School Board Reviews Superintendent Applications

The Jasper County School Board narrowed its superintendent candidate pool from 36 applicants to just over 10 that receive interviews in the next few weeks. Board chairman, William Schilling said, “We are very pleased with the number and quality of applicants.”

The board heard from representatives from King-Cooper and Associates during their work session last Thursday. The two representatives were on hand to aid in the Superintendent Search Training and Discussion that consisted of a public review of the agenda, surveys and overview followed by an executive session to discuss each candidate.

The agenda consisted of reviewing a packet that included the leadership profile set for the position, a review of two sets of survey’s, one from faculty and one from the community, a short synopsis of each candidate, a “semblance” of ranking of candidates, and a sample interview guide with a plan for the initial interviews.

The board was informed then that there were currently 36 candidates, and what the group would rate “as a very good pool of candidates for a system such as Jasper County’s.”

The survey results were then reviewed and explained as “interestingly similar,” when compared. The top three items on the survey for both the community and faculty included a strong work ethic, being willing to listen to students, parents, and community. The survey also showed that the new Superintendent will be willing to make tough decisions, willing to admit problems and mistakes, and willing to approve student achievement.

Those preferences that ranked last among the surveys were also very similar. Some of the lower ranked items included, support of extracurricular activities, ability to oversee curriculum instruction, teaching experience, and active in professional organizations as well as someone with experience outside of the community.

All of the above was reviewed before the board went into executive session to discuss candidates. There is a formal press release from the Board of Education in today’s paper.

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Also during the meeting Tuesday, the board voted to keep William, “Bill” Schilling as Chair of the board and Erin Lynch, Vice-Chair during their business meeting Tuesday night. This was a unanimous vote that included new board member Towander Dennis who’s first meeting was Thursday, Jan. 10. Ms. Dennis replaced Bobby Norris for District 1 and joins Shannon Barton and Lewis Rice for the 2018-2019 year.

During both the work session and the board meeting, attendees and board members heard from representatives with VALIC and ValuTecher about employee retirement options.

Marlin Breard, a fully licensed financial advisor with VALIC, presented his company to the board explaining that VALIC is the retirement offering in Jasper County. Mr. Bread said that he has been here on and off for 28 years. He gave a brief history of the company stating that business with K-12 began in 1955.

The primary offer – retirement plan offerings in 1000s of portfolios includes 70 investment options. He said that there are no risk fixed accounts, to a fixed rate account, to funds that are much riskier (small companies) and everything in between offered for the staff.

Mr. Breard said that he is in the system twice a month, and his job is to evaluate and give people their risk profile based on their timelines are, and to help with TRS and SSI and how they each fit in with additional savings. Mr. Breard said that his job is to educate awareness on overall plans and to advise people in each stage of retirement.

When questions were asked Mr. Breard stated that participants could make changes to their portfolios anytime. He also added that there is no open enrollment and no restrictions on changes. These changes can be completed online or through the mobile app that was recently launched, according to Mr. Breard.

When questioned by Mr. Rice what the company makes from the school, he said, “There’s a fee. A plan fee and a mortality and expense fee. On the sub accounts managed by others there are fees.”

During the business meeting the board hear from Lee Uphold, with ValuTeacher. Mr. Uphold explained that ValuTeacher is a 403(b) company. He said that ValuTeacher adds to the current plan and does not replace what is existing.

Mr. Uphold noted that there were two main benefits to adding ValuTeacher in Jasper County: retirement education and index annuity products for teachers to save in. He also focused on state TRS, being the main part of all employees retirement plan. Under ValuTeacher, this pays two percent for each year of service. Mr. Uphold stated that the 403 (b) plan helps cover that income gap between teaching and retirement.

Mr. Uphold explained that he’s in his fourteenth year with the company and realizes that a majority of teachers are not risk takers and don’t like having the money in the market. With ValuTeacher those teachers will not have to give up as much interest to be in the system. There is also no cost to the school system for having a second option.

Mr. Schilling questioned, “We don’t have an annuity option in our current plan?”

The answer was that there is a variable annuity VALIC. This reflects money in the market that will see ups and downs with the market. He did add that VALIC has a fixed rate product that they find not many people use.

The board then heard from the preschool policy council headed by Moss with three members in attendance. The members included parents, community members and a teacher.

Some of the topics covered included budget constraints noting that over ninety percent of the budget goes to salary and benefits for teachers. This is over the eighty to eighty-five percent in other schools. Leah Campbell, parent, noted that the council is working to increase enrollment as it is not required for children.

Currently the enrollment is around 150 with seven opening to maximize enrollment. Ms. Campbell stated that the council strives to be more visible in the public and are working to develop a plan to involve the community to volunteer and partner with the preschool.

Another large topic for the council is that of student progress and areas of concern being identified. Data was presented that showed growth in those students on grade level and shrinkage of those students that are farther behind.

Vicki Crutchfield, teacher, spoke to the board about practice based coaching, a new program that has been slowly implemented at the preschool. This program is structural based that shares resources with teachers that are data driven and support.

This program is vital in enhancing and improving effective teaching, according to Ms. Crutchfield. Some of the methods include, collaborating, meeting, and action. Ms. Crutchfield has used a video camera to show teachers what is effective in the classroom. She has used the program give teachers an insight as to what works in the classroom and what does not. They are able to view and analyze time per activity, which activities were the most effective, and which students paid attention and those that they “lost” during the lesson.

For the athletic complex update, the foundation was poured for home concession stand. Perry Hyde, Director of Maintenance, said, “this week has been a good week. We’re getting some work done. Light pole bases are going in around the baseball field and the softball field. We’re getting ready to do the grading and the backstops are coming up.”

“The month of December has been really challenging with the weather,” said Mr. Hyde. “We’re still about six to eight weeks behind. If we can get some good weather, we’d get more done. Getting the fields back dragged so that it will drain and not puddle. It’s been very interesting, all that’s going on.”

Before adjourning for the evening the board voted to approved the 2018/2019 meeting calendar which reflects a change. All board work sessions and meetings will be on Tuesday nights. There will be no more Thursday meetings for the board. The next board meetings are a work session on Feb. 12 and business meeting Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. each night.

The board also approved the below personnel:

The retirement of Cheryl Marrett, JCMS Principal; resignation of Andrew Sever, sixth grade social studies teacher at JCMS; transfer of Theresa Wright to School Nutrition Assistant at WPES ; and the termination of Lora Smith, Bus Driver.