The 2006 Report Card on the DeKalb County School System, issued by the Tennessee Department of Education, reveals that overall students in grades K through 8 are meeting or exceeding state goals while students in grades 9-12 are still working toward their goals.
Carol Hendrix, Supervisor of Instruction for the DeKalb County School System says the school system’s annual report looks really good this year. “It’s reported in two areas, Academic and Non-Academic. In the Non-Academic areas in both grades K-8 and 9-12 we exceeded all state goals in attendance and promotion. Our 9-12 grade indicator graduation rate is currently under revision and we’ll find out about that a little later on.”
Hendrix says in grades K-8, Academic Achievement is reported in two areas, Student Achievement and TVAS Value Added Scores. “In Student Achievement, grades K-8, which demonstrates what our students have learned from Kindergarten to the present, we have an “A” in Math and a “B” in Reading/ Language, Social Studies, and Science, which are all above state levels. They are also all above our 2005 scores.”
“In TVAS Value Added, which calculates how much a student has learned in one year, in grades K-8, we have three “A’s” and one “B”. We have an “A” in Reading/Language, Science, and Social Studies, and a “B” in Math.”
“In our Writing scores, two grades are reported and both have an “A”.
“In grades 9-12, we have Proficiency levels and Value Added scores. In grades 9-12, our students met Proficiency levels in Algebra I, Biology I, English II in Gateway and English I, U.S. History, and Math Foundations as End of Course.”
Concerning the 9-12 grade Value Added Scores, Hendrix says ” Our students met Proficiency in Algebra I, Math Foundations and English I but we were below levels in Biology I and English II.”
“Our Writing Assessment at the high school is at a “B” this year.”
A.C.T. scores were below levels in English, Math, and Science Reasoning but students met the predicted score in Reading.
Hendrix says “The goal of the federal government, the state department of education, and our school system is to ensure that all students are proficient academically. The DeKalb County School System is not only moving toward that goal, we consistently exceed expectations in grades K-8 and are working diligently toward meeting the mandates in grades 9-12.”
She says “This year’s report card demonstrates the dedication of our students, teachers, parents, and the hard work of the principals and other administrators in ensuring that our students are being taught the necessary skills and objectives to meet not only the mandated proficiency but to ensure that our students leave the DeKalb County School System with the skills to go to higher education or to enter the work force.”

The DeKalb County Board of Education is considering the possibility of replacing cell phones on school buses with two way radios.
Technology Director Brad Mullinax and Transportation Supervisor Shane Cook say two way radios would be more reliable and cost effective than cell phones. Cook says around 70% of Tennessee county school systems are already using two way radios and 20% of them are looking into it.
Mullinax presented the proposal to the Board of Education Thursday night. ” Mr. Willoughby asked me toward the beginning of the school year to start to work on this, and to try and get some information regarding installation of a VHF repeater system for the transportation department. The reason for the system is to greatly improve the communications between the schools, the Transportation Director, and the school buses. We probably have about 70% of the county that may be covered by cell phones or maybe not. We have a lot of trouble with communications, getting in touch with school buses, and that type thing
We asked Wireless Solutions of Cookeville to work us up a proposal on a system. We now have a proposal from them but there’s two or three steps we need to get approved in order to press forward with this. The first being a site. We have a site on Miller Road, the Genesco water tank, but we don’t have formal approval from the City of Smithville. I think they will allow us to base our repeater there at no charge. Once that is done, Wireless Solutions has agreed to prepare the forms for us to obtain an FCC license. This is the next step involved. We will have to submit an application to the Federal Communications Commission to obtain a license for that particular site. This will take from sixty to ninety days. Once the license is obtained, then you can press forward, purchase the repeater, get the repeater on the site, and then over a period of time, you can progressively buy so many radios per year to go on your school buses. This is not something you would have to do all at one time.
Over the long haul I think this is going to save the county several dollars. You’re not going to have recurring telephone charges on your cell phones anymore. With a two way radio system, when you purchase it, you own it. I think it would be a fantastic move. I think it would improve your safety. What we have also agreed to do as far as 911 is concerned is have this frequency that we obtain programmed into our radios at the 911 center and in the event there is an emergency situation, we could pick up on that over the air and go ahead and dispatch units accordingly. We could also put a base station at each school so that in the event somebody needed to get in touch with somebody on another school bus, they could radio the school or radio the transportation department so that contact could be made through those means. You can also have simplex frequencies programmed into those radios and they could talk from bus to bus if they are in close proximity. On those, if you’re within 10 to 15 miles of a school bus, you don’t necessarily have to go through a repeater system, you can go through a talk around channel. You’re not going to have perfect coverage, there will be dead areas, but I think the dead areas will greatly be minimized by going with a two way radio system rather than cell phones.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says a new two way radio system could be phased in over a period of time. ” In our Transportation budget, we’re going to have some money left over with some decisions we’ve made in transportation that Shane has implemented, so we’ll have some savings. If we don’t have enough savings to do everything in one year, we can do it over a two or three year period, if we need to.”
The board took no action on the issue.

WJLE would like to express it’s regret for the failure of our Internet streaming service during the LIVE radio broadcast of the election returns Tuesday night.
A brief power failure earlier in the day at the radio station caused a disruption in the service and we experienced further problems re-establishing our audio streaming capability over the Internet after the power was restored.
We apologize for the inconvenience.

Smithville Police have made another drug arrest.
Police Chief Thomas J. Stufano, in a press release, states that Bradley Ferrell of 708 South Mountain Street, Smithville was arrested at approximately 3:20 p.m. Wednesday for sale and delivery of illegal narcotics.
Stufano says “In a continuing crackdown on illegal drugs in the city, officers working surveillance of a known drug area, witnessed Ferrell making a transaction and then quickly hiding the remaining contraband inside his pants.”
Upon his arrest, a bottle of illegal pills was discovered in his waistband. Ferrell was booked into the DeKalb County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

Being physically active is one of the best things you can do to improve and maintain your health, yet nearly two-thirds of Americans aren’t getting the activity they need. Consider taking up walking with friends or your family by participating in Walk Across Tennessee, which is an eight-week program that will spark some friendly competitions in DeKalb County. Teams of eight will compete to see who can log the most miles walking, jogging or even biking in their community. The miles walked are not literally across the state, but on a map posted at the UT Extension Office and Greenbrook Park. Since everyone participates in a variety of sports, the Walk Across Tennessee program also has an exercise conversion chart so that participants can count aerobics, swimming, weight lifting, etc. For example, 16 minutes of high intensity aerobics would equal one mile.
The Walk Across Tennessee kickoff for DeKalb County is Saturday, March 24 at Greenbrook Park. “Teams will keep track of their miles, which will be posted in the Extension office and other places around the community. Teams can be composed of coworkers, teachers, students, neighbors, etc. This is an excellent team competition for the workplace and schools” said April Martin, DeKalb County Extension Agent.
Many people are unaware of the positive benefits of exercise. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 problem in the United States. The risk of heart disease could be significantly reduced by regular exercise. According to the Center for Disease Control, the positive effects of physical activity are not limited to lowering the risk of heart disease. Not only does regular exercise help relieve stress and anxiety,”physically active people outlive inactive people. Participating in Walk Across Tennessee DeKalb County is not only a great way to get involved with our community, it’s a healthy habit,” Martin stated.
To participate in Walk Across Tennessee, first get a team together. Biking and jogging teams are limited to four people. Choose a team captain and name your team. Team captains need to pick up a captain’s packet, available at the DeKalb County Extension Office, 115 West Market St. Smithville, located right beside Fuston’s Antiques. Each team member will need to complete a registration form which is included in the team captain’s packet or at the Walk Across Tennessee website. Individual as well as team forms should be returned to the Extension office.
Awards and prizes will be given to the individual who walk the most miles as well as the team who walks the most miles.
“Competition kicks off at 9:30 A.M. at Greenbrook Park under pavilion one,” Martin said. “Come out and plan to have lots of fun.” For more information, call the Extension office at 597-4945 or visit http://eteamz.active.com/WalkAcrossTennesseeDeKalbCounty/

DeKalb County Volunteer Firefighters were summoned to the home of Royce and Alicia Curtis at 1472 Lower Helton Road on New Year’s Day.
Chief Donny Green says the Curtis’ called for help after noticing smoke from the fireplace coming back down the chimney into the house. The area around the chimney was also very hot.
By the time firefighters arrived, the house had filled with smoke and fire could be seen around the chimney where it emerges from the roof.
Green says firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze and all the fire damage was confined to the immediate area around the chimney. However, he says the entire home received significant smoke damage.
No one was injured.
Members of the Liberty, Temperance Hall, and Short Mountain Highway Stations responded along with a tanker truck.
DeKalb EMS and officers of the Sheriff’s Department were also on the scene.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrested two people on drug charges on New Year’s Eve following an undercover investigation.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says county officers went to the home of 52 year old Eddie Lattimore at 3785 Pea Ridge Road to execute a search warrant following an extensive investigation of Lattimore and surveillance of his home on suspicion of drug dealing.
Both Lattimore and 35 year old Tonya Silcox of West Main Street, Liberty were arrested at the scene. Officers found some dilaudid, oxycontin, syringes, and seized more than $7,400 in cash
Lattimore, described by Sheriff Ray as a well known drug dealer in the Pea Ridge community, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (syringes), sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (dilaudid), sale and delivery of a schedule II drug (oxycontin), and unlawful possession of a weapon. Authorities found a 9 millimeter pistol in an outbuilding on Lattimore’s property.
Sheriff Ray says Lattimore, already a convicted felon, is currently on parole on similar drug convictions.
Silcox is charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance (dilaudid) and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is currently on probation on similar drug convictions.
Sheriff Ray says officers found an uncapped bloody needle with drug residue in Silcox’s pants along with some dilaudid.
Lattimore’s bond is set at $525,000 and Silcox is under a $28,500 bond.
Both will appear in DeKalb County General Sessions Court on January 11th.
Sheriff Ray says he plans to notify the Tennessee Department of Revenue, the Department of Alcohol- Tobacco and Firearms, and the Tennessee Department of Parole about the arrest of Lattimore. Silcox will also likely be charged with violation of probation.

If you attended Wednesday night’s Lady Tiger basketball game in the Christmas Tournament at Red Boiling Springs, you may have noticed a new coach courtside.
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says Randy Jennings has been named an assistant to head coach Amy Tobitt for the remainder of this basketball season, upon the recommendation of DCHS Principal Kathy Hendrix.
Willoughby says Jennings was approached by Hendrix to take the assistant coaching position after Coach Tobitt requested some help with the program.
Jennings is a former DeKalb West School basketball player and coach, and a DCHS basketball standout. He played baseball in college and is a former basketball coach at Watertown High School. He is currently Principal of DeKalb Middle School and is former Principal at Smithville Elementary School.
Willoughby says Jennings’ new assignment will in no way interfere with his responsibilities as Principal of DeKalb Middle School.