Special Education
According to Dr. Kevin Huffman, Commissioner of Education, the Tennessee Department of Education, Division of Special Education’s purpose is to “promote educational services and programs for all Tennessee’s children with special education needs that will enable them to lead productive and independent lives”. The Division is committed to systematic planning along with plan implementation, tracking and accountability as a vehicle for providing the leadership necessary for fulfilling this purpose.
In Decatur County, our district is proud to serve the needs of our special education students. We strive to provide all students with an education that will empower them to reach their potential.
The philosophy of Special Education in the Decatur County School System is one of identification and support. Special Education is a program established to intervene in the educational process of those children who meet specific criteria. The Special Education services are delivered on a continuum ranging from an hour or two per week to full day, self-contained services. The I.E.P. team determines the level of services for each student. Children 3-21 years old may be eligible for these services.
The School Support Team (S-Team) may recommend psychological testing for a student who is having significant difficulty in the classroom. They may also recommend testing for students who are potentially gifted. Such children exhibit intellectual abilities significantly higher than their peers. Testing would be suggested only after the student’s teacher had tried extensive interventions recommended by the Support Team, except in rare cases where the child’s problems are extremely significant, and the Support Team process is expedited. Every school in our system serves some special needs students.
Special Education Director: Tina Gardner
Special Education Diagnostician: Debbie Smith
Special Education Administrative Assistant: Vicki Grinder
Decatur County Board of Education: 731-852-2391
Decatur County Middle School serves students in grades 5-8 in Decatur County. Decatur County Middle School opened to students for the first time in August 2000. Decatur County Middle School was established as a consolidation of students from Decaturville Elementary and Parsons Junior High School. The school day at Decatur County Middle School is 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Approximately 450 students are presently enrolled at DCMS.
Decaturville Elementary School is a Pre-K through 5th grade school with approximately 317 students. Decaturville Elementary School is located in Decaturville, Tennessee and serves the southern portion of Decatur County. DES was built in 1959 and since that time has undergone many renovations and improvements. It currently has 16 classrooms within the main building, two separate buildings that house Pre-K, and a portable building that houses the school’s computer lab. Decaturville Elementary also has an extended school program that operates from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 a.m. and after school from 2:45 p.m.-5:30 p.m. during days that school is in session. The program is available during the summer and on days when school is not in session such as holidays, in-service/staff development days, and on days when early closings arise due to weather.
.
Parsons Elementary School is a Pre-K-4 school located in Parsons, Tennessee. PES was originally built in the 1950’s as a first-fourth grade school. A kindergarten unit was added in the 1970’s. In 2000 PES underwent a major renovation which added 13 new classrooms to the original 9 classrooms. The school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. At present there are approximately 460 students enrolled at Parsons Elementary School. An Extended School Program (ESP) is also available at Parsons Elementary from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. –5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday during the school year including school holidays, in-service/staff development days, inclement weather, and during summer break.
Decatur Co. Learning Center is located on the site of the former Parsons Junior High building. The learning center houses 3 of the 5 Pre-K programs in Decatur County. Each program has one teacher and assistant with no more than 20 students per program. For more information, contact Mrs. Amy Clenney at Amy.Clenney@tennk12.net.
Riverside High School was originally opened in 1965, but moved into a new facility in the fall of 2000 in Decaturville, Tennessee. RHS is a 9th-12th grade school which has thirty-three classrooms and 2 computer labs. Riverside High School operates on a modified block schedule with 9-week grading periods. Riverside offers a variety of courses including dual credit options and a well-established career-technical education program. RHS also has many well-established athletic programs including football, basketball, baseball, softball, golf, and soccer. There are approximately 473 students presently enrolled at Riverside.