School Board Prepares for the Retrun of Students
A quorum of Jasper County Board of Education members and Superintendent Dr. Mike Newton had a light load of school matters to dispense of Tuesday evening during the last regular meeting of the board before students head back to school on August 10.
The preponderance of action taken was to deal with personnel matters prior to the beginning of the new school year. Kendra Jackson and Dametria Jackson were approved as part-time custodians at Jasper County Primary School (JCPS) while Dottie Dalton and Mandy Behling were hired as part-time paraprofessionals at JCPS.
With regard to the transportation department, James Dover and Willie Rooks will assume duties as bus drivers while the resignation of Jimmy Hall was approved. Three individuals, Kemetria Chupp, and Larry Fieldings were transferred from part-time to full-time bus drivers. Rufus Whitlock, Marcus Dennis, and Valerie Dale Pennamon were appointed as middle school community coaches.
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Board member Lewis Rice of District 5 voiced concerns with employees who fail to give prior notice when leaving a position. Supt. Newton noted that with contract employees such matters were not an issue but at-will employees were not bound by any policy for notification of leave.
Supt. Newton reviewed two policy revisions, per the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) requirements. The first policy revision concerned student safety in connection with heat-related injuries and standards set by the state legislature. The most significant change to the policy requires the use of a heat bulb instrument which measures outdoor temperatures and after temperatures reaches 92 degrees no activity is permitted. Also, cooling stations are to be implemented as well as 20 minute respiratory breaks.
The second policy revision detailed medication issues in relation to the use of epi-pens and diabetic procedures. Both revisions were tabled for a 30 day review and will be placed on the August agenda for approval.
In other buisness matters, Supt. Newton reviewed the board members training plan for the upcoming year. He also demonstrated the online eboard website that board members will be utilizing to complete their individual evaluation of the superintendent’s performance thus far.
