The DeKalb County Board of Education met in regular monthly session Thursday night at the Ernest Ray Education Center. The meeting was very brief lasting only about seven minutes.
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps gave his monthly report on personnel. Four employees have been granted a leave of absence as requested since last month including Robbie Frasier, Sara Halliburton, Karen Jacobs, and Sara Young.
The board adopted several proposed policies on first and second reading including one establishing what percentage of student’s performances on End of Course exams will count toward their final grades at DCHS in the year 2018-19.
High school students are tested in core subject areas with End of Course exams as part of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, or TCAP. Their performance on these exams factors into their semester grade for the course.
“For this year of testing, 2016-17 End of Course will count 10% of the student’s average. 2017-18 it will be 15% of the student’s average. We have a range of 15-25% (we can choose) for 2018-19. That is something the board will have to approve. I recommend 15% be counted as the average in their End of Course exam for 2018-19,” said Director Cripps.
The school board approved Cripps’ recommendation.
Two principals, Julie Vincent at Smithville Elementary School and Kathy Bryant at DCHS gave brief updates on school activities.
“At Smithville Elementary School we’re finishing up our winter benchmarks this week and the beginning of next week. December 15 at 6:30 p.m. will be our second grade musical at the county complex. Ms Kelly Jo Birmingham has been working very hard with the second grade students for that and its always a nice event to see when the second graders put that on. December 16th is pajama day which is a big fun day at Smithville Elementary. I would like to give a shout out to my custodians, Pat Milam, Sara Lomas, James Owen, and Cody Pack. The fire marshal came through and did his inspection and said numerous times how clean the school was for such an older building. They couldn’t get over how nice it looked and how clean it is so I want to give them a shout out for how hard they work each day to help keep Smithville Elementary clean,” said Principal Vincent.
“DCHS will have end of course exams for Advanced Honors Geometry starting next week on December 14 and 15th and then our finals will begin on Thursday, December 15 and continue through the following Tuesday. Parents may visit www.dchstigers.com to find the detailed finals schedule if they would like to,” said Principal Bryant.
The board also granted permission for DeKalb Middle to begin fundraising to send students to the National Jr. Beta Convention.
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