Athletic Complex Faces Cost Overruns

Members of the Jasper County Board of Education approved a variation in spending on the High School athletic complex that increased the cost by $128,804.30 after much discussion at their regular meeting Tuesday..

Perry Hyde, Maintenance Director and Project Manager, informed the board that there were some increases in the projected spending and that the main area of concern was with the water connection to the high school and the athletic complex.

Mr. Hyde said, “It all started the first week of August when the city came out and we met and discussed the way that the water was going to get back to the school. The city then followed up with pricing and came up with what I think was a hurried price initially and now they are saying that they need a lot more stuff than originally thought.

Board member Bobby Norris asked, “When we put the school in did we not do any of the work on the water. Were we not planning on that field when we built the school? I know that we had some drawings with a field in the back. Was there not a plan for water then?”

Mr. Hyde said that currently there is just a service line into the school for the fire main and a service line for the school supply. He also commented that with the new complex there will be a lot of irrigation, and when looking at the water pressure there was no way to use the existing in addition to adding in 80 fixtures. There is not near enough pressure for sustainability for both the school and the complex according to the city.

Some other increases in the initial approved work included in the bids were $62,000 in masonry work, an increased cost in engineering. Mr. Hyde told the board that he based the initial bid on what he thought would be enough, but it wasn’t. The increase in the engineering piece presented was $25,000 more.

Board member Lewis Rice questioned, “So what you’re saying is that we’re going over budget again. I said when we started this project that we need to know what we are getting into. We’re doing the same thing that we used to do and we can’t do that because a $10 million project is going to wind up costing $11 million. We’re not getting the people to do the work that are available to us. We put those bids out in one place on that internet that nobody knows to look for and the people that should be doing the work aren’t getting the packets.”

Dr. Newton rebutted, “The recommendation tonight is that the board approve the $128,804.30 increase in the project. The board can vote on that increase tonight or we can stop construction on the fields tomorrow, it’s up to you all.”

Dr. Newton continued, “Perry is the project manager for this project and that’s an at risk position that we took. It is his job to get these contractors bidding. The construction is booming and it’s difficult to get all of these people wanting to work for us to become available.”

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Shannon Barton, board member asked, “Is there anything else that you can foresee that may have to come up with such as the water now?” Mr. Hyde said that there wasn’t anything at this time in the foreseeable future. There was some comments as to this being the most costly and unknown stage of the construction, the beginning.

Another large difference was an increase in the masonry. Mr. Hyde noted that there was a difference in price for split face vs. regular block and that in the initial stages of fast planning and trying to save money there was a misfigure in the numbers on his part, that’s now been corrected.

Dr. Newton commented that he was bringing the board this information early on in the project for visibility as the project develops. “I’m doing this because we verbalized that we would be up front with the board about these things, so that at the end we’re not coming to you when we’re $100,000 over and having to explain then.”

RaNae Fendley and Dionka Jackson presented to the board two eighth graders from Jasper County Middle School (JCMS), Jennifer Calloway and Chloe Byrd, that were awarded the REACH scholarship.

Ms. Jackson presented the ladies to the board saying, “We have two wonderful young ladies to bring before you tonight. One is Miss Jennifer Calloway and eighth grader, member of pep band, and a great scholar. She is accompanied by her mom and sister.”

Ms. Calloway was congratulated and shared with the board that after graduation she plans to attend Valdosta State University and be a nurse for kids with autism and disabilities.”

Ms. Jackson also congratulated Chloe Byrd. “Chloe is also an eighth grader, an excellent student, and she’s a cheerleader for football and basketball.” She was also accompanied by her mother and sister.

When asked about future plans she said, “I plan to go Georgia Southern and be a lawyer. I’m determined to go to college or into the military – the Air Force.”

REACH is a program that aids students to help increase the number of Georgian’s graduating with relevant postsecondary degrees. They provide access to college to those students that would like to attend college and is a needs based scholarship opportunity.

The board also heard from Nartasha Williams, SGT President for the high school. Ms. Williams began by introducing two other members in the audience, Johnnie Sue Moore, and Larry Dorsey. She informed the board that while they lost several members, they’d added Greg Atkinson,and Latrice Ammons. They also have a new student representative, Mackenzie Tripp.

Some highlights of the high school according to the SGT were:

• 650 person student body

• Great counselors that have been doing college visits, a new PBIS (positive Behavior Intervention and Support) program and hosted a college and career night which included 20 colleges and three branches of the military

• Construction going on at the high school stating that football is on scheduled to be played at the new stadium. The initial hope was that baseball would also be played at the new complex, but may be delayed.

• Attendance. Ms. Williams said that attendance is great. Only seven students that have had 5+ unexcused absences. Better than last year at 17.

• She also listed all of the activities going on with high school

• There is the first student from Never Too Late enrolled and doing well

• Graduation rate is 85% and that’s a 10% increase from last year. Ms. Williams said, “We would like to thank Dr. Finley and her time and documentation skills and it really has added to that increase, and we’d really like to thank her.”

Some SGT points of concern for the high school included:

• Dual enrollment – dual enrollment courses get a 10 point curve added to the GPA scores (i.e. if you get a 80 they bump it up to a 90.) There is discussion as to if it is really worth the 10 extra points given, as they are with AP courses. Ms. Williams commented that the SGT learned that there is a student taking 12 dual enrollment courses. Getting 120 free points. The discussion is the comparison as to a student taking only two AP courses and only having 20 points added to their GPA. There has been discussion that the AP courses should be weighted higher and the dual enrollment courses – a B is a B.

• School nutrition charge procedure. There was discussion with the school nutrition manager as to students being given an alternate lunch with arrangements made to get caught up on monies owed.

• 55% of our ninth graders are failing at least one class and some of them are failing more than one class. We’re working on several ways to help with this with such as peer to peer counseling, tutors, and this is a new found project to get those ninth graders caught up. This was a reflection based on the most recent report cards and is 10% higher than any other grade.

In other action the board:

• Approved a certificate that certifies that the JCMS project is completed. This will be submitted to the GDOE for reimbursement for state money. Mr. Hyde, was completely satisfied and thankful that the project was complete and that there was nothing outstanding.

• Approved two CTAE extended day additions.

• Met Teena Carr, School Nutrition Director, and approved policy EE Food Services Management on the table for 30 days for review. Ms. Hutchinson said, “There’s some misunderstanding about charging school meals, and that the public thinks that we’re taking food away from kids and not offering them a meal. An alternative meal is nutritious meal it is just not a hot meal. A lot of time the alternative meals will bring families in to fill out an application. I’ve had four applications filled out today. Only one parent upset. We’re trying to increase free and reduced percentages. We’re trying to get students at the high school to be responsible.”

• Worked on the board training schedule for upcoming events.

• Approved the superintendent’s report.

• Heard from Dr. Newton regarding school improvement. He said that the CCRPI scores are to be released next week and there will be discussion of those and the AP scores at the November work session

Approved the below new hires:.

Courtney Brown, WPES Paraprofessional (part-time); Tiffany Carnes, Custodian WPES; Tiffany McCannon, Bus Driver and Dennis Loftin, Substitute Bus Driver. Also, several substitute teachers were approved including, Erin Hendricks, Rochelle Ammons, Victoria Autry, Ashley Clegg, Jessica Huckeba, Lindsey James, Patricia McCluskey, Madison Smith, Evelyn Stone, and Jennie Voyles.

The board also approved the resignation of Terri Robinson, bus monitor and the termination of Rebecca Long, JCHS School Nutrition Assistant.

The board will hold a called meeting Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. to work with Frank King on a planning process for obtaining a new superintendent.

The board plans to spend the first hour coming up with and reviewing a planning process and the second hour going over and developing a profile for what the board is looking for in the new hire. The tentative plan is to open the position to any candidate for six weeks, review those applicants and hold interviews, and hire the new Superintendent in February 2019.