U.S. Census Staff Returning to DeKalb County Monday and Friday for Mobile Questionnaire Assistance

August 15, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

U.S. Census Bureau Staff will be back in Smithville Monday and Friday, August 17 & 21 for mobile questionnaire assistance to help people respond online to the 2020 Census. Look for them between Center Hill Wine and Spirits and Food Lion on South Congress Boulevard from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The current DeKalb County self response rate to the census is at 50.3% which is approximately 12% below the Tennessee average. Self response rates for the cities are as follows: Liberty-49.2%, Alexandria 55.2%, Smithville 57.4%, and Dowelltown 57. 4%. The final county wide response rate for 2010 was 62.3%.

More than 3,000 U.S. Census Bureau staff are now going into communities across the nation with the lowest 2020 Census response rates to encourage and assist people with responding on their own to the 2020 Census. This operation, known as the Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) program, is a separate activity from census takers going door to door to count households that have not yet responded. MQA is part of the Census Bureau’s final push to encourage people to complete the 2020 Census. The Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) operation began nationwide Tuesday, August 11.

MQA representatives will encourage people to respond to the 2020 Census in open, public places in the lowest responding areas of the nation. These are places where people naturally visit when leaving home to help increase self-response rates. People are encouraged to respond on their own online or by phone. Locations for MQAs will include grocery stores and markets, food banks, laundromats, restaurants and grab-and-go eateries, unemployment offices, back to school drives, places of worship, and libraries.

The local census response representatives will help people complete the census on a 2020 Census tablet or on their own device, while practicing state and local social distancing protocols. All census workers have been trained in social distancing protocols and issued personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks to be worn during MQA support.

August 14, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Although there will be “bumps in the road” Director of Schools Patrick Cripps is calling on parents, students, and faculty to be patient as DeKalb County Schools  re-open Monday, August 17.

Because the first day is for student registration, buses will not run Monday. Buses will run for a full day of classes on Wednesday, August 19. Most students will be attending school in-person but many have signed up for remote learning due to COVID-19 concerns.

The scheduled re-opening had been set for August 3 but that had to be changed after a school system employee tested positive for COVID-19 forcing that person and fellow employees who may have been exposed to be quarantined.

“We are starting back to school on Monday, August 17. We know there will be bumps in the road as we start this endeavor whether it be health or academic issues we face. We will be doing on campus and remote learning. We have prepared with computers for everyone and we will be teaching students on a platform from home and in our schools,” said Director Cripps during Thursday night’s monthly Board of Education meeting.

“I want to emphasize the word “patience”. Any system that has started back to school has already shown there will be bumps in the road. There will be times when people get upset with maybe how the computers are working or getting work back and forth. We must remember our schools will be split right now with some coming into the house (on campus) and we have some who will be staying at the house (remote learning from home). We will have teachers who will be teaching both ways. We ask that you (parents) work with our faculty, staff, and administrators and give them an opportunity to fix any issue at hand,” said Director Cripps.

The Board last month voted to implement a mask mandate and that remains the policy.

What the mandate means is that masks must be worn on school buses and in the hallways and common areas in the school buildings. This applies to students as well as school faculty and staff. Masks may be removed in the classroom if students and staff are able to social distance. The Board plans to re-evaluate the mandate periodically.

“I know everyone does not agree with the mask mandate but please do not take it out on the administration. They are not the ones who made the rule. They are just the ones who have to enforce it. Their job is to teach your kids and keep them safe. We have given you a great option to do remote learning if you don’t like the mask mandate,” said Director Cripps.

The Director of Schools and Board of Education have issued some reminders for employees, parents, and students.

PARENTS:
Each day before leaving your home you should check your child’s temperature and ask the following questions:
*Have you been in close contact with a person with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19?
*Have you had an unusual cough or shortness of breath?
*Have you had a sore throat or other flu like symptoms?
*Have you had a new loss of taste or smell?
*Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?
If your child can answer yes to any of these above questions or has a fever, please do not send your child to school that day.
Employees should also answer the above questions.

COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS:

10 DAY SICK WINDOW:
Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 must isolate themselves at home for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms or 10 days from the date their test was done if they never developed symptoms, Fever must be gone and they must be feeling better for at least 24 hours.

14 DAY QUARANTINE:
Anyone who has been within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for 10 minutes or more must quarantine themselves at home for 14 days from the last time they were with that person. These time periods do not change with a doctor’s note or with a negative test.
Do not return to school if you live in a household with someone who is awaiting test results

MASKS:
Effective August 17, 2020, all students, staff and visitors to DeKalb County Schools are required to wear a face covering when entering the building. These are required in all common areas. If you chose for your child not to wear a mask or face covering you need to contact your child’s school to sign your child up for remote learning.

August 14, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Board of Education and Director of Schools said goodbye to two long time members during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting.

It was the last meeting for W.J. (Dub) Evins, III from the 5th district and Doug Stephens of the 6th district. Evins and Stephens decided not to seek re-election this year and their terms will expire August 31. They will be succeeded by Jamie Cripps of the 5th district and Jason Miller from the 6th district who were elected last Thursday. Their terms of office begin September 1.

On behalf of the Board of Education, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps presented both Evins and Stephens plaques of appreciation for their years of service.

“I just want to say publicly that I appreciate Mr. Evins and Mr. Stephens for their service to our students, faculty and staff, and for the support of this board as a whole working together trying to do what is right for our kids and employees and for the support you have provided me over the last five years. Thank you gentlemen for your service,” said Director Cripps.

Evins and Stephens told WJLE after the meeting that while they have mixed emotions about leaving the board they are proud of the educational progress made in the school system during their time in office.

“Its been a long journey since 1978 (when I was first elected to the board) but I couldn’t ask for a better group of board members to work with. I would like to see these new members come on and support Mr. Cripps and hope they can get this new school off the ground. I’m really anxious to see that happen. The whole board has been great. Its been a blessing,” said Evins.

“I think everybody has a duty to serve and I feel I have put my time in of that service. I am proud of the accomplishments we have made. I am sad that we have not gotten things approved or done as much as what my vision was. I had a great vision and we fulfilled some of it so I am proud of that. It was great to make new friends and work with and develop relationships with board members,” said Stephens.

Stephens was elected to the Board of Education in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. He is completing his second term with a total of eight years.

Evins had two tenures on the board covering a total of 34 years. He was first elected to the Board in 1978 and served for three terms and 18 years having been re-elected in 1984 and 1990. School board terms were for six years back then. After his mother passed away Evins chose not to seek re-election to a fourth term in 1996 but he returned to the Board after he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2004. Evins was elected to a full four year term later that year and he was re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Evins also served several years as Chairman of the Board.

In other business, Director Cripps gave his monthly update on personnel moves.

The following have been employed since the last meeting:

Tiffany Bjorge, Educational Assistant at Northside Elementary School
Ashley Cantrell, Teacher at Northside Elementary School
Luke Dycus, Teacher at DeKalb County High School
Kaylene Ferguson, Teacher at Smithville Elementary School
Erica Garrett, Pre-K Assistant at DeKalb West School
Judy Malone, School Psychologist
Kendall Petty, Educational Assistant at Smithville Elementary School

Leave of Absence as requested:
Tonya Roberts

Resignations:
Lindsay Floyd, Teacher at Northside Elementary School
Brittany Page, Educational Assistant at Smithville Elementary School
Sandra Saracho, Teacher at Northside Elementary School
Vicki Wilson, Teacher at DeKalb West School