DeKalb Middle School Receives Major Facelift Over Summer Break (View Video Here)

July 27, 2020
By:

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber was honored to be asked to have a Ribbon Cutting Monday for the DeKalb Middle School renovations.

What started as a vision for DeKalb Middle School through a conversation between a few of the DMS staff, administration and the district maintenance supervisor developed into an entirely new entrance with vestibule, office space, and a new partition dividing the cafeteria and commons area.

DeKalb Middle School was built in 1971 with an open floor plan. At the time, many new schools were being constructed utilizing this concept. Unfortunately, these plans fell short in providing for future growth in schools. Over the years, DeKalb Middle School has had several walls and doors added throughout the building, creating a more natural school environment. Although Dekalb Middle still has 8 classrooms and a library without walls, those classes utilize lockers and dividers as partitions to divide the class from the hallways.

Unfortunately, the entrance of DMS had not had any renovations. The commons area of the building was unusually large and not utilized to its fullest potential. DeKalb Middle now boasts an entirely new entrance with the school colors vividly grabbing your attention as you enter the sidewalk. The original entrance doors and windows are now wrapped in the letters, DMS Saints along with the Saint Bernard mascot, inviting you into the building. Once you have entered the building, you are now greeted by the receptionist in a new office, as well as the SRO office.

DeKalb Middle School Principal Lacey Foutch, Assistant Principal Anita Puckett, and Director of Schools Patrick Cripps from dwayne page on Vimeo.

The new vestibule has created a safer environment for the entire building. With additional doors and the inspirational quote “In a world where you can be anything, BE Kind,” the flow of the building reflects what DMS wants their students to personify.

The new construction has also given the cafeteria more space to be used more productively. With new double doors, new ceilings, lighting, and fresh school colors throughout, the upgrades are sure to impress the returning students.

In addition, the new gym floors have been resurfaced this summer as well as a newly painted entrance floor to the new gym.

DMS would like to thank everyone in making these visions complete:

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, School Board members: Danny Parkerson, Alan Hayes, Jim Beshearse, Kate Miller, W. J. “Dub” Evins, Doug Stephens and Shaun Tubbs. Also, the team at Upland Design Group, Lee Adcock Construction, Taylor Construction, Outlaw Graphics, Aaron Young, Tonya Sullivan, Lacey Foutch, and Anita Puckett.

July 27, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A new Facebook group, HIP DeKalb County, TN has created an Adopt-A-Teacher Program!

“Lets spread some good throughout the county. We all know teachers and other school staff are our unsung heroes. Let’s make things a bit easier for them and help them understand how much they mean to us in our county,” said spokesperson Shelly Barnes

To nominate: Join the HIP DeKalb County, TN group and simply post a teachers name with their photo in the comments section of the post. Add their school, their subject/grade/role. Nominations can be for teachers, educational assistants, principals, school counselors, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, administrative staff or anyone else that helps students in our school system.
Teachers, feel free to nominate yourself as well and post your wish list!!

To adopt: Join the HIP DeKalb County, TN group and comment “adopt” below their picture. Adopters will need to message the nominator or the nominee and work out a way to arrange delivery of item(s). During this time, we recommend mailing the item(s) or sitting it on their porch. Multiple people can adopt, but let’s try to make this fun and make sure everyone nominated is adopted before school begins!!!

A direct link to the HIP DeKalb County, TN group is

https://www.facebook.com/groups/276864826743637/?ref=share

July 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County’s confirmed number of COVID-19 cases now totals 269 with 159 active and 1 death.

As of Wednesday, July 29 a total of 4,127 people had been tested with 3,858 negative results and 269 positive and 1 death. A total of 109 persons tested positive since March have recovered.

The DeKalb County Health Department’s testing hours are Monday-Friday from 9am to 12 NOON every day.

At 269 cases, DeKalb County ranks 6th highest in the 14 county Upper Cumberland region behind Putnam with 1,465 (13 deaths), Macon 794 (13 deaths), Cumberland 346 (6 deaths), Warren 339 (3 deaths), and Smith 322 (2 deaths ). Other counties in the region with COVID-19 cases are White 175 (3 deaths), Overton 118 (1 death), Cannon 105,  Jackson 103,  Fentress 63, Clay 52, Van Buren 29, and Pickett  22 (1 death)

(Click Link Below for COVID-19 Prevention Tips)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html