Middle School Updates Discussed
The Jasper County School Board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Middle School Principal, Monica McWhorter when they met recently.
They also voted to hire Norma Valenzuela to be a custodian at Washington Park Elementary, a replacement position vacated last month, and to honor the retirement of Rosa C. Campbell, a teacher from Washington Park.
Eric Arena, assistant superintendent gave an update on the Middle School facilities.He said that the upgrades and renovations on the restrooms are being finished with the overall project being complete December 7.
Mr. Arena and Supt. Mike Newton encouraged everyone to call him and set up a time to go and look at the renovations and how great the Middle School looks. Mr. Arena noted that the entrance walkway as well as some other landscaping will not be complete by the seventh, but is still on track with the original timeline.
Mr. Arena said that the last meeting was just held and a checklist was covered to be sure that nothing was missed in the renovations.
The walkway was in the process of being repaired along with some other renovations that would take place at the Middle School.
Dr. Newton said he commends the Middle School PTO and all of the hard work and fund raising that they are doing to aid in these Middle School improvements.
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With this, Dr. Newton asked the board and the two board member elects in the audience to look at a few alternatives that were drawn up by Jordan Engineering on some additional improvements to house the Board Offices. Currently, the board offices are scattered throughout the schools, and the offices are mobile (spaced out) buildings which are outdated.
Mr. Arena explained the plans and noted that to utilize more of that middle school building that the best place for the offices would be on the old high school wing with more improvements being done there.
Mr. Arena noted that with the additional work added to the school’s already in plan renovations that money would be both spent and saved by having more work done. They were looking at renovation rather than new constructions to make use of the space that was already vacant.
The Board approved the go ahead from Dr. Newton’s recommendation and Parrish Construction will being seeking bids on the work. Board Member Paul Kelly asked Mr. Arena where the money would come from for these projects, in which Mr. Arena told him that Fund 300 which is set aside for Capital Improvements would cover the roughly $570,000 improvements for the board offices.
Mr. Arena said that Fund 300 as of today holds $911,613 and $342,000 was projected for the renovations already taking place which leaves a total of $568,892.
The project already underway is said to have come in lower than the projected $342,000 but Mr. Arena was unsure of an actual number just yet.
In other action the board voted for the final approval for the SACS/CASI (AdvancED) District Accreditation that was presented to the board in the work session.
The board voted to approve the Title Program Plans and Budget.
Dr. Newton presented to the board an action item on the Local Board of Education Code of Ethics, which he asked be reviewed for at least 30 days and voted on in December. This was tentatively approved and will be placed on the school’s e-board for the public to review as well.
Dr. Newton also said that the window at the Chamber of Commerce holds the school system’s vision, motto, and other works by the school system. He encouraged everyone to go by, and he credited Mrs. Amy Wade, Media Specialist at Washington Park with the work.