Press Releases 2009

The Tennessee Department of Education Releases the 2009 Report Card

November 18, 2009
Click here to view the press release

Zap 411

September 29, 2009

The Sevier County School System is pleased to announce a new method of communication to parents and other interested parties through text message broadcasts. The Sevier County Board of Education has partnered with a local company, Eric Bennecker & Associates, to offer its Zap411 text messaging system. This system is being sponsored by Citizens National Bank, making it a cost-free program for the Sevier County School System.

Zap411 will enable the school system to directly send messages to parents on their cell phones once they opt-in using the instructions noted below. This text message system will allow parents and other interested parties to get messages immediately. Zap411 is totally secure and the subscriber’s phone number will not be seen by anyone or distributed to other parties. In other words, only official messages will be sent from the Sevier County School System. Solicitations or private individual material will not be sent to you through this process.

Opt-in/Sign-up Proces

1. As a parent, or other interested party, using your cell phone, send the text message “zap411 scbe” to the number 368638. You will then be instructed on how to opt into the system. You must have a text messaging package on your cell phone to participate and using the system will count as a message received within your cell phone plan once you have signed up.

2. If you ever wish to unsubscribe simply reply “stop” to any message.

This new method of communication should be of great assistance in keeping everyone informed of county-wide notices. The types of messages you will receive may include the following: school closing notices, early dismissals, notices of holidays, etc. However, Zap411 will not change the notification process already in place through ParentLink that sends a voice message to the primary phone number of each student’s parent or guardian in the case of an emergency notice.

Once implemented at the system level, this pilot program will be considered for expanded implementation at the school level to inform subscribers about local school events such as notices of parent teacher conferences, sporting events, field day notices, etc. Dr. Jack A. Parton, Director of Schools, states, “I am extremely pleased about this program and ask parents and other interested parties to consider whether you and your family want to participate. I want to extend my appreciation to Citizens National Bank as well as Eric Bennecker & Associates for partnering with the Sevier County School System to make this service available.

Eric Bennecker of Eric Bennecker & Associates adds, “It is my hope that all schools will adopt this form of quick communication. This text system will streamline the communication process between principals and parents.”

"We are excited to sponsor this new communication tool for the school system," states David C. Verble, President and CEO of Citizens National Bank. "Just like the school system, CNB embraces technology and the opportunities it provides. Being able to sponsor this program and provide it to the school system free of charge is just one of the ways that CNB continues to support the communities we serve."

Questions about how to subscribe/opt-in to the text messaging system should be referred to Eric Bennecker @ Associates at 865-774-2024

H1N1 Virus

August 26, 2009

The Sevier County School System was notified today of one confirmed case of 2009 H1N1 flu in the Seymour area. In an effort to reduce the spread of flu within the Sevier County School System and in our community, Director of Schools Jack Parton has activated the following protocol.

• The Sevier County Health Department and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommend children with a fever of 100 degrees or higher should not attend school.
• If a child has a fever while at school, the school nurse will immediately contact the parent to pick up the child. A letter will also be sent home to the parent or guardian verifying the child’s temperature and listing a return to school date. To promote a safe class room setting for every child, a sick child must be kept at home until the designated return date. Students should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs.
• Students need to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of aspirin, Tylenol, or any other medication designed to reduce fever before returning to school. The 24 hour time period begins from the time a child’s temperature is normal without the use of medication. It is expected that students will be out of school three to five full calendar days.
• For the well being of all concerned, students who report back to school before the three to five day period has passed or who report before the high temperature has abated will be sent home.
• During the days of absence from school, sick students should not risk infecting others and should avoid gathering in other public settings or attending any child care facility.
• Students and staff who are well may attend school, even if others at home are sick, but they should stay home as soon as they develop signs of illness.
• For more information on precautions to prevent the spread of illness, please refer to the Sevier County School System’s website at www.sevier.org.