School Superintendent To Get New Contract

Jasper County Board of Education members voted 4-1 to offer Superintendent Jay Brinson a new employment contract with negotiations to be engaged over the next month.

Supt. Brinson’s three-year contract, renewed in 2004, was set to expire June 2007. The board could offer him a contract for one year or possibly another three years. Joel Gaston cast the dissenting vote for the contract renewal.

The new contract will more than likely include a raise for the superintendent considering that certified and classified salaried positions are due a raise this year.

RESOURCE OFFICER
A day after students returned to class for the 2006-2007 academic year, board members decided to table an agreement with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department to provide the school system a school resource officer.
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Though the agreement was arranged by Sheriff Charles Roper and Supt. Brinson it will require approval of the county commission since the position will be funded by the Sheriff Department with reimbursement paid quarterly by the Board of Education to Jasper County.

During last week’s work session Sheriff Roper reported that County Attorney Kevin Brown had yet to give feedback on the agreement and that the county commission had not reviewed the issue as it relates to the Sheriff Dept. budget. Until such time when approval is given by the county the program cannot be instituted, said the sheriff.

BOE attorney Robby Kelly was asked to review the agreement during Thursday’s work session. The attorney said Tuesday that the agreement lacked specifics and that if not approved by the county it really wasn’t an agreement yet.

Supt. Brinson told board members that Mr. Brown had contacted him since the work session and raised some liability issues about the agreement.
When, and if, the agreement is approved it will require a deputy to work nine hours per day during the school year performing duties that include security, traffic duty, and assisting with behavior issues on school buses.

The initial projected cost for the officer is $70,800 which is based on 42.5 hours per week Monday through Friday and 210 hours of overtime. The base salary is $30,500, benefits are valued at $7,903, and overtime estimated at $4,400. Training, equipment, uniforms, vehicle and vehicle maintenance is valued at $27,997.

Sheriff Department services to the school system will not be contractual but based on the agreement reached by Sheriff Roper and Supt. Brinson. The officer, yet unnamed, will be supervised, evaluated, and directed by the Sheriff Department with daily on site supervision provided by the school administration. Monthly reports will be submitted to the BOE for review.

Meanwhile as with the first few days of school, Sheriff Roper has committed to having his staff direct school traffic at the primary and elementary school locations and periodically patrol the middle/high school campus.

PERSONNEL
In addition to offering the superintendent a new contract, other personnel actions included hiring Ruby Jenkins, Sonja Norton, Kathleen Matthews as paraprofessionals; Shaun McDaniel as the automotive instructor; Patricia Coneff, Bobby Hamm, Rufus Whitlock, and Jean Williams as bus drivers; and Angela Robinson as paraprofessional.

Also, resignations were accepted for paraprofessionals Jennifer Green and Melissa Key and bus driver Maquel Vaughn; Donald Hill was terminated as custodian; William Hendricks was released from the automotive contract; and Audrey Stokes was transferred from the primary school to central office secretary.

In other action Tuesday, BOE members reauthorized the No Child Left Behind resolution. The Georgia School Boards Association recommended that each local board of education formally act on a resolution supporting the bill.

The Superintendent’s report included a smooth start for the first day of school on Monday. He said that adequate staff was in place and that enrollment was healthy with the total number of students, 2139, increasing by 25 from Monday to Tuesday. Enrollment will continue to grow through the Labor Day holiday, he added.

Also, Supt. Brinson noted that several repair and renovation projects had been completed.
During a financial overview, he reported that the school system was in very good financial health with the books reflecting a $700,000 increase in total liabilities and fund equity for this year in comparison last year.

Before concluding for the evening, board members entered into executive session for the discussion of employment of personnel.
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During last week’s work session, in addition to discussing the previous topics board members heard a report on the middle school improvement plan and corrective action addendum presented by Middle School Principal Anne Massengale and Curriculum Director Penni Jones. The plan is in response to the middle school’s failure to meet adequate yearly progress requirements again.

BOE members were also presented a powerpoint on the 4-H program by County Extension Agent Dr. Jean Walter and Club Sponsor Pat Standifer. More than 450 students in grades 5-12 participated in the program over the past year, said Mrs. Standifer.

The open portion of the work session concluded with board members entering into executive session to discuss the employment of personnel.