School Board Hears from Public
More than 20 citizens attended the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night and two citizens spoke to the board during the public comment portion about teacher conduct and actions at the beginning of the meeting. After conducting business, board members went into closed executive session for personnel for over an hour and returned to public meeting to approve the following personnel:
New hires included Shannon Moore, paraprofessional-media specialist, Jasper County Primary School (JCPS); Amy Cox, counselor, Jasper County High School (JCHS); Shirley Gee, social worker, Jasper County Board of Education (JCBOE); Maria Moore, counselor K-5, JCPS and Washington Park Elementary School (WPES); and Leigh Wright, school psychologist, JCBOE.
Resignations included those of Michelle Zellner, media specialist, Tiffany Kelley, school food nutrition manager and Gerald Benton, bus driver.
Lindsay Dial transferred from part time to full time kindergarten paraprofessional at JCPS. Jasper County Middle School Principal Dianna Blizzard’s retirement was approved. (Charlie Frazier has been hired as the new JCMS Principal which was reported on in April).
During the citizen’s comments, Russell Bennett was the first to speak and he said that he came to the board as a taxpayer and parent of former JCHS graduates, and was concerned with some “distractions that will affect the education of our children.”
He spoke to “distractions of some school instructors and their behavior on social media.”
“The school system is quick to pull student distractions, such as dress or behavior out of the classroom, so why not do that with faculty as well,” said Mr. Bennett. “I am proud of the school system that we have here. We provide a great education and I want Jasper County to continue to be known that way.”
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“I am a Christian and my beliefs have been pushed out of the school system. Sometimes it’s easier to say that we can’t say or do anything due to repercussions, but I will stand up and say enough is enough,” Mr. Bennett stated.
John Parrish also spoke to board members stating that he had three children in the school system, two in high school and one entering the middle school. He stated that he was approached by his children about a teacher on social media. He said what he saw was bizarre actions and foul language being used.
“I teach my children that teachers are to be respected and looked upon with respect,” said Mr. Parrish. “This person showed very bizarre behavior. I coach recreation ball and if I demonstrated actions such as that, I couldn’t continue.”
“Teachers are expected to have good morality and ethics. Is there not a code of ethics or conduct for faculty? I am a deacon and I am not perfect. I swear occasionally and don’t get caught, but it happens. But I don’t put it out there on social media,” said Mr. Parrish.
During the superintendent’s report, Dr. Mike Newton reviewed the financials with the board members stating that the fiscal year is 92 percent completed and the revenues are up being at 98 percent and the expenditures are down at 87.72 percent. Dr. Newton said that financially there is a lot going on this time of year and that the budget is close to being balanced. He also noted the forest land money that was received early and that it had increased (less than three percent) since the initial number was presented.
Maintenance Supervisor Perry Hyde told the board that the JCPS facility work was progressing. “We have the classroom wings air running, and the rooftop units are in place and will go full power next week,” said Mr. Hyde. He also said that the painting was “coming along,” and that the janitors have the floors on the kindergarten hall waxed and tiled. He said that the tile work would be completed August 1, weather permitting.
At other facilities, the new JCMS classrooms have been blocked in, according to Mr. Hyde and they are working on some electrical in those rooms. There is new paint at the middle school as well.
He said that the meeting room and that the renovated bathroom for the bus shop was in progress, and that the tiled gym floor at WPES was completed with the exception of the logo in the middle which had been sent off for completion.
Dr. Newton said that Robert Jordan is currently working on a site plan that will be presented in July for multi-use building construction and an overall layout for future use.
The board voted to approve both the Workman’s Compensation and Risk Management contracts as recommended by Dr. Newton and the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA). Dr. Newton said that the workman’s compensation was going up about $7,000 and the risk management would increase due to the inclusion of cyber protection.
“The protection protects employees’ and students’ private information should something happen. This is a developing issue and the state Department of Education has hired a full time cyber information officer,” said Dr. Newton.
The board approved the renewal of the maintenance contract with Athens Janitorial Supply and a five year facilities plan.
The board met at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the regular meeting for a Budget Hearing (#1) and no members of the public spoke.
The next meeting will be this Friday, June 19, at 3:30 p.m. at the Board of Education office for a second hearing on the budget. The board will also meet Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m. for the last hearing on the budget to be followed by the regular meeting.
