The DeKalb County Board of Education Tuesday night adopted a resolution of appreciation honoring professional services staff.
The resolution states ” Whereas, special services critical to the success of children in our schools are provided by professionals who join the efforts of our teaching and administrative staff to help us meet the unique needs of each child; and
Whereas, these professionals including school nurses, guidance counselors, school resource officers, psychologists, speech therapists and others offer an invaluable contribution toward the well being, health and safety of students so that they can learn and grow in a safe and nurturing environment; and
Whereas, our professional service staff helps to build an environment that transitions students from youthful dependence to responsible independence; and
Whereas, this board, our staff and the community rely on these individuals to help guide students in making wise decisions that help them develop and enjoy a healthy lifestyle and practice good citizenship and responsibility; and
Whereas, the Board of Education wishes to honor the commitment and service of special services professionals in our schools and the valuable contribution they make in our schools every day;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the DeKalb County Board of Education hereby establishes March 11th,2010 as Professional Services Appreciation Day in all DeKalb County Schools; and
Be it further resolved that, the board expresses heartfelt appreciation and thanks to all who provide special professional services in our school system and encourages each school and community to recognize these individuals on this day for the vital role they play in the success of our school system and in the lives of students.”
In other business the board adopted a policy regarding the selection of a student representative on the board.
The school board may make changes to the policy in a few months after the Tennessee School Boards Association finalizes a proposed policy on the issue..
The proposed policy states that “The DeKalb County Board of Education may select one high school student representative to serve in an advisory position to the Board. This student shall be designated by the DeKalb County High School Principal to serve for one school year. The student representative shall serve without compensation.
Some responsibilities of the DeKalb County Student Representative are as follows:
1.Attend the monthly meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education
2. Communicate needs including questions, concerns, problems, updates, and suggestions to the Board of Education.
3.Help design a banner for the DeKalb County School System for the TSBA Fall Conference, as per TSBA guidelines, to be presented at the October School Board Meeting.
4.Attend the annual Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE) Conference if funding is available.
DCHS student Megan Sullivan is the current Student Representative on the board.
In his monthly update on personnel, Director Mark Willoughby announced that the following have been employed as substitute teachers: Tayla Turner, Cathleen Humphrey, Amanda Trapp, Meredith Lewis, Kelly Merriman, and Linda Dean.
Retirement/Resignations:
Sharon Anderson, teacher at Smithville Elementary School- retired
Dwayne Cornelius, bus driver
Murinna Herman, custodian at DeKalb Middle School
Jerry Herman, custodian at DeKalb County High School
Leave of Absence:
Tera Mooneyham, Educational Assistant at Smithville Elementary, leave as requested
Linda Parris, teacher at DeKalb County High School, leave as requested
Jenny Elrod, teacher at DeKalb Middle School, leave as requested
Transfers:
LeAnn Frasier, transferred to Library Assistant at Smithville Elementary/Northside Elementary
Neal Brown, transferred to full time bus driver
DCHS Principal Kathy Hendrix briefly reminded parents listening on the radio about the parent teacher conference at DCHS on Thursday, March 11th from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.. Hendrix added that report cards were sent home Tuesday, March 9th so parents are advised to check them.
Board Vice Chairman Kenny Rhody, who presided over Tuesday night’s meeting, thanked those involved in organizing the Project Graduation radiothon last Friday including DCHS teacher Chris Vance, parents Donna Mathis, Kelly Garrett, and Melinda Willoughby, among many others including WJLE. The radiothon raised over $5,300.
Sixth district member Bruce Parsley also commended the DCHS girls basketball team and coach Joe Pat Cope on their success this season, making it as far as the region tournament.
DeKalb West Principal Danny Parkerson, in a brief report to the board, mentioned that the DeKalb West baseball season is now underway, the last game having been played Monday night in Smithville in a loss to Walter J. Baird. He says the team is currently 1-1. Parkerson says the West School is hosting the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation review committee this week. “We’re learning things from them and they’re taking away things that we do at our school.”
“I’ve had the privilege in the last six weeks of having a principal from one of the Cannon County schools and a school from White County come and visit our school, wanting to see some of the things we’ve been successful for regarding test scores. So academically and athletically we’re on track.”
Sabrina Farler, Assistant Principal at DeKalb Middle School, updated the board on activities at her school. “We had seventeen students about two weeks ago, who went to the History Day Project. They went to the regional and we had seventeen winners. They will be competing at the state level on April 17th. In the exhibit board area we had two different groups. One group placed second including Travis Ferrell, Chase Hoke, and Devin Summers. The third place group included Katelyn Jones and Brittany Wilkerson. In another category, the drama area, the first place group included Lauren Craig, Josh Davidson, Lauren Reed, and Ashley Barnes. We also got second place in this category with Karem Bain, Kelsey Evins, Elizabeth Mason, and Shauna Taylor. We had someone write an essay and he placed third, Jordan Wilkins. We had three who did a documentary and placed third, Cori Jennings, Taylor Cantrell, and Taneah Cantrell.. We also had a student represent DeKalb County at the spelling bee at Belmont University last week and she did a fabulous job. We’re getting geared up for TCAP in about a month.”
Dee Anna Persinger, School Health Coordinator addressed the board about the recent H1N1 clinic. “DeKalb County gave more vaccinations than any of the counties that the Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office worked with. Approximately 400 (vaccinations) were given. We have a tentative date set for April for the second dose. That’ll be about another 100 students who’ll need to receive the second dose. Coordinated School Health sponsored another successful diabetes education class tonight (Tuesday) with the partnership of the hospital and our registered dietician. That is free to the community and it was very successful. We hope to do it again in the fall. There was a diabetic supply representative there tonight who gave out free meters, test supplies, and educational materials to anyone who needed or wanted those. The registered dietician will also be at the high school tomorrow (Wednesday) and we invite you to come from 2:00 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. She will talk to all of our athletic teams about sports nutrition.”
In other business, the school board granted the DCHS Junior Class request for permission to have the prom off campus on April 23rd at Stones River Country Club from 8:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m..
The board granted permission for the Tigerette Softball Team to participate in the Middle Tennessee Softball Coaches Association Tournament in Clarksville on March 26th. It’s an overnight trip.
Permission was granted for 24 FFA students to attend the state convention in Gatlinburg March 28th-April 1st during spring break.
The board gave permission for 20 FBLA students at DCHS to attend the regional competitions at Cumberland University on March 11th. Permission was also granted for 35 FBLA students to attend the state leadership conference April 18-21 in Chattanooga.
The school board approved executive action taken authorizing the construction of dugouts at the DeKalb West baseball field. Funding for the project was provided by sponsors.
The board also approved a request for a school bus to transport 4-H students to State 4-H Congress. The event will be held March 28th through April 1st in Nashville.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrested a 37 year old McMinnville man Saturday after finding components of a meth lab in his car.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says Brian Earl White of Old Shellsford Road McMinnville is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession of schedule VI drug (marijuana), and simple possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine). White’s bond is $4,000 and he will appear in court on March 11th. On Saturday, March 6th while on a patrol, a deputy stopped a vehicle on Highway 56 south for a traffic violation. Upon approaching the automobile, the officer saw the driver putting something in a CD case that was positioned above his sun visor. The deputy asked White for his vehicle registration and insurance card. White replied that it was in the trunk. When White opened the trunk, the deputy saw a small propane tank, a small stove, and a container of liquid in the trunk. Also found in the vehicle’s floorboard area were two coffee filters that contained a white powdery substance. During a pat down search, the officer found two more coffee filters in one of White’s sock and a small bag of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in White’s other sock. Upon an inspection of the CD case, the officer found a coffee filter that contained a white powder that is believed to be methamphetamine. A set of scales was also found in a jacket that was lying in the passenger side seat of White’s vehicle.
22 year old Coty Lynn McCormick of Mohan Drive McMinnville is charged with simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana) and simple possession of a schedule II drug (Oxycontin). Bond for him was set at $3,000 and will he appear in court on March 11th. On Monday, March 1st a deputy stopped McCormick’s vehicle on Midway Road for weaving. After the stop, the officer asked McCormick, who was the driver, for consent to search. He gave consent and the deputy found in McCormick’s pocket ½ of a pill that is believed to be Oxycontin. While searching McCormick’s vehicle, the officer found a small bag of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
26 year old Ryan Lee Walden of Dale Ridge Road, Dowelltown is charged with theft of property over $1,000. He was arrested by detectives on Monday, March 1st. Sheriff Ray says on February 23rd, Walden took two diamond rings from a home on Dale Ridge Road, Dowelltown valued at over $1,000 without the owners consent. Bond for Walden was set at $25,000 and he will appear in court on March 25th. Detectives recovered the rings.
42 year old Carlos Reyes of Skyline Apartments McMinnville is charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is set at $2,000 and he will appear in court on March 11th. On Tuesday, March 2nd deputies received a complaint that Reyes, who has a revoked driver’s license, was operating a motor vehicle. The officer spotted Reyes on Highway 56 South and stopped him.
27 year old Bradley Shane Redmon of Sparta Highway is charged with a first offense of driving on a revoked license. On Wednesday, March 3rd, a deputy stopped Redmon after spotting him driving on Highway 70 East. The officer had prior knowledge of his license being revoked. Redmon’s bond was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on March 17th.
51 year old Billy R. Huddleston of Adcock Cemetery Road Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and possession of a schedule III drug (Hydocodone). On Thursday, March 4th, an officer spotted a vehicle weaving in the roadway on Highway 70 east. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy placed Huddleston, the driver, under arrest. The officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Huddleston’s person and he had slurred speech. Huddleston submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. Huddleston was also found to be in possession of two Hydrocodone pills. Bond for Huddleston was set at $3,500 and he will appear in court on March 25th..
48 year old Roy Douglas Atnip of Pea Ridge Road, Liberty is charged with public intoxication. On Wednesday, March 3rd, a deputy arrested Atnip on Highway 70 west for his own safety after he was found to be crossing the roadway in an intoxicated state. Atnip had an odor of alcohol on his person. He was belligerent and unsteady on his feet. Atnip admitted that he had been drinking beer. Bond for Atnip was set at $1,000 and he will appear in court on March 18th.
21 year old Christopher Allen Summers of Dale Ridge Road Dowelltown was arrested on Sunday, March 7th after a deputy found him lying in a ditch on Dale Ridge Road. Summers had a smell of alcohol on his person. He was unsteady on his feet and he had slurred speech. When asked how much he had drunk, Summers replied “no more than normal.” Summers was charged with public intoxication and bond for him was set at $1,000. He will appear in court on March 18th.

The Tennessee Council for the Social Studies has named Smithville resident and Cannon County High School Teacher, Mr. William Freddy Curtis, as one of the Tennessee Outstanding Social Studies Teachers of the Year for 2010. Mr. Curtis will be honored at a luncheon and recognition at the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies Conference on Friday, March 12, 2010 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mr. Curtis was nominated by CCHS Principal Tim Knox and Assistant Principal Bonnie Patterson, which consisted of a detailed application. The application included: letters of support, a professional resume’, current teaching assignment, and a narrative describing the organization’s criteria requirements. The narrative demonstrated academic excellence, utilization of the National Council of Social Studies curriculum standards, inquiry based skill development, democratic beliefs and values, citizen and community participation by students, and evidence of professional involvement in education activities.
Curtis stated, “I am honored and truly humbled to be nominated for this prestigious award. My superiors and colleagues have encouraged me in this endeavor. I am truly “blessed” to be doing something that I deeply love to do – teaching students about US Government and Sociology!”
Mr. Curtis is a 24 year veteran of the Cannon County School System serving as a teacher and principal at West Side Elementary School from 1986 to 2008, and currently serving as US Government & Sociology Teacher at Cannon County High School. He is married to Trena Braswell Curtis, 2nd Grade Teacher at Smithville Elementary School, and has four sons – Matt, Trent, Casey, and Evan Curtis. They reside at 288 Dogwood Circle in Smithville, TN.
The Tennessee Council for the Social Studies is an association devoted to providing information, resources, and support for all those involved in social studies education. This includes K-12 teachers, supervisors of instruction, and college professors, in the various disciplines interested in and involved in the social studies.

You can help Project Graduation and give your high school senior the gift of a lifetime.
If you have the winning bid, you can have a quilt top put together that represents your senior’s life. Using old t-shirts or other items, you will have a gift your senior will have forever that truly belongs to him or her.
You provide all of the materials for the quilt and Bessie Jones, grandmother of Layne Mathis, will put it together. Then you have it quilted to give to your senior.
The minimum bid is $110
Contact Kelly Garrett at 215-4455 to place your bid. You have until March 12th at 5:00 p.m. to place your bid.

More than $5,300 was raised during a three hour radiothon Friday morning on WJLE for the DCHS Class of 2010 Project Graduation.
DCHS teacher Chris Vance hosted the program and parents of high school seniors who serve on the Project Graduation committee answered phones, taking pledges during the drive. Several seniors were also permitted to leave school long enough to make a brief appearance on the radiothon to talk about their school activities and future plans and to answer phones.
Parents and students wish to thank everyone who supported the radiothon.
Project Graduation is an all night drug-free, alcohol-free graduation party for members of the DCHS Class of 2010 committed to having a safe, wholesome, yet entertaining celebration together for the last time as a class.
Amanda Ours, Senior Class President, says she is pleased with the results. “I’m very proud of the radiothon. I think we did an awesome job. We didn’t reach our goal but we still made an awesome profit. I’m really looking forward to project graduation. It’s the last time the senior class will be together as a whole so it’s very important to us and we’re very glad that DeKalb County has offered their support.”
Kendra Foutch, Class Vice President, says the support of the community is greatly appreciated. “It means a whole lot to us that so many have given to project graduation. It will keep all of the students who are graduating off of the streets. It will also keep us all together and have one last memory all together. Again, I want to thank everyone for supporting us today, pledging their donations, and helping us reach more than half of our goal.”
Donna Mathis, one of the parents, also expressed her appreciation. “We really appreciate everyone chipping in to help our seniors. As one grandmother put it, she just wanted us to keep her baby safe. That’s what our goal is, to make sure they have a safe place and a fun time while they’re there.”
Caroline Carter, secretary of the senior class, says the money will be put to good use. “It’s our last time to get together as seniors as a class. Sometimes when seniors get excited, their judgment can be clouded by excitement and that can lead to reckless decisions but our Project Graduation is drug free and alcohol free.”
” Each of our attending graduates, they’re going to receive a graduation goody bag and each one of the bags has the exact same thing in it. In the bags, there will be gift cards, gas cards, gift cards from clothing stores, restaurants, etc. Last year we had 110 attend (Project Graduation). This year we have 172 graduating seniors so we hope to get that number (attendees) up a little bit.”
“We’ll have drawings including one for seniors who have attended Project Graduation meetings. However many times you have attended the meetings, that’s how many times your name is put in the drawings.”
“The seniors will gather right after the commencement the night of May 21st and we will stay there (at the high school) from 11:00 p.m. until a certain time the next morning. Our theme this year is Mardi Gras. We’re going to design a tee shirt. The senior class will design it themselves and each attendee of Project Graduation will receive one.”
“We’ve asked to get some activities such as blow up rock climbing, the blow up slides, karaoke, a LIVE band or LIVE dee jay. We’ll probably have games like volley ball, basketball, and stuff that everyone likes.”
“I hope we have a good turn out because this is our last time together.”