School Board Hears about Special Ed, Graduation Rate
The special education program and the high school graduation rate were two important topics discussed at the Jasper County Board of Education meeting Tuesday, along with a shake up in the school district’s nutrition staff after the board voted to accept School Food Nutrition Director, Kelly Schlein’s resignation.
Jolynn Aubry, Director of Student Services presented to the board members the district determination for the special education program in Jasper County and was elated to announce that the program received a perfect score, 20 out of 20, and was 100 percent compliant with the federal law through the state Department of Education review.
“In Georgia we have 10 indicators that we are judged on yearly,” said Mrs. Aubry. “We met every indicator and all requirements to satisfy the state performance plan.” Mrs. Aubrey explained that special education is funded through a federal program, but the state is responsible for the evaluation. Jasper County was commended by Deborah Gray, State Education Director.
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Mrs. Aubrey informed the board that the evaluation was part of their accountability to continue to receive funds for Special Education.
“I am so proud of all of the work in our Special Education department. The staff and those that support our program are commended,” said Mrs. Aubry.
Supt. Dr. Mike Newton said, “I am so pleased with the great job our folks do in our special ed programs. I think we have a jam up program and we are lucky to be able to serve these kids in a 100 percent capacity.”
The state of Georgia released new data last week regarding the high school graduation rate in Georgia and Dr. Newton presented Jasper County’s numbers to the board. He began with what he saw as the “bad news,” noting that in the last 10 years the graduation rate dropped from 75 percent in 2002 to 69.1 percent in 2013.
When he was explaining the data piece by piece he said that one of the indicators was broken down by ethnicity and Jasper County could be proud that 81.8 percent of black students were high school graduates, and “compared with surrounding systems we topped that list.”
What he said was alarming was the data on white students coming in at just 60.7 percent in 2013. The state average for black students was 64.3 percent and for white students it was 78.9 percent.
“As you can see, we are way over the state number for black students graduating in Jasper County, but our number of white students not graduating is what we need to focus on,” said Dr. Newton.
Dr. Newton said that he was able to access those kids that were considered drop outs and the group was made up of a lot of various factors such as those that died, special education kids that receive a special ed diplomas, those that go into a homeschooling program and those that are unable to be tracked and/or cannot be found.
Dr. Newton said that these students are able to be tracked by name and he is seeking some of those out to ask, and find a sample of what happened and possibly seek the cause of the drop outs, whether it be academics, discipline or another factor in order to rectify the situation using those indicators.
Dr. Newton also informed the board members that the new virtual school program was going to aid this number across the board. He said it is not necessarily a solution, but another tool to keep kids in school through graduation. He mentioned in a side not that beginning in January there are four students that are going into the virtual program that may have been dropouts otherwise.
As far as the school nutrition program, the board went into executive session to discuss personnel and came out to approve the following:
The board accepted the resignations of both Kelly Schlein, School Food Nutrition Director for the Jasper County Board of Education and Tracy Devane, paraprofessional at Jasper County Primary School (JCPS).
Those approved to transfer include Felicia Holman who will take the vacant position of Ms. Schlein as interim School Nutrition Manager Supervisor for Jasper County Board of Education, from School Food Manager. This position is reviewable in 90 days according to Dr. Newton.
Other transfers approved include Margaret Smith, School Food helper, from Washington Park Elementary School (WPES) to Jasper County Middle School (JCMS) and Theresa Wright, Assistant Manager School Food Nutrition, from Assistant Manager at JCMS to food helper at WPES.
The board approved two retirements including Gus Robinson, Assistant Principal, JCMS and Neal Leggett, Maintenance Helper, Jasper County Maintenance Department.
Miranda Sarkesian, School Food Assistant Manager, JCMS, and Felecia Smith, School Nutrition Assistant, Jasper County High School, were both terminated.
Sharon Robinson was appointed as a community coach for JCHS and will be coaching the Basketball Spirit Cheerleaders.
The board also got an update on the Ag Barn process saying that the holes were dug for the footings and the rebar was in. The goal is for the concrete to be poured at the end of this week, according to Perry Hyde, Maintenance Supervisor and the metal for the barn will be delivered around the first of the year.
