School Board Views Budget Cuts
The Jasper County School Board discussed that Georgia is implementing a new accountability system statewide. There will no longer be an AYP requirement, but an ESEA requirement giving schools more flexibility to weigh things based on the standard deviation system.
Dr. Shawne Holder, principal at Washington Park Elementary and Dr. Mike Newton, superintendent, conveyed to board members that it was a positive move for Jasper County. Dr. Newton explained that some of the requirements will be very similar to what the schools are doing now.
The new system will rate schools by an identification of Title I schools. A school will rank as a Reward School, Priority School, Focus School, or Alert School. These assessments will begin as early as April 2012, they said, and will be identified annually.
Washington Park has been named a focus school for 2011 data and the only explanation thus far is for the area of an achievement gap between the highest performance and the lowest performing areas.
This new system uses a breakdown of subgroups, such as race, economic standing, special needs, etc. Dr. Holder is going to required training on how to correct this issue, and “we plan to move forward using the school improvement team and others as we have begun and will continue to do,” said Dr. Newton.
{{more}}
By the new standards the school will be on this list for three years, being evaluated annually. Some of the details are still being worked out; however Dr. Holder and Dr. Newton are positive that the 2012 data may show significant improvement.
Both Peyton Proctor, principal at Jasper County Primary School and Dr. Holder, principal at Washington Park were recognized for their Distinguished Title I Schools. They were recognized for being a Title I school for 11 years, and 10 years respectively. This will be the final recognition under Title I as the new system will rate and recognize differently.
During the regular business meeting the board voted, after much discussion to place the bond referendum continuation on hold until there is more information on the current legislation and monies available.
House Resolution 1162, concerning Charter schools, passed and will be put on the ballot in November.
The board had planned to ask voters to continue a bond issue for capital improvements as Jasper County Primary School needs large improvements such as a roof and HVAC work. Dr. Newton said “Charters create uncertainties for us.…” He also pointed out that there was a lot of talk in the legislation about tax reform.
There was much talk of a repeal of ad valorem taxes associated with vehicles, which could amount to approximately a $400,000 cut to local revenues that are allocated for public education. There have also been talks about tax breaks for marriages, corporate, etc. These breaks would affect the schools budget negatively. There has also been talk of Equalization funds cut from $160,000 to $40,000.
There are also questions about the Forest Land Protection Act.
Overall, the public education monies in Jasper County are being reduced from all angles. “Title and special education monies are being reduced. At this point everything is uncertain, big uncertainties of the current budget and the FY 2012 budget” stated Dr. Newton. He also stated that he was unsure of the future, and the final numbers would be available in September, but made the board aware that the budget must be submitted in July.
He presented his reasoning for his recommendation to the board as if they are struggling to make ends meet for day to day education, so raising money for capital improvements makes the public wary.
There are some certainties, such as increased costs in health insurance; the cost is increasing for certifications. He then recommended that the bond be halted for the time being until more certainties can be ascertained.
Board Chair Phyllis Norwood asked “What will become of some of the items on the [capital needs] immediate needs categories?
Assistant superintendent, Eric Arena responded that “the roofing at the primary school and the HVAC improvements would not be possible. We will work with our staff and continue to maintain what we have. This will become the priority.”
Dr. Shannon Barton, board member stated, “this is a tax continuation, if there is a gap now it’ll be a tax increase rather than a continuation to the public.”
There were several concerns from board members of what cuts would be made in which departments if there were significantly less funds, and Dr. Newton responded that “this is not the only board in this situation. As we move forward, that will have to come to light in the near future. My major concern is that everything is hitting right at once.
“One thing is evident, public education is not at the forefront right now.”
Paul Kelly, board member said “We have to operate, but we don’t want to hit the taxpayers twice. I won’t do that, hit them from two sides [by increasing the millage rate and maintaining the bond].”
Mr. Arena said, “In order to run a balanced budget we have to decrease spending $2-2.5 million. There are going to be some tough decisions that have to be made.”
Mr. Kelly asked the current dollar value of a mill. Mr. Arena said “it’s $311,000.”
After more worried discussion from board members, Dr. Newton said “I don’t know what happens when a board runs out of money.” “It’s death by 1,000 cuts….I don’t see relief from the legislature; I do appreciate Rep. [Susan] Holmes for her support, but I see where we’re headed. We have to take each year cautiously and focus on the years to come. The budget for this year and next year have and will see reductions. Money does not change our responsibility.
“We have less time, less money and even greater accountability.”
There was a general consensus among the board that the concern came from discontinuing the bond and then trying to get it back. The bond deadline to continue to move forward or to halt work on it temporarily is the end of March, so a decision had to be made.
Bobby Norris, board member, said “Advocates of local control are now taking it away.”
Dr. Newton encouraged those effected or interested to check the AJC and blogs on this subject to learn more information. He also encouraged those teachers, noble “folks” in “our” profession to talk to the representatives. He encouraged teachers to convey to them how it’s effecting “me.”
Mr. Norris said “things we need will cost us more in the future—it’s not going to get cheaper as things deteriorate further.”
Ms. Norwood said, “we’re going to go from repairs to replacement.”
The recommendation then passed unanimously.
Transportation
Jerry Williams, Transportation Director for Jasper County Schools was on hand to discuss the transportation policy regarding field-trips and overnight field-trips. Mr. Williams stated to the board that “our mission is to get the kids to school and get them home safely.”
He said that this time of year there are an abundance of field trips with the sports teams traveling and an increased number of requests coming across his desk during the spring months.
Mr. Williams said that it was “our” responsibility to transport the students and take care of them while “we” have them. He said that serving as director for 12 years he strives to get everyone where they need to go and to do it safely. He vows to send no bus older than seven years old on field trips and that bus drivers have become trained and announce emergency procedures before the bus moves each time. He said that they look like flight attendants, explaining where all of the exits are, how to stop the bus should the driver become hurt or ill, and even what radio signal to use in case of emergency.
Mr. Williams added that the ratio of students to chaperones number be edited due to the increased number of kids, and that specifically for overnight trips, there should be one adult per five students. The field trip request form was then amended to these specs.
Solar Panels
A presentation on solar panels was given by the Advanced Placement Environmental Science department, by students Jamiyah Warren and Desi Evans under the direction of Dr. Tyson Harty, along with a representative from Central Ga EMC. The solar panels were installed in October 2011, and are located at Jasper County High School. The actual panel is a 1 kw panel and JCHS is one of 20-30 schools which currently have one. This panel generates and offsets electricity for the actual school as well as providing a key learning opportunity for students.
The dedication of these panels was presented in an earlier edition of The Monticello News. The students in the environmental sciences classroom monitor the actual, real-time data through tracking program that can be accessed in the classroom. This data provides real time as well as historical data for comparison. The panel is also equipped with a weather station. The high school students have vowed to pass their education along to younger grades so that the education can continue and become relative in other subjects such as math.
Overall, the students see the impact of the difference that the panel makes in Jasper County. The panel saves the school money, and eliminates an abundance of carbon dioxide from being released into the air.
The board voted for final approval of policies K-M (general public relations policies and relations with other education agencies).
The board voted to approve fund raisers, overnight field trips, and two use of facilities requests.
Appreciation
In the work session last Thursday, Dr. Newton recognized each board member individually as Board Appreciation Week was last week. He was very complimentary of the board saying, “this is a wonderful board that works together peacefully and although we may disagree we still respect one another and we are all here for the same reason, and that is the children.” Each board member was presented a plaque and recognized.
Head Start
Nannette Manning introduced and reviewed the Head Start grant application that was going to be submitted. It has to be submitted to the state annually and is based on the previous year’s funds from the State of Georgia. She told the board that based on last year’s numbers, the total monies that were budgeted from and for program operations was $591,619. She presented a detailed presentation breaking down each category precisely showing where the funds went. It was approved unanimously.
She told the board that there were six classrooms and the children attend for six and a half hours a day. Mrs. Manning and her staff do two home visits a year. She told of the contracts that are with local dentists, physicians and mental health facilities. She also answered questions regarding the grant and its specifics that came from board members.
They reviewed a County Short Term Work Plan that was submitted to Dr. Newton from County Manager Greg Wood. It was a plan drawn up for improvements from 2012-2016 and focused on the implementation of after school programs to increase academic performance and for the promotion of increased parent involvement with the schools and the community. Dr. Newton noted that was currently being done under the Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) and that a letter would be drafted with the specifics in response including their involvement with the economic development committee.
Personnel
The board voted to accept the resignations of John Eckles, custodian, Henry Odum, teaching assistant, and Alaina Plymen, food assistant and the retirement of Roxanna Cargile, paraprofessional, and John Zwemer, teacher. Mrs. Cargile will however remain a bus driver.
