News
May 10, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
As plans move forward to build a new elementary school, the board of education is already thinking about where the next new school might someday be built.
During its regular monthly meeting Thursday night, the school board adopted the proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget 7-0 which includes setting aside $1.3 million from its $13 million school reserves for the purchase of land although no location for a new school, either high school or middle school, has been publicly identified. With the county already having committed to issuing bonds up to $55 million dollars to build a new elementary school funded by local option sales tax revenue, it would most likely be several years before another project gets off the ground.
Members of the board are Danny Parkerson, Alan Hayes, Jim Beshearse, Eric Ervin, Megan Moore, Jason Miller, and Shaun Tubbs.
The proposed new school budget also includes $2,000 teacher bonuses from the state through the voucher program to those who qualify, and $2,000 bonuses funded locally to those educators who don’t qualify for the state bonuses. Support staff would each get a $1,000 bonus funded locally with passage of this budget.
“After passing the resolution that we would accept the state bonuses for teachers we went ahead and put that money in our budget we knew was coming which will be roughly $500,000 for those teachers that qualified for it,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps. “But everybody deserves something so those educators not on the list that would not have received a bonus we put it in our budget so they can receive the same amount as those who are on the list so they will clear $2,000. In addition, the support staff will get a bonus, and they will clear $1,000. That puts the total local allocation for bonuses at $245,000,” Director Cripps explained.
“Other than step raises and the bonuses nothing additional in salaries will be in the budget. What we are doing this year is strictly from what the state is sending us and what will come from our reserves to cover the rest,” Cripps said.
During Thursday night’s monthly meeting, the school board awarded a bid for a $400,000 project to build walls inside DeKalb Middle School. That project will be done over the summer when school is out and will be funded from within the budget without dipping into the schools’ reserves or fund balance.
Other than the DMS walls, Director Cripps said nothing major is planned as far as capital projects, but something could crop up during the year that needs to be addressed.
“The last few years we have done a lot of facility upgrades. We don’t have anything at this point, but you never know when something is going to pop up,” he said.
As with most budgets the school district has seen an increase in the annual cost of doing business especially with insurance.
“The big thing with this budget and for the last couple of years is a big increase in insurance. We knew this year we had to do some budget amendments to get the insurance covered. For this budget we increased our budget line for insurance so that made our budget climb,” said Director Cripps.
During and after the Covid pandemic, the school district received extra federal funds including the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) which was used to purchase textbooks and that freed up local money to be used for other needs. But now the ESSER funds have been depleted with no more on the way. Still, the school district continues to search for new programs like Graduation Alliance to meet needs and save money.
In partnership with the DeKalb County School District, Graduation Alliance provides versatile pathways to high school graduation for youth and adults.
“We signed a contract with a great adult high school to help us with the kids and our budget. Our graduation alliance virtual adult high school has generated almost $4.5 million and that reflects on the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) money we receive. But under this contract we only get 10% of that or $450,000. The rest flows back out to that company to teach those kids although we keep the data on them. It’s a way for us to generate money in addition to what the state is sending us,” he said.
Director Cripps said the 2024-25 schools operating budget may come close to balancing by year’s end.
“I think we will hit right on the mark with our budget this year. If we had not done the DMS walls I think we would be under budget for the year,” he said.
Director Cripps will now present the proposed 2025-26 school budget to the county budget committee for approval at a meeting later this month.
Tigerettes Crowned District Tournament Champions. DeKalb West Bulldogs Denied Trip to State
May 10, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The DCHS Tigerettes are the district 7 3A Softball Tournament Champions after defeating Stone Memorial 9-0 in 5 innings Friday at the Danny Bond Field. A game highlight was Hannah Brown’s grand slam homerun. The Tigerettes will host the first round of the Region Tournament Monday in Smithville and WJLE will have LIVE coverage.
Meanwhile, the 2025 baseball season ended for the DeKalb West Bulldogs Friday (20-4) with a 1-0 loss at home to Upperman in the Area 3-AA Sectional Championship. The Bulldogs, who had won the Area 10 District Regular Season and Tournament Championships, would have secured a berth in the TMSAA Class AA State Tournament had they beaten Upperman.
Captain Larry D. Cripps to Speak at DeKalb Memorial Day Observance
May 9, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A DeKalb County Memorial Day Observance will be held Monday, May 26 at the County Complex Auditorium starting with patriotic music at 9:30 a.m. followed by the program at 10 a.m.
The guest speaker will be Captain Larry D. Cripps, Retired Navy Chaplain, Author of the “The Hope of War”.
Following the program, a wreath will be laid at the Veterans Memorial Monument at the Courthouse. All veterans, families, and citizens are invited to the program to honor the fallen and those veterans who have passed.
Captain, a distinguished retired Navy Chaplain, grew up in the Blue Springs community and brings a wealth of experience and insight from his forty-two years of military service spanning three wars: Vietnam, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and the post-9/11 War on Terror. His unique perspective and captivating stories reflect his military journey and highlight Smithville’s rich heritage.
Larry’s book, “The Hope of War: A Chaplain’s Journey to Abiding Faith, Enduring Hope and Love Under Fire,” was released by Emissary Publishing on Memorial Day weekend last year. The book chronicles the life of a small-town farm boy growing up against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the cultural revolution of the 1960s and early 1970s.
