DeKalb School Board Votes To Extend Director Cripps
The DeKalb County Board of Education will extend the contract of Director of Schools Patrick Cripps and increase his salary following a positive annual evaluation. The school board approved a one-year extension of his current contract, with a pay raise of an estimated $11,000 per year. School Board Chairman Shaun Tubbs said the extension comes […]
Dekalb Pastors Pray For Upcoming School Year
The DeKalb Ministries Association will come together Sunday to pray for a successful school year. Local pastors annually meet at the DeKalb County High School Gym on the day before the first day of school. Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church Pastor Isaac Gray said the prayer meeting blesses the well-being of the schools. “We believe there […]
DeKalb Offering Adult High School Program
Tennessee adults who have not graduated high school now have an opportunity to finish school and receive a high school diploma through the Dekalb County Diploma Completion Program. The program is being offered through a partnership between the school system and Graduation Alliance. DeKalb County Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said he hopes the program […]
Dekalb Schools Asking County For Help With Salaries
Dekalb County School officials told the County Commission’s Budget Committee Tuesday night, it needs help funding salary increases for teachers and staff. Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said by keeping a healthy fund balance, the district has managed to fund raises itself in years past. He said as general expenses increase and the district works […]
DCHS Hoping To Upgrade Benches And Lighting At Football Stadium
DeKalb County High School could double its home side capacity with the plans for stadium upgrades. The school board recently approved to bid out for new bleachers, lights, and concrete work. Principal and Athletic Director Bruce Curtis said the project could cost anywhere between $800,000 to $1 million. “It’s time and we also want to […]
Upper Cumberland Schools See Drop In COVID Numbers
Some Upper Cumberland schools are seeing a drop in COVID cases after an initial spike when school began. DeKalb’s Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said they’ve seen a consistent drop by the day in their numbers. He said their numbers have dropped all the way to the teens. “You know we haven’t changed anything from […]
Dekalb School System Partners With Tech To Find Local Teachers
The Dekalb County School System is partnering with Tennessee Tech to train teachers for the classroom. Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said Tech reached out and the system was more than interested in participating in the Grow Your Own program. Cripps said this program is a huge benefit being in a rural area. “There’s a, […]
Dekalb Schools Open Summer Learning Camp Registration
Dekalb County Schools have opened registration for its Summer Learning Camp. The schedule is set for May 25 until June 23 from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Dekalb County Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said anytime students were out of the building, there was learning lost. “We have students that have been remote all year […]
Dekalb County Schools All Remote Through 2020
All Dekalb County Schools will continue remote learning through the rest of 2020. The county school system went fully remote on December 4th due to an increase in COVID cases among staff and students. Dekalb County School Director Patrick Cripps said the school system will look to return in person on January 4th. Previously, when […]
Substitute Shortage Forces Dekalb High School Into Virtual Learning
A substitute teacher shortage has forced Dekalb County High School to stop in-person learning through December 11. Dekalb County School Director Patrick Cripps said he’s dealing with 1/4 to 1/3 of his staff being out, with quarantine numbers in the double digits at just one school. Cripps said this was his fear going into Thanksgiving […]
