Although there have been no reports of threats against anyone in the DeKalb County School System, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby said extra precautions have been taken today because of what is being reported in Warren County.
According to Nashville media reports, Warren County Director of Schools Bobby Cox said they were alerted about a Facebook post Wednesday evening regarding someone who said he had access to his father’s guns and was planning something at Warren County High in McMinnville. Cox said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is working to identify who posted the message. He said there will be extra patrols at all 11 schools in the district and there will be limited access to the buildings.
Again, no such threats have been made in DeKalb County today, still Director of Schools Mark Willoughby said the incident in neighboring Warren County has heightened awareness here. “We’re taking extra precautions today just because of some of the threats we have heard at some neighboring school systems. We haven’t received any direct threats in DeKalb County as far as I know but our schools are probably a little bit more secure today. You may see the sheriff’s department and city police department on the schools around the property a little more today. But this is just stemming from the threats in a neighboring county. I understand some things in the neighboring county have come over Facebook which has caused them concern. But we have not received any direct threats to any of our schools in DeKalb County but we are taking extra precautions. Safety is our number one priority,”said Willoughby.

The DeKalb County Complex is hosting a FREE MOVIE NIGHT tonight (Thursday, February 7).
ParaNorman, a 2012 American 3D stop-motion animated comedy horror film, will be featured starting at 6:00 p.m. at the county complex auditorium. No admission charge for either children or adults. Concessions will be available for purchase.
County Mayor Mike Foster said movies and other special events will be scheduled on a regular basis at the county complex to attract more people. “We’ve been trying to think of things to involve more kids so the staff there have decided they are going to show a movie called “ParaNorman” which is an animated movie. It lasts about an hour and a half. Its rated PG and was picked as one of the top movies of the year. People who have seen it say it’s a cute little film. We’re just trying to establish some things on Thursday night. We’re probably going to try to do a movie night at least once a month. We hope to have an open mic night, a band, and karaoke. We want to try to have something each Thursday night,” said Foster.
The movie ParaNorman is about the little town of Blithe Hollow where a boy named Norman Babcock can speak to the dead, but no one besides his eccentric new friend, Neil, believes his ability is real. One day, Norman’s estranged eccentric uncle tells him of an important annual ritual he must take up to protect the town from a curse cast by a witch it condemned centuries ago. Eventually, Norman decides to cooperate, but things don’t go according to plan. Now, a magic storm of the witch threatens Blithe Hollow as the accursed dead rise. Together with unexpected new companions, Norman struggles to save his town, only to discover the horrific truth of the curse. With that insight, Norman must resolve the crisis for good as only he can.

With the Tiger’s 85-60 victory over the Chattanooga Patriots Thursday on Senior Night, Coach Lynus Martin reached a milestone with his 200th career coaching win.
Coach Martin’s overall record is now at 200-117, dating back to when he took over during the 2002-03 season. This is his 11th season with the team. Coach Martin has a 67-59 district record. His post-season record is 12-16. He has won one Regular Season District Championship (this year), finished as District Tournament runners-up twice (2010-11 & 2011-12) and appeared in the Region Tournament five times.
Coach Martin has also been selected to coach in the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee All-Star Game in Murfreesboro on Saturday, March 16. Tiger seniors Braxton Atnip, Sonni Fullilove and Stephen Howell have all been selected to play.
The regular season for the DCHS basketball teams ends Saturday night. DC travels to Gabriel Christian Friday night for games starting at 6:00 p.m. and at Gordonsville Saturday night with action getting underway at 6:00 p.m. WJLE will have LIVE coverage. The District Tournament begins next week at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville
Coach Martin’s year-by-year records are as follows:
2012-13: 25-4
2011-12: 26-7
2010-11: 23-8
2009-10: 16-12
2008-09: 19-12
2007-08: 14-12
2006-07: 20-11
2005-06: 14-18
2004-05: 21-7
2003-04: 12-15
2002-03: 10-11 (Coach Martin took over for former DCHS Coach Danny Bond after first three games were played)

The DeKalb County Board of Education formally adopted the school calendar for the 2013-2014 year Thursday night during the February meeting held at DeKalb West School
Registration for all students will be Thursday, August 1. That will be an abbreviated school day from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
Friday, August 2 will be an administrative day for teachers only
The first full day of school for all students will be Monday, August 5
A system wide professional development day will be Monday, July 29 at DCHS from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
All teachers will report to their individual schools on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30 and July 31 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Students will not attend on Monday, Labor Day, September 2.
Schools will be closed for the fall break October 14-25
Students will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 27, 28, & 29 and for the winter break December 23 through January 3. Wednesday, December 20 will be the last day students attend before winter break and that will be an abbreviated school day. Students will return after the holidays on Monday, January 6.
Schools will be closed for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20 and for President’s Day, Monday, February 17.
Schools will be closed for spring break March 24-28
No school for students on Good Friday, April 18 and Memorial Day, Monday May 26.
The following are designated as Early Release dates: Friday, October 4; Friday, February 14; Friday, March 7, and Friday, March 21
Students will not attend on Tuesday, May 27. That will be an administrative day and all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be Wednesday, May 28. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be sent home.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 8 and Tuesday, March 11 at DeKalb County High School from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10 and Thursday, March 13 at DeKalb Middle School, Northside Elementary, Smithville Elementary, and DeKalb West School.
DCHS report cards will be sent home on Monday, October 7 and at all other schools on Tuesday, October 8. Report cards to be sent home from all schools on Tuesday, January 7. DCHS report cards to be sent home Monday, March 10 and at all other schools Tuesday, March 11.
ACT Test for the 11th grade will be Tuesday, March 4
Writing Assessment for the 5th, 8th, and 11th grades will be February 3-7.
TCAP testing of elementary students will be April 28 through May 9
Meanwhile, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented his monthly report on personnel.
The following were employed since last month:
Tabitha Farmer, Maranda Moore, and Judy Redmon as substitute teachers
Rebecca Parker, Education Assistant at Smithville Elementary School replacing Bonnie Rigsby
Holly Espinosa, Special Education Teacher at DeKalb West School
Regina Campbell, Special Education Teacher replacing Rickey Cross at Northside Elementary School
Leave of Absence:
Donna Knowles, Educational Assistant at Northside Elementary School, leave as requested
Shelly Jennings, teacher at Northside Elementary School, leave as requested
Taleen Lambert, teacher at DeKalb Middle School, leave as requested
Amanda Mullinax, teacher at DeKalb West School, leave as requested
Resignation:
Rickey Cross, Special Education Teacher at Northside Elementary School
In other business, the board adopted a resolution of appreciation in honor of principals and assistant principals.
The resolutions is as follows:
“Whereas, principals and assistant principals have a great amount of responsibilities including leading, observing, evaluating, mentoring and much more; and
Whereas, principals and assistant principals are exceptional leaders who provide support and guidance to students, teachers, and other school employees in our district; and
Whereas, our principals keep the focus clearly on established goals for the school and its students; and
Whereas, our principals create strategies for making their schools the very best they can be; and
Whereas, principals seek support from parents and community so their students get the very best education possible; and
Whereas, principals strive to enhance the learning and working environment for everyone in the school;
Now, therefore be it resolved that the DeKalb County Board of Education hereby adopts February 14, 2013 as Principal Appreciation Day in all of our schools; and
Be it further resolved that the Board expresses deep appreciation to principals and assistant principals in our system and encourages the students and staff to join us in expressing appreciation to the leaders of DeKalb County Schools.
The board gave permission for the Beta Club of DCHS to attend the National Beta Club State Convention to be held at Gaylord Opryland Hotel on April 1-3. The purpose of the convention is for the student members to compete with other high schools in the state in various academic and non-academic events.
The school board voted to accept sealed bids to sell declared surplus property including folding mobile cafeteria tables- bench seats, wood construction, with laminated finish and metal base (72 x 30 each section). The property is to be sold as is with no guarantee of usefulness or warranty. Bids will be accepted until March 14 to be opened during the regular monthly school board meeting that night. The board reserves the right to reject all bids should it be more profitable to sell as scrap.

When the State’s Utility Management Review Board comes to Smithville on April 4 for a DeKalb Utility District rate review hearing, the City of Smithville will apparently get to intervene along with DUD ratepayers.
Steve R. Darnell, an Administrative Law Judge, has granted a motion by the city to be a participant in the hearing, along with DUD ratepayers, to address the UMRB on how the proposed plans for a DUD water treatment plant could impact city water ratepayers.
Attorneys for the DeKalb Utility District are opposed to the city’s intervention in the hearing.
Darnell’s order, which came down Tuesday, stated “This is an action initiated by the petitioners (DUD rate payers) which grants the Board (Utility Management Review Board) the authority to review rates charged and services provided by public utility districts.”
“Smithville’s motion demonstrates the disposition of this case may, as a practical matter, affect Smithville’s interests. The factual issues asserted by Smithville are intertwined with the petitioners (DUD ratepayer’s) assertions. Finally, Smithville’s participation will not render the hearing unmanageable or interfere with the interests of justice and the orderly and prompt conduct of the proceeding. Accordingly, Smithville’s motion to intervene should be granted without restriction,” wrote Darnell.
“We had filed a motion to intervene in the hearing with DUD to set out what the position for the City of Smithville would be if we lost the contract with DUD and how that would affect our rate payers as well as their ratepayers,” said City Attorney Vester Parsley. “The administrative law judge filed an order this afternoon (Tuesday) allowing the city to intervene in that matter and be there on April 4 when we have a hearing here in Smithville to put on anything that we have to show that the ratepayers of DUD would certainly be materially affected and so would the city rate payers. Its good news for the city because the opposing counsel, Mr.(Dewey) Branstetter had opposed the intervention of the City of Smithville on the grounds that we didn’t have any basis to argue about what the rates are for DUD. We (city) filed a motion to intervene. Mr. Branstetter had filed a motion objecting to our intervention and the administrative law judge has made his decision and said we (city) are allowed to intervene and be a part of this hearing and have a right to participate in the hearing without restrictions. Mr. Branstetter was wanting to restrict it some if we were allowed to intervene. But the order clearly sets out that there are no restrictions (on the city),” said Parsley.
The DUD is represented by its own attorney Keith Blair and by Dewey Branstetter, a Nashville attorney recently hired by the DUD to help represent them before the UMRB.
Attorney Jason Holleman of Jones, Hawkins & Farmer, PLC of Nashville represents the City of Smithville in this matter along with City Attorney Vester Parsley.
Meanwhile an issue was raised as to whether Branstetter’s firm could represent DUD in this proceeding due to a potential conflict of interest. But the Administrative Law Judge said that issue was not proper for him to consider.
Darnell’s order states that “It appears the issue of a conflict of interest has been raised concerning the Branstetter firm’s representation of Respondent (DUD) in this proceeding, and also, the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts of which Smithville is a member. This issue is not a proper consideration in determining whether to grant Smithville’s motion to intervene. No motion to disqualify the Branstetter firm is pending before the undersigned (Darnell). It is noted that if there is a conflict it may exist regardless of whether Smithville is permitted to intervene. The parties are referred to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility for guidance on this issue. If either party believes this to be a legitimate issue, guidance should be sought immediately to avoid delay of this hearing.”
“It is therefore ordered that Smithville’s motion is granted and Smithville shall have the right to participate in this hearing without restriction,” wrote Darnell.

The City of Smithville is taking advantage of a USDA Rural Development Grant/Loan for the purchase and installation of a new automated water meter reading project.
Under the program, the city has been approved for a total of $410,000 in funding including a $95,000 grant and a $315,000 loan for the project. The city will have to repay the loan. The aldermen, Monday night, adopted a bond resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds up to $315,000 at an interest rate not to exceed 2.75% per annum. The bonds shall be payable over a term not to exceed twenty years. The bonds shall be revenue and tax deficiency general obligation bonds of the City of Smithville and will be payable from revenues derived from the City’s water and sewer system.
The new equipment will be installed on the existing water system but will replace the current manual read meters and include leak detecting encoding and a radio frequency transmitter. The new equipment will send a radio signal that can be read from outside by simply driving along the streets within the service area. The project will allow the city to make meter reading more efficient and billing more accurate.
“The grant/loan will free up our two meter readers that currently spend six to seven days reading meters and allow them to spend more time helping with other public works needs,” said City Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson. “With the new automated system our entire water meter system can be read within one days time and without getting out of the vehicle which increases safety as well. Although it’s a 20 year loan I believe the city should be able to repay the entire sum within three to five years. Plus the city will receive $95,000 towards this project as a grant that does not have to be repaid,” said Hendrixson.
During a city council meeting in February 2010, Will Taylor of the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts, addressed the mayor and aldermen on this issue. According to Taylor, benefits to the city by having an automated meter reading system are that it would reduce water loss by an estimated seven to fifteen percent and cut costs associated with the current manner of reading meters.
Many utilities are now using Automated Meter Readers as a way of improving customer service while reducing the cost of reading meters. With this process, one driver in a vehicle is able to read more meters in one day. At the end of the day, the meter reader unloads the information to the city’s billing system.