By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

It's the first week of August! Time to begin thinking about heading back to school!

And this year, the Dexter Schools are ready with a new, streamlined method of registration.

Registration for all Dexter students – grades kindergarten through 12 – will be held from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 8 and 9, at the Bearcat Event Center on Grant Street.

This new concept of an “all-in-one" registration has been designed to be streamlined, more convenient and accessible to families in the Dexter school district.

“Basically the concept of having registration at the BEC came from administrative meetings where they were talking about how nice it would be to streamline the process,” said Dexter superintendent, Dr. Thomas Sharp. “One of the best things I can say about this is that it was a collective idea – it generated excitement. And then to the staff’s credit they didn’t just let the excitement die, they decided to go ahead to do something about it.”

Sharp gave credit to the two assistant superintendents, Dr. Kim Flowers and Dr. Roger Alsup, as well as the four building principals – Sherry Matthews, Cindy Bowman, Scott Kruse and Corey Mouser.

“We hope that we provide a better service and that at the end of the day we have more complete records and are better able to serve the students of this district,” he said.

Flowers said that part of the reason the new registration process developed is due to the district’s new technology upgrade.

“We will able to enroll families now instead of just individual students,” Flowers explained. When families go to registration, they will be asked to go the youngest child’s last name and receive a family information sheet that will include all the family’s information on file with the district. Flowers said corrections could be made to the information sheet to be sure the schools’ information is up-to-date.

Photographers will be on hand both days of registration to take student photos. Flowers said the district encourages families to have student photos taken, even if a photo package is not purchased.

This year for the first time parents will be able to visit the photographer’s website in advance of registration, view the package options available and even pre-order photos with the use of a credit/debit card.

“There will be computers available with online access for those parent who would like to use a credit/debit card to purchase online,” Flower said. Advance purchase can also be completed prior to registration, using the forms available for download at the end of this ShowMe Times article. After photos, families will move down the line for their school building, and the procedure will be similar to previous registrations.

“The nurse will be there, there will be an opportunity for parents to drop off lunch money in advance, pickup necessary handouts, get locker assignments and learn who their teachers are and get their schedules,” she said.

At the end of the line DHS athletic passes will be available for purchase and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will be on hand to sell memberships and the group’s annual t-shirt.

“There will also be a complete section for new registrations,” Sharp said. “A staff member will help them through the process so they won’t have to be intimidated by the confusion and the process.”

Students registering in the district are encouraged to bring the following to registration:

• Birth Certificate (for verification only)
• Immunization/Shot Record
• Social Security Number
• Name of Last School Attended and Address
• Proof of Residency (must show parent/guardian name and address on the document, ex. utility bill, phone bill, cable bill, rent receipt, mortgage payment, property deed, legal description, etc.).

Inter-state Photography Information

Southwest Elementary

Central Elementary

T.S. Hill Middle School

Dexter High School