Board Gets Facilities Update

The Jasper County School Board Tuesday got an update on the new athletic facilities at Jasper County High School, and with luck the Lady Hurricanes will be able to play their September 5 game at the new facility.

Maintenance Director Perry Hyde said he is hoping the fire marshal will come Friday and approve and make recommendations for change, and he named several items that need completing. He said the football field was to get sod Wednesday, and that the goal posts were up.

He said they are hoping to start asphalt for tennis courts and track next week. Once the asphalt is laid on the track, it has to set for a month. Then the track can be finished.

Mr. Hyde said the football bleachers will hopefully e in place by Sunday. He indicated all is moving along, but as previously reported, rain slowed up progress at the beginning, and it’s a large project. There was no update on when the first football game would be played at the new stadium.

The board also voted to surplus three old school buses, two are 1995 models and one is a 1996 model.

Board members again discussed branding, considering changing the name of the high school to Monticello High School rather than Jasper County High School.

Supt. Kenny Garland, at their direction, got quotes on re-doing the name on the front of the high school, and the two quotes were $43,000 and $55,000. Board members immediately agreed that would not be an option.

However, the school’s name could be changed without the name n the school being changed.

For example, across the state, the athletic teams are known as the Monticello Hurricanes. Dr. Shannon Barton said it’s confusing for people looking up information on the school. The superintendent is going to investigate further to see if there would be any repercussions for renaming the school.

The new superintendent said he’d like for the board members to form some subcommittees. He named five, and they all signed up. The committees include facilities—Lewis Rice and Dr. Barton; curriculum—Erin Lynch and Board Chair Bill Schilling; policy—Mr. Schilling and Towander Dennis; personnel—Dr. Barton and Mr. Rice, and finance—Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. Dennis.

During board comments, Mr. Rice questioned the pick-up procedure at the high school. Mrs. Lynch reminded others that next year is the census and redistricting will follow. She also questioned the high school regions, and why Monticello teams have to travel so far. They plan to draft a resolution to send to all concerned to try to get a more geographically friendly district.

The board approved several personnel actions. They include:

Brooke Smith, teacher, Jasper County Middle School; Amy Layson, substitute teacher (long term), Jasper County Primary School; Leisa Moore, bus monitor, Jasper County Transportation Department; Ginger Ivey, clerk (part-time/seasonal), Jasper County Board of Education; Rebecca Lundy, registrar (part-time), Jasper County High School; Jessica Duggan, substitute school nutrition assistant, and Sheri Collins,Alexandria Gibson, Amber Jones,

Kathey Preffer, Sandra Thrower, substitute teachers, Jasper County Board of Education.

Also, resignations—Courtney Mayfield, teacher, Jasper County Primary School and Alissa Mantecon, substitute teacher.