Almost $548,000 in scholarships were awarded to members of the Class of 2010 at DeKalb County High School during Friday’s annual Senior Awards Day program.
Representatives of colleges, universities, the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines, businesses, civic groups, and other organizations made the presentations.
Payne Denman received one of the largest scholarship awards of the day, an $85,000 Athletic Scholarship to play golf at the University of Florida. State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver also presented Denman a proclamation adopted by the Tennessee House of Representatives last December honoring Denman for his achievements as a student athlete.

Other scholarship awards are as follows:
MTSU Scholarships:
$8,000 Provost- Jared Adams
$8,000 Provost- Kyle Hogue
$8,000 Provost- Dakota Dexter
$12,000 Academic Service- Lindsey Harden
University of Florida:
$85,000 Athletic Scholarship-Payne Denman
Cumberland University:
$6,000 Golf Scholarship- Austin Garrett
$5,750 Academic Scholarship- Austin Garrett
Tusculum College:
$32,000 Scholarship- Abram Edwards
Tennessee Tech University Scholarships:
$1,000 Ezra H. Carwile- Axyl Chalfant
$10,000 Golden Eagle Excellence- Caleb Spencer
$10,000 Golden Eagle Excellence- Hunter Tramel
$10,000 Golden Eagle Excellence- Tyler Harbaugh
$12,000 Academic Service-Wesley Blair
$12,000 Academic Service- Tiffany Young
$3,000 Grand Prize Science Fair- Tiffany Young
$1,500 Reserved Grand Prize Science Fair- Tiffany Young
$1,500 Reserved Grand Prize Science Fair- Tiffany Young
$500 W. Doyle & Melford Stone Smith Scholarship- Tyler Harbaugh
$1,000 Internship- Sabrina Griffin

Freed-Hardemen Scholarships:
$24,000 Athletic- Cynthia Woodward
$21,600 Academic- Cynthia Woodward
$32,000 Athletic- Jodi Curtis
$4,000 Academic- Jodi Curtis
Roane State Scholarships:
$5,800 Athletic- Jaylen Garrett
$5,800 Athletic- Morgan Page
Centre College Scholarships:
$18,900 Merit Award- Hunter Poteete
$5,000 Alumni Endowment Award- Hunter Poteete
University of Tennessee, Knoxville Scholarship:
$16,200 Pledge Scholarship- Zach Odom
St. Mary’s College Scholarship:
$60,000 Dean’s Scholarship for Academic Achievement- Hayley Snyder
Carson-Newman Scholarship:
$8,500 Award- Meagan Sullivan
Fite First Choice Award Scholarship- $3,000- Meagan Sullivan
Lettie Pate Whitehead- $1,000- Meagan Sullivan
Vocal Music Talent Scholarship- $3,500- Meagan Sullivan
Band Talent Scholarship- $1,000- Meagan Sullivan
U.S. Marine Corps Awards:
Enlistment Recognition- Frank Morris
Distinguished Student Athlete Award- Hunter Poteete
Distinguished Student Athlete Award- Morgan Page
Semper Fidelis Musical Excellence Award- Hunter Tramel
Scholastic Excellence Award- Tiffany Young
U.S. Army Awards:
Enlistment Recognition- John Strayn
Distinguished Student Athlete Recognition Award- Cynthia Woodward
Distinguished Student Athlete Recognition Award- Payne Denman
U.S. Navy Awards (totaling more than $90,000 combined)
Jessica Fox
Daniel Kosirog
Katelyn Vanwinkle
Tennessee Gas Association Scholarship
$1,000- April Hale
DeKalb Soil Conservation District Scholarship:
$500- Lindsey Harden
Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial Scholarship:
$1,000- Amanda Ours
$1,000- Kendra Foutch
Class of 1969 Scholarship:
$250- Caroline Carter
Agee Oil Scholarship:
$1,500- Payne Denman
DeKalb Fire Fighters Scholarship:
$500- Gabby Byford
Jolly Angels Scholarship:
$1,000- Tiffany Young
$1,000- Joe Vickers
$1,000- Hayley Snyder
$1,000- Ashley Owen
$1,000- Kayla Hubbard
Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Scholarship:
$500- Abram Edwards
DeKalb Republican Women Scholarship:
$500 Abram Edwards
Liberty State Bank Scholarships-
$1,000-Ethan Hale
$1,000- Grant James
Jeff Garrett Memorial Scholarship:
$500- Austin Garrett
Smithville Business & Professional Women’s Club Scholarships:
$500- Abby Laprad
$500- Tiffany Young
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home Scholarships:
$500-Cynthia Woodward
$500-Hunter Tramel
Alan Hooper Memorial Scholarship:
$500- Micah Prichard
AmVets Scholarship
$250- Austin Garrett
AmVets Auxiliary Scholarship:
$250-Ethan Hale
CIC Foundation Scholarship:
$10,000- Grant James
First Bank Scholarship:
$500- Hunter Poteete
Smithville Rotary Club Awards:
$750-Nick Goff
$750-Amanda Ours
$750- Joe Vickers
$100 Math Award- Tiffany Young
$100 Vocational Award- Joe Vickers
DeKalb PTO Scholarship:
$250- Seth Willoughby
Scottish Rite Scholarship:
$1,000- Ashley Owen
DeKalb Community Hospital Scholarship:
$500- Sabrina Griffin
Class of 1966 Scholarship:
$500- Abigail Laprad
DeKalb Farmers Coop Scholarship:
$500- Myra Tramel
Lucille Stewart Memorial Scholarship:
$2,000- Brandon Haas
$2,000-Meagan Sullivan
Elzie & Nell McBride Memorial Scholarships:
$500-Nick Goff
Leadership DeKalb Award:
$750- Abby Laprad
FCCLA Award:
$200- Katie Nixon
DCHS Student Council Award:
$250- Jared Adams
Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship:
$1,000- Nick Goff
Eddie Crips Memorial Scholarship
$1,000- Abram Edwards
DeKalb Retired Teachers Scholarship:
$750- Heather Lee
$750- Macey Cantrell
Smithville Women’s Club Scholarship:
$500-Katie Nixon
$500-Erica Neely
Hunter Davis Memorial Scholarship:
$500- Joe Vickers
Central High School Alumni Association Scholarship:
$3,000- Lindsey Harden
DeKalb Democratic Party Scholarship;
$500- Schuylar Allen
$500- Kristian Puckett
$500-Tiffany Young
Georgia Career Institute Scholarship:
$1,000- Brittany Collier
Nashville Auto Diesel College Scholarship:
$1,000- Brandon Dyer
DeKalb Funeral Chapel Scholarships:
$500- Sabrina Griffin
$500- Elicia Cantrell
$500- Macey Cantrell
$500- Gabby Byford

The DeKalb County Board of Education Thursday night adopted the tentative school budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year. The vote was 4 in favor, 2 opposed, and one passed.
The proposed $18 million budget will now be presented to the county’s budget committee for it’s approval and then it will go to the county commission for final approval later this summer.
The tentative budget includes pay raises for school personnel including a $400 increase per certified position and a 25 cent per hour increase for all support staff positions along with the step increases per salary scales and adjustments for degree advancement per salary scales.

Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says the budget is tight and he is hopeful the school system can make it through the year without having to ask for more from the county commission. “This budget is again a budget that is extremely close. I’m glad to see fuel prices are going down. We do have a $400 raise in there for our teachers and a 25 cent per hour raise for our support staff. Our teachers and support staff are very deserving of that (pay raise). Not only do they work hard, but they have been very productive and they have produced a lot of the results we were after. They accomplish a lot. This is a bare bones budget. It requests for us to use our BEP reserves. In the last several years we have used the BEP reserves to balance the budget but at the end of the year we have not had to actually use those reserves. We’ve been able to put those back and not use them. But I want to say for the record that this may be the year that we end up having to use the BEP reserves in order to pay our bills. We’ve had a lot of things go up, such as the amount that we’re required to put into the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement Plan. I know the teacher’s part (amount school system must contribute) is like $239,000. Support staff (amount school system must contribute) is less than $50,000. Should there be unforeseen things come up during the year, I just want to tell you that we may have to go back and ask for more money and definitely we may have to use our BEP reserves this year. We definitely don’t want to go back and ask for more money, but I just want to let you know that there is a good possibility that this next school year may be the year that we use our BEP reserves.”
Fifth district member W.J. (Dub) Evins, III voted against the budget, suggesting that the county is putting the board of education in a difficult position of having to balance the school budget on state BEP reserves, a position the school board may not have been in had the county commission not cut the school system’s property tax rate a couple of years ago, after the sales tax referendum passed. “Mr. Willoughby, I don’t have a problem with the expense structure in this budget. I think some things we can’t avoid. I’m glad we’re able to put something in for the teachers. However, I do have a problem with the funding mechanism. We can’t continue to depend on sales tax revenues and our reserves, because reserves can’t be replenished. When the general public was put to the test and there was a referendum to increase the (local option) sales tax, the approach at that time was that the sales tax was for the schools. As things progressed along, the understanding and agreement was that if you (public) vote the sales tax revenues, the sales tax increase, we (county mayor and commission) will take 19 ½ cents away from property taxes. As it turns out, we (schools) did get the sales tax revenue. We did get the referendum passed. And of that 19 ½ cents they (county commission) took 16 ½ cents of that from us (schools). I’m very concerned about that. We got money in the left hand (increase in sales revenue) and got it taken away from us in the right hand (decrease in property tax revenue). Fortunately, right now the sales tax revenues are okay but that’s very volatile. It was not so many years ago that about 65 or 70% of the property taxes in this county went for schools. Now that’s down in the 30 percentile. We’re depending upon a very volatile income (sales tax revenue to fund schools) and I have some great concerns about that. I have no problem with the expenditures but I do have a problem with the funding mechanism.”
Sixth district member Bruce Parsley also voted against the budget, saying after the meeting that he thought that the pay raise for personnel should be more. Parsley added that he also had concerns about using BEP reserves to balance the budget.
Second district member Charles Robinson, who is also chairman of the school board, passed during the roll call on the budget. The chairman is not required to cast a vote on any issue.
In addition to the pay raises, the proposed budget also includes one new special education resource teacher for DeKalb County High School to help meet the new diploma requirements. One of the current school nurse positions and two special education assistants, under this budget, would be funded from general purpose schools, rather than federal as they have been in the past. One part-time special education vision teacher position would become full time under this budget. And the transportation manager would become a full time position
Perhaps, the category making the single largest impact on the budget is in the state mandated increase in the school system’s contribution to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement, going from 6.42% to 9.05% for teachers and from 5.18% to 6.28% for support staff. That totals well over $239,000.
The bottom line on total school expenditures for next year comes to $18,029,136, exceeding total revenues by $770,476. In order to balance the budget, the school board is expected to propose appropriating $712,000 of the local school system’s share of state Basic Education Program (BEP) reserves as one-time expenditures and $58,476 of Technology Reserves. The school board does not plan to seek an increase in the local property tax rate for schools, but is expected to ask the county for an increase in local revenue of $33,744 over last year’s budget to round out this proposed spending plan.
In other business, the board adopted a new policy for DeKalb County High School that would change the academic standards in determining the top ranked students as well as the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of each graduating class, beginning with the Class of 2014.
Starting with incoming freshmen who will be graduating in 2014, students would have to complete the more challenging honors and advanced placement (AP) courses in order to be eligible for Valedictorian and Salutatorian and their ACT scores and attendance would also be factors.
A committee, made up of local educators, has been studying the issue and recommended this new policy to the board of education.
David Gash, assistant principal at DCHS and chairman of the committee, says one of the purposes of the proposed new policy is to increase enrollment in the honors and advanced placement courses. “Research has shown that students who are exposed to more rigorous course work in high school are better prepared for college. We feel that by raising the expectations for our students, we are better preparing them for the future.”
(Click here to read more about the story http://www.wjle.com/node/10558)
Third district member Kenny Rhody thanked DCHS student Meagan Sullivan for serving as the first student representative on the school board, a non voting position. He presented her a plaque on behalf of the board.

Director of Schools Mark Willoughby has signed contracts with the Professional Personnel for the 2010-2011 school year.
Willoughby presented a list of the employees to the Board of Education Thursday night.
Certified personnel at each school are as follows:
DeKalb County High School-
Charlotte Agee, Jeanette Allen, Angie Anderson, Danny Bond, Amanda Brown, Kevin Burchfield, Boyd Cantrell, Harriett Cantrell, Jeanine Cantrell, Todd Cantrell, Mary Anne Carpenter, Joe Pat Cope, Patrick Cripps, Dixie Crook, Jared Daniels, Deborah DePriest, Donna Emmons, Marshall Ferrell, Tina Fletcher, Michelle Fontanez, Amanda Fuller, David Gash, Marie Hill, Susan Hinton, Sonja House, John Isabell, William Jennings, Natasha Judkins, Dylan Kleparek, Brad Leach, Lynus Martin, Lori Barnes Myrick, Rolando Navarro, Jenny Norris, Scott Odom, Rebecca Oliver, Shelly Painter, Lori Page, Walteen Parker, Linda Parris, John Pryor, Rebecca Purdue, Joey Reeder, Leslie Rice, Melissa Ruch, Frederick Sanders, Daniel Sebers, Peggy Semmes, Amy Tobitt, Steve Trapp, Chris Vance, Michael Whitefield, Carol Williams, Brittany Willoughby, Jonathon Wright, Melvin Young, and Kathy Hendrix.
Northside Elementary School-
Joyce Alexander, Rebecca Baugh, Lisa Bell, Marla Beshearse, Kelly Birmingham, Kathy Bryant, Linda Bush, Wendy Colvert, Trent Colwell, Michael Crockett, Amanda Dakas, Alisha Day, Holly Espinosa, Jerry Foster, Ashley Garrett, Carrie Gottlied, Amy Green, Amanda Griffith, Jennifer Griffith, Cynthia Hale, Jessica Hale, Patty Hale, Karen Jacobs, Shelly Jennings, Sabrina Kirksey, Kristy Lasser, Lisa Mabe, Jama Martin, Amanda Mathis, Libby McCormick, Pamela Miller, Elizabeth Nolt, Louise Owen, Amy Raymond, Judy Redmon, Bethany Rigsby, Melissa Roysdon, Tammy Sims, Carol Tripp, Cheryl Vance, Julie Vincent, Betsye Walker, Ginger Wenger, Sandy Willingham, and Gayle Redmon.
DeKalb West School-
Doris Cantrell, Jeanna Caplinger, William Conger, Kim Crook, Martha Damron, Genrose Davis, Tonya Ellis, Janet England, Denise Graham, Megan Hardin, Lesa Hayes, Lindsay Holmes, Ricky Hendrix, Regina Kent, Michael Littrell, Shelia McMillen, Melanie Molander, Amanda Mullinax, Tammy Payne, Debra Poteete, Cynthia Preston, Lori Pryor, Cynthia Pulley, Joyce Robertson, Susan Robinson, Audrey Russell, Lori Sexton, Jane Watson, Susan West, Vicki Wilson, Amy Young, and Danny Parkerson.
Smithville Elementary School-
Tanya Akinson, Ana Bain, Renee Beaty, Kelly Birmingham, Kim Brown, Beth Cantrell, Laura Carter, Layra Crook, Trena Curtis, Tonya Dickens, Sue Driver, Vicky Duke, Kelli Foster, Misty Franklin, Tina Gash, Amanda Hardiek, Vicky Hawker, Bradley Hendrix, Holly Hendrix, Mary Henny, Anna Johnson, Karen Knowles, Carrie Lee, Adrienne McCormick, LeVaughnda Midgett, Margaret Nichols, Christina Ontiveros, Beth Pafford, Susan Palmer, Jane Parsley, Kristy Parsley, Jennifer Peek, Mary Pugh, Jane Ramsey, Amanda Rhoady, Carol Sampley, Pam Sanders, Carol Tallent, Jan Thomas, Janet Trapp, Carol-Ann Tripp, Fay Turner, Sherian Waggoner, Tiffany Wheatley, Janet Woodward, Christie Young, Crystal Young and Dr. Billy Tanner.
DeKalb Middle School-
Joey Agee, Josh Agee, Jan Alexander, Suzette Barnes, Lori Cloyd, Lisa Craig, Lisa Cripps, Courtney Davis, Tena Davidson, Nancy Dillon, Jenny Elrod, Sabrina Farler, Amy Fletcher, Lori Hendrix, Tom Hill, Bryan Jones, Michelle Jones, Summer Kinnard, Gail Kirksey, Martha Kirksey, Taleen Lambert, Michael Lewis, Michael Littrell, Debra Moore, Rebecca Oliver, Joy Parker, Karen Pelham, Anita Puckett, Joyce Robertson, Candice Scrabro, Lori Sexton, Penny Smitty, Tonya Sullivan, Kitty Thomas, Tad Webb, Jennifer West, and Randy Jennings.
Central Office Staff-
Gina Arnold, Katherine Ballard, Michelle Burklow, Clay Farler, Dr. Danielle Collins, Jon Fontanez, Dee Anna Reynolds, and Mary Nell Summers
County Wide-
Amy Fox, Lorie Isabell, Judy Malone, and Lori Rogers.
In other business, the board granted tenure to the following teachers, as recommended by Director Willoughby. He says these teachers have completed the statutory apprentice period of three years as required for tenure: Renee Beaty, Marla Beshearse, Michael Crocket, Jared Daniels, Jenny Elrod, Jon Fontanez, Michelle Fontanez, Amy Fox, Jessica Hale, William Jennings, Jenny Norris, Shelly Painter, Deb Poteete, Rebecca Purdue, Dee Anna Reynolds, Carol Sampley, Pamela Sanders, Daniel Seber, Penny Smitty, and Cheryl Vance.
The board of education adopted a Resolution of Appreciation honoring teachers.
“WHEREAS, teachers prepare tomorrow’s citizens and leaders by teaching them reading, writing, arithmetic and many other skills that help them to learn and grow into productive, happy contributors to society; and
WHEREAS, we depend upon teachers, through example, to demonstrate qualities that are necessary for success and to serve as role models, encouragers and developers of the students in our schools; and
WHEREAS, teachers keep American democracy alive by laying the foundation for good citizenship, and their hard work and efforts are directly responsible for creating the leaders of tomorrow; and
WHEREAS, teachers spend countless hours above and beyond the school day designing teaching strategies and materials, grading papers and other projects, reading and studying about issues in education, consulting with parents, administrators and other teachers and sponsoring or attending school related events: and
WHEREAS, teachers open children’s minds to the magic of ideas, knowledge and dreams and inspire a love of learning and truth and seek to discover and build upon each child’s interests and strengths; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that the appreciation of all school district staff should be ongoing and not limited to one day per year, but recognizes the value of annually focusing public attention on the efforts of educational personnel.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board, in recognition of the numerous contributions which teachers in our school district make every day, hereby expresses to our teachers its deep appreciation and sets apart the month of May as “Teacher Appreciation Month” in all DeKalb County schools;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board urges the community to demonstrate appreciation for the public school teachers and their contributions in enriching the lives of our children and helping to build a brighter future for them.

Director of Schools Mark Willoughby announced Thursday night during the board of education meeting that he has employed the support staff for the 2010-2011 school year.
Those employed at DeKalb County High School are:
Rena Adcock- Cook, Wanda Bradford- part time Cook, Amee Cantrell- Social Worker, Kathy Chapman-Cook, Kenderly Cripps- Guidance/Records Clerk, Annette Davis- Educational Assistant, Debbie Eaton- Educational Assistant, Regina Estes- Secretary, Beverly Ferrell- Educational Assistant, Dena Haugh- Educational Assistant, Melissa Hicks- Cook, Deborah Knowles- Educational Assistant Job Coach, Helen LaFever-Cook, Rita Leichtfuss- Educational Assistant, Deborah Magness- Bookkeeper, Rhonda Merriman-Educational Assistant, Lisa Peterson-Educational Assistant Job Coach, JoAnn Pittman-Custodian, Brian Reed- Educational Assistant, Denise Rutland- Custodian, Ray Robinson- Custodian, Vicky Sandlin- Cook, Norman Underhill- Educational Assistant, Tiffany VanWinkle- Educational Assistant, Sharon Washer-Cook, Suzanne Williams-Educational Assistant, Jamie Wright- Guidance Clerk, and Debbie Young-Cafeteria Manager.
DeKalb Middle School:
Heather Blankenship- Educational Assistant, Helen Cantrell-Cook, Charles Cantrell- Custodian, Sheryn Curtis- Cook, Fay Gilreath- School Bookkeeper, Connie Haggard- Cook, Barbara Hibdon- Cook, Rita Johnson-Cook, Samantha Lester- School Secretary, Reba Malone- Custodian, Paulette McDonald- Educational Assistant, Lisa Norton- Educational Assistant, Eldon Vanatta- Cafeteria Manager, Nancy Young- Educational Assistant
Smithville Elementary School:
Brent Arnold-Educational Assistant, Jimmy Barnes- Custodian, Clay Bumbalough- Custodian, Pauline Braswell- Educational Assistant, Brenda Beth Cantrell- Educational Assistant, Darlene Evans-Educational Assistant, Mary Foutch- Cook, Jennifer Gay- Educational Assistant, Betty Griffith- Educational Assistant, Jean Hayes- Cafeteria Manager, Vicki Jefferies- Educational Assistant, Melinda Lattimore- Educational Assistant, Brittany Lockard- Educational Assistant, Sara Lomas-Custodian, Pat Milam- Part Time Cafeteria Monitor/Substitute Custodian, Tera Mooneyham-Educational Assistant, Diana Moon- Educational Assistant, Ronda Northcutt- Educational Assistant, Freeda Phillips- Cook, Rhonda Pelham- Secretary/Receptionist, Amelia Phillips- Cook, Lori Poss- School Bookkeeper, Brenda Rigney- Educational Assistant, Teresa Spencer- Educational Assistant, Beverly Starnes- Cook, Wayne Taylor- Custodian, Tammy Tyler- Cook, Annie Walker- Educational Assistant, and Celia Whaley- Educational Assistant,
Northside Elementary:
Emma Jean Bandy- Cook, Suzanne Bradford- Educational Assistant, Betty Cooper-Cook, Jennifer Cowan- Educational Assistant, Gail Crips- Secretary, Evril Cubbins- Educational Assistant, Regina Daw- Cafeteria Manager, Rebecca Ervin- Cook, Starr Ferrell-Educational Assistant, Terrie Ford- Educational Assistant, Crystal Gordon- Educational Assistant, Kenneth Gordon- ESL Assistant (English as Second Language), Phyllis Hallum- Educational Assistant, Sherry Judkins- Custodian, Thelma Martin- Educational Assistant, Denise Merriman-Cook, Angie Moore-Educational Assistant, Rebecca Moss- Educational Assistant, Lynn Pichey-Custodian, Jo Dean Redmon- Lunch Monitor, Linda Sorrell- Educational Assistant, Diane Trapp- School Bookkeeper, Kim Violet- Custodian, and Elizabeth White- Cook
DeKalb West School:
Holly Bain-Educational Assistant, Donna Driver- Cook, Dorothy Duggin-Custodian, Tina Edwards- Educational Assistant, Ruth Frazier- Custodian, Pauline Frazier- Custodian, Stephanie Fuson- Educational Assistant, Shelly Gibson- Educational Assistant, Lisa Hale- Secretary, Donna Hale- School Bookkeeper, Nancy Mulloy- Cook, Faye Nixon-Cook, Tina Paschal- Educational Assistant, Elizabeth Redmon-Educational Assistant, Tonya Roberts- Educational Assistant, Kristi Sullivan- Educational Assistant, Linda Vickers- Cook and Georgia Young-Cafeteria Manager.
County Wide Positions:
Chandra Adcock- School Nurse, Jenean Bain- Bus Assistant, Sandra Billings- Substitute Bus Assistant, James Carroll- Substitute Custodian, Cindy Childers- Coordinated School Health Assistant, Billy Curtis- Special Needs Driver (car) Bettye June Dodd- Bus Assistant, Christie Driver- School Nurse, Kelly Driver- Part-Time Physical Therapist, Elise Flannery- Substitute Cafeteria Worker, Sharon Farler- Substitute School Nurse, Greg Frasier- Computer Technician, LeAnne Frasier- Library Assistant (half time at Smithville Elementary School and Half Time at Northside Elementary School), Mary Gay- Substitute Cafeteria Worker, Melissa Fuson- Substitute School Nurse, Billy Golden- Maintenance Worker, Rebecca Hawkins- Substitute Bus Assistant,, Darnette Hibdon- Substitute Cafeteria Worker, Terry Hicks- Maintenance Worker, Earl Jared- Maintenance Supervisor, Freda Johnson- Bus Assistant, Eddy Roy Judkins- Maintenance Worker, Michael Lambert- Substitute Custodian, Penelope Mason- 21st Century CCLU Site Coordinator, Teresa Miller- Payroll/Bookkeeper Central Office, Brad Mullinax- Technology Director, Tamara Murphy- Substitute Nurse, Greg Muskopf- Special Needs Substitute Driver (car), Jean Neal-Bus Assistant, Shirley Ours- Special Education Secretary, April Odom- Attendance Clerk, Angela Patrick- Substitute Cafeteria Worker, Cathy Patterson- Substitute Cafeteria Worker, Melissa Pirtle- Food Service Bookkeeper, Jo Dean Redmon- Part Time Custodian- Brian Reed- Alternative School Assistant, Joyce Robinson- Payroll/Bookkeeper Central Office, Teresa Sullivan- Educational Assistant at DeKalb Middle School and DeKalb West School, Glynn Taylor- Bus Assistant, Janice Tanner- Substitute School Nurse, Kimberly Turner- School Nurse, Pam Turner- Substitute School Nurse, Barbara Vanatta- Substitute Cafeteria Worker, Jamie Vickers- Secretary/Bookkeeper Central Office, Judy Wiggins- Substitute Bus Assistant, Linda Williams- Substitute Cafeteria Worker, Joannie Williams- School Nurse, Jeanette Young- Substitute Cafeteria Worker, Rita Young-Attendance Clerk at Northside Elementary and Smithville Elementary School, and Tara Young- Substitute Cafeteria Worker.
Transportation:
Peggy Pursell- Transportation Supervisor, Orlando Guzman- Mechanic, and Rick Holcomb- Mechanic.
The following are bus drivers:
Harold Ashford, Karen Adkins, Neil Brown, Dwayne Cantrell, Dinah Cripps, Elaine Davis, Debbie Eaton, Marshall Ferrell, Starr Ferrell, Linda Fowler, Bill Fowler, Lynn Griffith, Judith Hale, Darnette Hibdon, Melissa Hicks, Michael Kingsbury, Kimberly Lawson, Angela Lawson, Bobby Martin, Ronald Merriman, Jimmy Mullican, Linda Gail Pack, Walter Phillips, Faye Pollard, Jimmy Poss, Tony Poss, Peggy Pursell, J.T. Pursell, Melvin Riley, Bobby Taylor, B.J. Thomason,and Mark Violet.
Substitute bus drivers are: Danny Bond, Julie Fitts, Tina Fletcher, Daniel Lawson, Dwight Knowles, Eric Snow, and Suzanne Williams.
Three educators are retiring, including Kathy Lawrence and Pat Allen, teachers at DeKalb West School and Betty Hickey, teacher at Smithville Elementary School.
Jan Alexander, a teacher at DeKalb Middle School was granted a leave of absence as requested. Starr Ferrell, educational assistant/bus driver, was also granted a leave of absence as requested.

A new policy is being proposed for DeKalb County High School that would change the academic standards in determining the top ranked students as well as the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of each graduating class, beginning with the Class of 2014.
Starting with incoming freshmen who will be graduating in 2014, students would have to complete the more challenging honors and advanced placement (AP) courses in order to be eligible for Valedictorian and Salutatorian and their ACT scores and attendance would also be factors.

A committee, made up of local educators, has been studying the issue and is recommending this new policy to the board of education, which apparently must give it’s approval.
David Gash, assistant principal at DCHS and chairman of the committee, says one of the purposes of the proposed new policy is to increase enrollment in the honors and advanced placement courses. “Research has shown that students who are exposed to more rigorous course work in high school are better prepared for college. We feel that by raising the expectations for our students, we are better preparing them for the future.”
Under the proposed new policy, DCHS would no longer average the Quality Points Average (QPA) on a four point scale or Grade Point Average (GPA) based on a numerical value. Currently, the highest QPA that a student can earn is a 4.0. Students are then ranked based on a numerical value (GPA 0-100). The Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and top-ranking students are those with the highest numerical value. Under the new policy, the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and top ranking students will be determined based on a weighted 6 point scale (QPA). The student with the highest (QPA) would be the Valedictorian. The non-weighted 4 point scale would only be used, under the new policy, to determine student eligibility for lottery funded scholarships.
Under the new policy, students enrolled in “honors” and “advanced placement” (AP) courses could earn the following points:
Honors
A= 5
B= 4
C =3
D= 2
F=0
AP
A=6
B=5
C=4
D=3
F=0
ACT SCORE: Students, under the new policy, would be required to have a 21 or higher on the ACT to be eligible for Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and top ranking in the class.
HONORS COURSES: Students, under the new policy, would be required to take a minimum of ten honors and/or AP courses to be eligible for Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and top ranking. Honors courses taken by the student must come from English, math, science, social studies, or foreign language in order to be eligible for Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and top ranking.
ATTENDANCE: Students, under the new policy, would be required to complete four full semesters at DCHS. Two of the semesters must occur during the senior year. Attendance would only affect Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Attendance would not play a role in student ranking.
TIE BREAKER: If at any time there is a tie between students’ GPA’s, the school will look at the numerical grade value to determine which student should be ranked the highest.
Once a student has met the requirements for ACT, honors courses, and attendance, the student with the highest GPA will become the Valedictorian. The student with the second highest GPA will be the Salutatorian. The other students would fall in rank based on their GPA. Students who do not meet the new requirements would be ranked AFTER all the other students are ranked who DO meet the new standards.
The committee, which was formed to research other school systems, consists of Chris Vance, Debi DePriest, Jenny Norris, Leslie Rice, Eric Sanders, Melissa Ruch, Rolando Navarro and Lori Myrick, in addition to David Gash. The committee contacted over 40 school systems in Tennessee to collect data to be evaluated.

DeKalb County High School, starting with the graduating class of 2014, will no longer recognize students with ‘highest distinction” and “high distinction”. The only categories will be “honors’ and “distinction”.
Under new guidelines imposed by the Tennessee Department of Education, high school graduates will have to meet new benchmarks to be recognized with “honors” or “distinction”.

David Gash, Assistant Principal, says DCHS will recognize students graduating with “honors” and “distinction” in the following manner:
1. Students who score at or above all of the subject area readiness benchmarks on the ACT or equivalent score on the SAT will graduate with “honors”.
2. Students will be recognized as graduating with “distinction” by attaining a “B” average and completing at least one of the following:
a. Earn a nationally recognized industry certification
b. Participate in at least one of the Governor’s Schools
c. Participate in one of the state’s All State musical organizations
d. Be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist
e. Attain a score of thirty one or higher composite score on the ACT
f. Attain a score of three or higher on at least two advanced placement exams
g. Successfully complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
h. Earn twelve or more semester hours of transcripted post secondary credit
At the present time, DCHS allows students with a “B” average to graduate with honors.
Students who obtain a 3.8 to 4.0 are recognized as honors students with “Highest Distinction” Students who obtain a 3.6 to 3.79 are recognized as honors students with “High Distinction”. Students who obtain a 3.2 to 3.59 are recognized as honors students with “Distinction”.
Under the new policy mandated by the state, DCHS will no longer recognize the three types of distinction. Starting with the graduating class of 2014, students will only be recognized by DCHS with “honors” or “distinction” based on the new policy.

The City of Smithville may crack down on temporary roadside vendors who set up to sell their products without obtaining a permit.
The aldermen briefly discussed the issue during the city council meeting last week.
Alderman Shawn Jacobs said “I’ve had another business or two contact me about these peddlers setting up and selling various wares in various places in the city. These are legitimate complaints. Businesses are paying for business licenses and these people who are setting up regularly haven’t gotten any kind of permit or don’t have a business license and it’s not fair. We need to try to make it as fair as we can for everybody. That’s the best thing to do.”
Jacobs asked if the city had an ordinance on the books regulating this type of activity. Alderman Steve White, in response, said the city does have such an ordinance but that it is vague.
Alderman Jacobs asked that the ordinance be reviewed at the next meeting.
Under the current ordinance, a peddler is defined as “any person, whether or not a resident of the city, traveling by foot, wagon, automotive vehicle or any other type of conveyance from place to place, house to house, or street to street, carrying, conveying, or transporting goods, wares, merchandise, fish, vegetables, fruits or other products or provisions, and offering and exposing them for sale; or who, without traveling from place to place, sells or offers for sale such products from a wagon, automotive vehicle or other conveyance is hereby defined to be a “peddler”. A “peddler” shall also include any “hawker”, “huckster”, or “street vendor” but shall exclude any solicitor licensed under the provisions of the city code.
The ordinance states that “no person shall act as a peddler unless he has obtained a permit from the secretary-treasurer.
Each applicant for a peddler’s permit shall file an application stating and/or containing the following:
Name of the applicant
Brief description of the nature of the goods to be sold
If employed, the name and address of the employer
If a vehicle is to be used, a description of it together with the license number or other means of identification.
Evidence of the good moral character of the applicant.
Each permit issued under the provisions of this chapter shall show the name and address of the peddler, the kind of goods to be sold, the date of issuance, the permit number, and the identifying description of any vehicle used by the peddler.
All peddlers shall exhibit their permits to any police officer or person solicited, upon demand.
No peddler shall engage in the business of peddling:
During the hours of darkness
On Sunday
Within 200 feet of a public market house
Within 200 feet of a curb market
Any permit issued under the provisions of this chapter may be suspended or revoked by the board of mayor and aldermen for any of the following reasons:
Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement contained in the application for the permit.
Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement in the course of carrying on the business of peddling
Conviction of any crime involving moral turpitude
Conducting the business of peddling in such a manner as to create a public nuisance, cause a breach of the peace, or constitute a danger to the public health, safety, or welfare.
Allowing another to use said permit
Permits issued under the provisions of this chapter shall expire on the same date that the permittee’s privilege license expires and shall be renewed without cost if the permittee applies for and obtains a new privilege license within 30 days thereafter. Permits issued to permitees who are not subject to a privilege tax shall be issued for one year. An application for a renewal shall be made substantially in the same form as an original application. However, only so much of the application shall be completed as is necessary to reflect conditions which have changed since the last application was filed.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available to workers in Chester, Clay, DeKalb, Hardin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Trousdale, Wayne and Wilson counties as a direct result of severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 30, 2010, and are continuing, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development James Neeley reported today. This amends the declaration for the State of Tennessee (FEMA-1909-DR).
These additional counties eligible for DUA are added to the previously 27 declared counties of Benton, Carroll, Cheatham, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Madison, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Tipton and Williamson.
“This is a direct line of assistance for those who are out of work due to this natural disaster,” said Commissioner Neeley. “These counties are the starting point, and we’ll open this assistance to other counties as they are declared disaster areas by FEMA.”
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the program on behalf of the federal government. According to Neeley, persons unemployed as a direct result of the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes must file their claim for DUA benefits within 30 days of this announcement.
Individuals who are not covered for regular unemployment benefits may qualify for disaster unemployment benefits. This includes self-employed workers and others not covered by the state unemployment insurance program whose source of income has been interrupted by the disaster damage.
If possible, individuals should have access to their 2009 income tax return, Social Security Number, and any papers with wage and employment information prior to the disaster.
Weekly DUA benefit amounts are determined in the same way as regular unemployment benefits. Benefits range from $114 to $275 per week and are payable up to 26 weeks after the day of declaration, which was May 4, 2010. DUA benefits will end if unemployment is no longer the direct result of the disaster.
If your unemployment claim is a direct result of the disaster, do not file your unemployment claim by Internet to avoid delays.
Persons who are unemployed as a result of the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began April 30, 2010, who need to file an unemployment claim may call (615)253-0800, extension 7599 locally or 1-877-813-0950, extension 7599, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays or report in person to one of the following TDLWD Career Centers. Designated Career Centers take claims on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and Fridays at 8:30 a.m.

The DeKalb County School System will not have to make up the three days missed last week due to flooding and the “boil water advisory” in Smithville.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says officials of the state department of education notified him Monday that a waiver has been granted so schools will close according to schedule next Saturday, May 22nd.
Students will attend school the rest of this week and Monday through Thursday next week. Students will not attend on Friday, May 21. That will be an administrative day, but all teachers must attend. The last day of school will be Saturday, May 22nd. That will be an abbreviated school day and report cards will be sent home.
Graduation at DeKalb County High School will be Friday, May 21st at 7:00 p.m. on the high school football field.

Teachers and other certified personnel and support staff are budgeted a small pay raise under the proposed 2010-11 tentative general purpose spending plan for schools, which is expected to be acted on by the board of education Thursday night.
The proposed $18 million budget, if approved by the school board, will be forwarded to the county’s budget committee for it’s blessing and then onto the county commission for final approval later this summer.
The tentative budget includes a $400 increase per certified position and a 25 cent per hour increase for all support staff positions along with the step increases per salary scales and adjustments for degree advancement per salary scales.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says the total amount of the increase for raises comes to about $150,000 including local matching for social security, retirement, etc, but it’s an increase the school system needs to fund, since personnel haven’t had a local increase in pay in quite sometime.
The proposed tentative budget also includes one new special education resource teacher for DeKalb County High School to help meet the new diploma requirements. One of the current school nurse positions and two special education assistants, under this budget, would be funded from general purpose schools, rather than federal as they have been in the past. One part-time special education vision teacher position would become full time under this budget.
Perhaps, the category making the single largest impact on the budget is in the state mandated increase in the school system’s contribution to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement, going from 6.42% to 9.05% for teachers and from 5.18% to 6.28% for support staff. That totals well over $239,000.
The bottom line on total school expenditures for next year comes to $18,029,136, exceeding total revenues by $770,476. In order to balance the budget, the school board is expected to propose appropriating $712,000 of the local school system’s share of state Basic Education Program (BEP) reserves as one-time expenditures and $58,476 of Technology Reserves. The school board does not plan to seek an increase in the local property tax rate for schools, but is expected to ask the county for an increase in local revenue of $33,744 over last year’s budget to round out this proposed spending plan.
Willoughby says this is another “bare bones” budget. “We have figured a budget that is very close. Not any excess in there. We have figured a pay raise for all our employees. When we look at where their pay was two years ago compared to where it is now, our teachers are actually making less now than what they did two years ago. The state had given them a bonus. That bonus has gone away. This year we have a $400 pay increase for our teachers and we have a 25 cent per hour increase in there for support staff, which on an eight hour day out of ten months would equal $400, the same as for the teachers. This is again a bare bones budget. We’re asking for approximately $33,000(increase) from the county and we actually think that would be growth money so we hope this budget will be accepted by the county commission. Keep in mind that while there is very little money in there for pay raises, approximately $150,000 in pay raises for our system, everything (cost of living) has gone up for our employees also, whether it be gas, food, etc. Our employees have needs so we have included that raise in there, which there hasn’t been one for our employees for a while.”