbara Johnson, teacher at DeKalb Middle School
Christine Rivers, teacher at DeKalb County High School
Kristen Reagh, Band Director at DeKalb County High School
Eric Helton, teacher at DeKalb County High School
Amy Fox, Special Education Teacher
Shane Cook, Transportation Supervisor
Those who have been transferred include:
Peggy Semmes, teacher, transferred to DCHS
Penny Bilyeu, teacher transferred to DeKalb Middle School
Judy Redmon, transferred to a teacher position at Northside Elementary School
Sabrina Farler, transferred to Assistant Principal at DeKalb Middle School
Joy Parker, teacher transferred to DeKalb Middle School
Tad Webb, teacher transferred to DeKalb Middle School
Mike Shockley, teacher transferred to DCHS
Those employed for the 2008-09 school year since last month are as follows:
Carol Sampley, teacher at Smithville Elementary School
Viva Gay Vickers, substitute bus assistant
Michael Kingsbury, driver special education car
Ray Robinson, substitute custodian
Wayne Taylor, substitute custodian
Kelly Driver, part-time Physical Therapy Assistant
Three special guests attended Tuesday night’s school board meeting as part of the evaluation process in the local board’s efforts to be named a “Board of Distinction.”
Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins III welcomed Mike Holland and Larry Judkins of the Warren County School System and Dan Schlafer of Cumberland County, who are all Level III members of the Tennessee School Board’s Association. “We as a board in DeKalb County are undertaking a role which has been set out and set forth by the Tennessee School Board’s Association for Boards of Distinction. I think we can meet the criteria that it takes to become a Board of Distinction. We have a good working relationship with one another, with our school system, and with our community. One of those criteria for that is to have Level III TSBA board members evaluate us and how we conduct our board meetings.”
In other business, the board adopted a request from DCHS Principal Kathy Hendrix and Career and Technical Director Brad Leach for “Database 3725” to remain a one-credit course at DCHS. The state only requires that this class award one-half credit for the competencies taught. The application for approval of special courses provides information of a proposed enhanced curriculum to increase the course to one-credit.
The board also granted approval to add an additional course to the Career and Technical Education schedule of courses at DCHS. The course to be added is “Keyboarding/Document Formatting 3775”. The course will award one-half credit to students in the Business Technology program of study area. Keyboarding/Document Formatting will give students a greater knowledge and additional skills in the areas of Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as continued keyboarding skills. This course is also included in the Business, Management, and Administration career cluster program of study sequence.
DCHS Principal Kathy Hendrix reported to the Board that enrollment numbers are up for Summer School this year. “I think the first day or two we had over 90 students. Last year, we probably had about 50 students.”
Director Willoughby added that because of grant funds, the school system has been able to provide transportation for some students attending summer school classes, which may be a factor in the larger enrollment.
Board member Charles Robinson reported that the board has authorized funds to rent a billboard from Lamar Advertising on the west side of the Smithville city limits to display a group picture of 31 seniors who recently graduated from DCHS. These are the seniors who earned a grade score average of 93 or above. The billboard will read “Education Counts in DeKalb County.” Robinson says the sign may be in place in time for the Fiddler’s Jamboree for everyone to see including tourists as they arrive in town.
In other business, the board adopted a partnership agreement with L.B.J. & C. Headstart to establish working procedures in the provision of services to preschool children eligible for special education in compliance with regulations, federal, and state laws.
The board approved an agreement between Tennessee Tech University and DCHS for the utilization of $9,172 in grant funds to provide upkeep and maintenance of a greenhouse in growing hydroponic vegetables as part of the agriculture/vocational class instruction.
Under MTUD’s Project Hometown Help Program, $2,500 in funding will be used to help support the Education Celebration which is held at the beginning of the school year.
The board renewed it’s shelter agreement with the American Red Cross. Under the agreement, the Red Cross is authorized to use Board of Education buildings, grounds, and equipment for mass care shelters in the event of a major disaster.
The board granted permission for the DCHS football cheerleaders to attend cheerleading camp at Vanderbilt University July 13-16. Permission was also granted for school system buses to transport 4-H students to Junior 4-H Camp at Crossville, leaving June 16th and returning on June 20th.
Several budget amendments were adopted to close out the fiscal year including a transfer of $30,000 from the fund balance to diesel fuel ($22,000) and vehicle parts ($8,000) to accommodate expenditures.
The county commission will also be asked to approve these proposed budget amendments.
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