Director of Schools Patrick Cripps was presented a one-year contract extension last week during the DeKalb Board of Education’s regular monthly meeting last Monday, May 23. The board said they gave the extension based on Cripps’ high marks in a recent performance evaluation.
The Board voted 6-0 to grant the extension with Chairman Shaun Tubbs, Vice Chairman Jim Beshearse, Danny Parkerson, Kate Miller, Alan Hayes and Jamie Cripps all voting in favor, while Jason Miller was absent.
Cripps’ salary will remain at $98,000, but he will be entitled to any salary raise the Board grants to all employees. His contract will now run through June 30, 2024. He has served as Director since July, 2015.
According to the Board of Education’s annual performance evaluation, Director Cripps is meeting “most” expectations of the board. His overall average score was 4.40 of a possible 6.
In accordance with state law, the school board is required to develop and implement an evaluation plan to be used annually for the director of schools. Board members used a four page evaluation form to rate Director Cripps (1-6) in each of 60 areas from eight categories including on his relationship with the Board, the Community, Staff and Personnel, Educational Leadership, Business and Finance, Personal Qualities, Strategic Planning Skills, and Tennessee Specific questions.
A rating of “1” meant his performance was “Consistently Below Expectations.” A “5” rating signified that Cripps “Met All Expectations.” While a rating with an asterisk (*) symbol or 6 meant he “Exceeded Expectations.”
Other ratings were “2” Meets Few Expectations, “3” Meets Some Expectations, and “4” Meets Most Expectations.
In the overall evaluation report, Cripps scored highest (4.70) in “board relationships,” but scored lowest (3.96) in “Tennessee specific questions.”
A breakdown of Cripps’ scores in the eight goals evaluation were:
Performance Goal Average
Board Relationships - 4.70
Community Relationships - 4.41
Staff and Personnel Relationships - 4.41
Educational Leadership - 4.38
Business and Finance - 4.67
Personal Qualities - 4.61
Strategic Planning Skills - 4.10
Tennessee Specific Questions - 3.96
Grand Total Average - 4.40
In other school board business, Director Cripps gave his monthly report on personnel.
Michael Merriman has been employed for ISS at DCHS/DMS.
Employees granted a leave of absence as requested are Nancy Cowan; Ana Jarvis, Kenzie Morris, Josh Odom, Gabby Robinson, and Jalene Vanatta.
Employees who have resigned or retired are Martha Damron, teacher at DWS, resigned, Debbie Eaton, educational assistant at DCHS, retired, Regina Estes, receptionist at DCHS, retired, Janine Morgan, teacher at SES, retired, Tony Poss, bus driver, resigned, Corey Rathbone, teacher at DCHS, resigned, Dalton Stallings, ISS, DCHS/DMS, resigned, Jalene Vanatta, teacher at DWS, retired, and Vicki Wilson, teacher at DWS, retired.
