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.