School Board Approves Personnel Changes
The Jasper County School Board met for its regular meeting Tuesday, with only a couple of staff members in attendance, and the chairs for the audience separated to allow social distancing.
The board learned that the system had been having pretty good attendance until school was called because of the COVID-19 virus. Supt. Kenny Garland reported that all school campuses would be closed to everyone the remainder of this week, but school board offices are open today, March 19, until noon for students and parents to pick up packets with learning materials.
Most of the packets were distributed Tuesday when the buses took lunches and school work to their routes. Some people were missed however, and their packets will be at the school board office.
Mr. Garland said this pandemic has shown that affordable broadband internet service across the county should be a priority.
Board members were presented with plaques recognizing their service during School Board Appreciation Week, and Mr. Garland expressed his appreciation to the board for all they had done for him while dealing with the changes to learning because of COVID-19.
He said there was limited personnel working in the board office, as some things, such as paychecks were vital.
Mr. Garland said some 1,300 children were fed Tuesday, which is just slightly less than the number who typically eat lunch at school. The feeding program was shut down for the remainder of this week, but will re-start Monday with bus drivers delivering breakfast for the following day and lunch each day.
The high school has rescheduled the prom for May 2.
Mr. Garland is sending out a daily update to all stakeholders each day at 6 p.m.
In the facilities update, Mr. Garland said the grounds people are working normally, and that work continues slowly on the athletic complex. He said that hydroseeding will begin this week or next week. Unfortunately, the Jasper County Primary School upgrades are currently on hold and likely will not get done this summer as planned.
Mr. Garland talked about the need for a second speech/language pathologist, and suggested a different pay scale for the position.
The board approved the Head Start application which will bring the county some $661,000, and Mr. Garland said that it looks like Head Start will be full with a wait list next fall.
Whole board training is scheduled for this Saturday, March 21 at the board office.
After a closed session, school board members approved the following personnel action:
New Hire
•Jesus Bautista, substitute custodian
•Torrie Heller, teacher, Washington Park Elementary School (WPES)
•Dana Barefoot, teacher, WPES.
•Cynthia Hensley, teacher (ESOL 49%), WPES
•Jenna Smith, teacher, WPES.
•Clare Williams, teacher, WPES.
•Katlyn Hamlin, custodian, WPES.
•Regan Duke, teacher, WPES.
•Natalie Mowbray, teacher, WPES.
•Jemica Brown, teacher, WPES
•Julie Kelly, teacher, WPES.
•Amy Rejmer, teacher, Jasper County Middle School (JCMS)
•Andrea Bishop, teacher, JCMS
•Morgan Harris, teacher, JCMS
Resignation
•Jessica McGhee, teacher, Jasper County Primary School (JCPS)
•Crystal Hyatt, intervention teacher, WPES
•Jennifer Nelson, teacher, WPES
•Karly Devole, teacher, WPES
•Stephanie Kelly, teacher, JCPS
Retirement
•Eugene Stinson, bus driver.
•Andrew Rewis, teacher, Jasper County High School (JCHS).
•Jesus Bautista, custodian.
•Barabra Crews, clerical, JCMS.
