School Hires Teachers, O.K.s Lunch Increases

In a busy and eventful meeting Tuesday night the Jasper County School Board members hired Patti Cole to be the new Health Occupations teacher at Jasper County High School (JCHS). This position is a vacancy that was left open and a key position in the school system, where Health Care Science Technology (HOSA) is one of the Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) pathways offered to students from eighth grade through high school.

They also voted to hire the following: Matthew Allen, Caroline Button, Mallorie McMackin, and Kimberly Dutton, all as teachers at Jasper County Middle School. Ernest Scott was hired to be the varsity boys basketball coach. Carl Sayles was hired to be a counselor at JCHS, and Stephanie Scott was hired to be a pre-kindergarten teacher at JCPS, Pre-K.

In the nutrition department, Leslie Thurman, Sherry Van Horn, and Sandy Mason were all hired as food assistants.

Kindra Latimore’s resignation was approved, and Gus Robinson was appointed as the Athletic Director at the middle school. Shawna Clemons, currently a second grade teacher at JCPS will transfer to third grade at Washington Park.

Peyton Proctor and Kelvin Thomas came before the board to review the CTAE program for the upcoming year, and to ask for approval for its budget. This program was implemented last year and was very successful, according to the reports. CTAE is a program that uses pathways to guide a student through high school. A child can choose a pathway that interests him or her, and continue it. This system is an improved system over what used to be called “technical” and all of the students are required to have a pathway in order to graduate.

The pathways offered this year will include agriculture, ag mechanics and possibly a plant science pathway; Business and Computer Sciences (FBLA), Administrative-Information Support, Interactive Media Career, Financial Management-Accounting, and a non-pathway business course; Family and Consumer Science Education (FCS) Early Childhood Education; Health Care Science Technology (HOSA), Nursing; and Technology Education, engineering pathway.

With these pathways a budget must be determined, and it was approved unanimously by the BOE. A tentative number was $607,810. This includes salaries and benefits for seven high school CTAE teachers and one middle school teacher. It also includes operational costs such as assessments and materials.

Mr. Thomas presented the board these numbers and also told of the grants given to the program totaling roughly $64,000.

Dr. Mike Newton, superintendent, asked about the school’s partnership with Southern Crescent Technical College, informing the board that a diesel mechanic program was being implemented at SCTC, and with a campus here in Monticello. Mr. Proctor assured him there is a firm relationship, and that SCTC is interested in partnering with JCHS.

Mr. Thomas added that eight students took an entrance assessment for one of the programs offered through SCTC and two students passed while the other were offered remedial studies and will retest. Mr. Proctor also pointed out that CTAE was striving to reach non-traditional students. He said that because of background and or molding through every day life some students will not go outside of their comfort zone. He gave examples of female welders, and SaDarius Rooks who was a star on the football field, and also a CNA who “wore his scrubs proud…”

Joan Thornton, and Kelly Rooks-Schline the retiring and newly hired nutrition directors came before the board to ask for approval of a $0.25 increase across the board for school lunches. Mrs. Thornton said that under law the cost of an adult lunch at the schools had to cover the cost to make it. She noted that this would still not affect the free and reduced lunch children, only full paying students, and would affect adults by a quarter. This process is to ensure that reimbursement from the state for free and reduced meals would continue to cover costs associated with these programs. The cost of an adult meal will now be $2.75 at JCPS (for example) and several of the board members commented on how cheap that still is to feed an adult.

She also said that with the end of year numbers, Jasper County has a 86.4 percent meal participation rate, which is an extremely high number in nutrition. Mrs. Thornton talked about scratch cooking, saying that the food had less preservatives and the kids liked it.
Ms. Schline asked the board for approval on both the milk, and bread bids which were offered at a “roll-over” rate, which is the same as the previous years. She and Mrs. Thornton thought this was a generous rate because of the prices of wheat and fuel simply for transporting the supplies had all increased. The board approved both. The schools use PET/Mayfield for milk, and Sara Lee for bread.

Also in Mrs. Thornton’s end of year summary, she said that there were no findings in any of their evaluations this year. She had her procurement review, as well as a CRE review which occurs every five years, and overall it went very well. She told the board about a $15,749 equipment grant that was given towards a steamer at JCPS. She also said that unofficially it looked as if Jasper County would receive the fruit and vegetable grant again this year offering students an extra serving per day. Also, with final calculations, the nutrition department served 575,166 meals last year, averaging 3,268 meals a day.

Dr. Nikki Rogers discussed CRCT results in grades 3-8 and GHSGT results for the high school. The numbers were unofficial and will be recapped at a later date. The findings showed that mathematics were still an issue in Jasper County.

In other action, the school board:

•Approved a spending resolution which allows Dr. Newton to pay bills throughout July until the budget is passed.

•Heard from Assistant Superintendent Eric Arena about the general fund statement noting that 92 percent of all budgeted revenues had been collected, and less expenditures than budgeted had been used, which results in a benefit in the fund balance.

•Gave recognition to Chief Bobby Norris, board member, for being pro-active at conference. He won 30 packets that push hands-on mathematics activities, another way to aid the math program.

•Mentioned the reapportionment process; new district lines are to be completed by December, 2011.

•Discussed renovations of the press box and concession area at Rose Bowl field.

•Agreed the next meeting will be held in the new offices on the middle school campus, June 28 at noon.