Pickett Schools Prioritize Safety With ParentSquare App
Pickett County Schools transitioning to the ParentSquare app to improve communication and ensure student safety. Technology Supervisor and School Safety Coordinator Ethan Holt said the district identified a communication issue with its previous system that prompted the search for a new platform. Holt said the decision to switch was driven by his responsibilities in school […]
Farris Delivers School Threat Message To Students & Parents
In light of a series of prank phone calls to end the school year, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office released an educational video reminding parents the legal consequences of threats of violence. Sheriff Eddie Farris said he coordinated with the safety team to develop the video as a tool for school resource deputies to use […]
DeKalb Coalition Secures Grant To Combat Youth Vaping
The DeKalb Prevention Coalition launching a new initiative to reduce vaping rates among local youth thanks to a multi-year grant from the Tennessee Department of Health. Coalition Director Jennifer Matthews said the organization was one of only ten counties selected to receive the Nicotine-Free Future grant following a competitive application process. Matthews said the funding […]
State Index Leads To Putnam Schools Funding Reduction
Putnam County’s ability to pay for its students’ education led to a reduction in state funding. Director of Schools Corby King said the TISA formula uses an index from the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations and the Center for Business and Economic Research. The index calculatse local funding capacity. “We have a higher ability […]
Swatting Calls Disrupt Celebrations At White County Schools
White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said a series of unfounded swatting calls disrupted the school day. Dronebarger said the threats included a false report of an intruder inside a school building Wednesday morning followed by a second unfounded report of a suspicious person outside in the woods near a school. White County officials […]
Schools Officials Prepare For Threats; Tuesday Disruptive
A total of eight threats phoned into schools across Putnam County Tuesday, including seven in the county system, taking resources and time to address. Putnam County Schools Deputy Director Tim Martin said the district treats every threat with serious concern even when officials suspect the reports are phony from the beginning. Martin said the fake […]
Authorities Investigate Cane Creek School Bomb Hoax
Authorities investigating a bomb threat at Cane Creek Elementary School after a hoax caller reported bombs around the school Friday morning. Sheriff Eddie Farris said his received notification of the threat at approximately 9:20am. Farris said the individual claimed to have planted explosive devices both inside and outside the school building. Farris said the caller […]
Putnam County Schools Upgrades Locks At Algood Middle
Algood Middle School will receive a comprehensive security upgrade to its classroom doors using funds from a safety and security grant, following approval from the Putnam County Education Board. Construction and Facilities Supervisor John Magura said the project involves replacing the locks on the interior doors of the middle school. Magura said, currently, interior doors […]
Jackson Schools Approve Monthly Canine Drug Searches
The Jackson County Schools will conduct monthly drug detection canine searches across the district in the new school year. Director of Schools Jason Hardy said they decided to move forward with the private vendor after previously exploring options to utilize local law enforcement resources for the searches. “I think the city and the county both […]
Rickman Elementary Staff Use AED To Save Custodian
Staff members at Rickman Elementary saved the life of a school custodian by utilizing an automated external defibrillator and performing CPR. Principal Julia Poston said the incident began when a teacher discovered custodian Mike Clark in distress inside a hallway closet. The faculty member used a school walkie-talkie to alert the campus first responder team, […]
