School System Is Accredited
The Jasper County School Board learned Wednesday that the Jasper County Charter System was again accredited by AdvancedEd, an accreditation that lasts five years.
AdvancedEd is the global leader in providing continuous improvement and accreditation services to over 32,000 institutions worldwide. Accreditation is an international protocol for institutions committed to systemic, systematic, and sustainable improvement.
The AdvancedEd team interviewed 139 people to present its findings last week. That included board members, superintendent, administrators, teachers, support staff, students and community members. The presentation was given at a school board work session Wednesday afternoon, attended by many in the system.
The overall presentation reviewed positives for the system, as well as areas that need work. The review was generally very positive.
At the end of the AdvancedEd presentation, the board went into its regular work session agenda.
At the meeting, several items, such as the facility needs, were put off until the May 23 meeting. The board agreed to move the Jasper County Middle School (JCMS) checking account from Hamilton State Bank to Bank of Monticello primarily because of fees. They also discussed the conditions under which non-certified teachers would be hired. A person with a degree may be hired to teach, but they must earn a master’s or enroll in the TAP program before the completion of their first year.
The board talked about hiring an in-house speech/language pathologist saying it would be more cost efficient and provide services equal to the contracted worker(s). After discussion, board members agreed it sounded like the best way to go.
The board approved Jim Strength to be the new assistant principal at Jasper County High School (JCHS). Other personnel action included:
New hires—Jerri James, art teacher 49%, JCMS; Suzanne Lindsey, EIP Teacher 49%, Jasper County Primary School (JCPS); Laura Rolader, teacher(Science), JCMS; David Pritchett, teacher (science), JCMS; Jackie Jackson, custodian, JCMS; Joan Frix, teacher (ELA), JCMS; Brady McMichael, teacher (social studies), JCMS; Mindy Andrews, Instructional Coach, JCMS; Summer Beatty, custodian, JCPS; Kari Trawick, school food assistant manager, JCPS; Wyley Deleza, teacher (social studies), JCMS; Cherylann McCampbell, teacher (ELA), JCMS; Deanna Brisco, teacher, Washington Park Elementary School (WPES); Laura Smith, teacher, WPES, and Ashley Turner, teacher, WPES.
Resignations—Chelsea Begnaud, agriculture teacher, JCHS; Kimberly Dutton, teacher (ELA), JCMS; Rachel Tatum, teacher (math), JCMS; Casey Wright, teacher (ELA), JCMS; Shamika Qualls, teacher (fifth grade), WPES; Kierra Rojas, teacher (second grade), JCPS; William Thomas, teacher, JCHS; David Graham, teacher (English), JCHS; Pamela Harris, registrar, JCHS; Lindsay Moore, teacher (English), JCHS; Amy Johnson, teacher (PEC), JCMS, and Scott Cooper, teacher (math), JCMS.
Transfers—Latoya Johnson, paraprofessional, WPES to JCMS as a secretary; Patti Hobby, Instructional Coach, JCPS, to JCPS Assistant Principal, and Cheryl Jacobs, long term substitute teacher (math), Jasper County High School, to full time math teacher at JCHS.
Non Renewed—Lee Edwards, teacher (English), JCHS.
