School Board Discusses Issues
The Jasper County School Board briefly discussed the upcoming election at its meeting Tuesday, with Dr. Michael Newton stressing that no money has been spent on the athletic complex project at this time.
Planning is important, he said, so all improvements are being planned for, but none have started. There is state match money for some of the projects at the schools, but most of the money for the projects will be local. Each school will benefit.
The Middle School is currently undergoing renovation and Perry Hyde gave an update. Mr. Hyde said the work on the gym is moving along, and spoke about what was to be next. He also said there will be about 50 cameras on that campus to improve security.
The portable units, or trailers, are scheduled to be picked up June 1, but Mr. Hyde says that’s a Friday and he thinks in reality it will be the following week.
The board also discussed how each School Governance Team (SGT)is involved, and has been since planning began on the renovations which will be financed by a continuation of the one percent sales tax, if approved.
The board heard from Ross Hayes with the Primary School SGT. He said how much he had learned while serving as vice-chair of that team. He said he was proud of testing scores, and he appreciates what the board did to make the school safer, He also thanked the board for agreeing to hire a music/fine arts teacher full time at the school.
He said he saw where the SGT needs to be better communicators with the community, because although he was wowed by testing scores, he wasn’t sure that message gets out to the public.
The board Heard from Ty Snyder, Director of Teaching and Learning, on the test scores. JCPS has teachers participating in professional learning through the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. The Growing Readers has significantly impacted the quality of reading instruction. For example, three percent of entering kindergarten students were considered literate according to kindergarten standards.
Now, more than 72 percent of current kindergarten students are surpassing grade level standards. The Growing Readers teaching practices will continue for teachers at JCPS and WPES.
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The continued academic growth is also evident across the system according to MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) data. Not only did all tested grade levels (kindergarten -10) reach projected growth but every single grade level exceeded growth. This means more than 50 percent of all students are at or above the national average.
To provide a high quality education, teachers at all grade levels continue to provide rigorous instruction to push the students to exceeding standards. Nearly every grade level has more than 25 percent of the students reading above grade level according to MAP.
The board discussed the budget briefly, and is seriously considering taking a partial rollback rate when it sets the millage rate next month.
They heard from outgoing Head Start Director Nannette Manning about how their audit went, and met the incoming director Camilla Moss, who said she is excited to be talking the helm of the great Head Start/Kindergarten program. They also approved changing requirements for those teachers which will result in a raise for a couple after they finish needed classes.
The board was adamant that the new requirements should not displace a current teacher.
In other action at the board’s meetings last Thursday and Tuesday, the following personnel actions were approved:
New Hires:
•Tiffany Middlebrooks, substitute teacher, Jasper County Primary School
•Hannah Hearn, teacher, Washington Park Elementary School
•Stephenee Stanley, teacher (first Grade) Jasper County Primary School
•Ame McNair, teacher, Jasper County High School
•Robert Pulliam, teacher, Jasper County High School
• Ashley McElheney, psychologist, Jasper County Board of Education
•Kimberely Braswell, teacher (sixth grade), Jasper County Middle School
Resignations
•Jeanie Lockett, Jasper County Middle School
•Jannifer Fowler, teacher, Jasper County High School
•Maria Moore, CARE Counselor, Jasper County Board of Education
Transfer
•Phillip Meadors, teacher, Jasper County High School, transfer from teacher at JCHS to 50% teacher and 50% ESOL teacher at JCHS
• Cassandra Dearro, paraprofessional, Jasper County Pre-K, transfer from Paraprofessional at JC Pre-K to Paraprofessional (PEC) at Jasper County Primary School
•Mandi Allen, teacher, Jasper County Primary School, transfer from teacher at JCPS to PEC teacher at JCPS
•Regina Jackson, teacher, Jasper County Primary School, transfer from a teacher at JCPS to a Media Specialist at Jasper County Primary School
•Camilla Moss, Literacy Coordinator, Jasper County Pre-K/Head-Start, transfer from Literacy Coordinator at JC Pre-K/Head-Start to Pre-K/Head-Start Director at Jasper County Pre-K/Head-Start
•Matthew Martin, teacher, Jasper County High Alternative School, transfer from teacher at JCHAS to Health & PE teacher at Jasper County High School
•Chris Pennamon, teacher (math), Jasper County High School, transfer from teacher at JCHS to teacher at Jasper County Alternative School
•Rydell Jackson, teacher (P.E.), Jasper County Middle School, transfer from JCMS as a teacher (P.E) to Jasper County High School as a teacher (P.E.)/Head Football Coach
•Karen Dotson, teacher, Jasper County Primary School, transfer from JCPS as a teacher to Jasper County High School as a teacher(ECE) at Jasper County High School
Termination
•Russell White, substitute teacher, Jasper County Board of Education
Rescind Contract Offer
Kimberley Braswell, teacher, Jasper County Middle School
