School Board O.K.s Revenue Sharing, Maps

Jasper County Commission Vice-Chairman Gerald Stunkel attended the Jasper County School Board meeting last week, as the board voted to approve the revised revenue sharing agreement allowing the school board to receive monies from the Joint Development Authority.

The county and school system agreed to a 60-40 split when they met together last month. The county has recouped its investment, and the revenue now benefits both entities.

Commissioner Stunkel stayed to review proposed district maps with the school board. Board members agreed they did not feel strongly about any of the three maps presented, and would go along with what the county decided.

The county was to discuss the maps Monday evening.

The maps are necessary as each of the five districts should have an equal amount of voters, but because of population shifts, they were way off. The new districts will represent more than 2,900 persons.

Also at the meeting, the board discussed the FTE—full time equivalent—attendance figures, showing an increase of 33 students over last spring.

Board members approved a bid for a new roof for the bus shop at a cost of $10,500, the low bid of three received. They also voted to offer surplus lab stools for sale at a cost of $10.

Board members approved American Rescue Plan Act funds to address learning loss reviewing steps for the next three years. They also voted to purchase interactive panels also known as smart boards.

Board members also approved numerous fund raising, field trip and use of facilities requests.

The board learned that the county’s graduation rate for the Class of 2021 was 88.34 percent, which is down from the class of 2020 which was reported at 94.58 percent. However, it is still above the state average for graduation rates which is 83.7 percent for the Class of 2021.

The board went into closed session to discuss personnel. Afterwards, they voted unanimously to accept the following personnel recommendations:

New Hire:

Esteisy Seijas, substitute teacher, Jasper County Board of Education; Crystal Griffin, substitute teacher, Cherylyn Polkinghorn, substitute teacher, Gregory Hosford, substitute teacher; Brandy Mason, substitute school nutrition assistant, Jasper County School Nutrition Department; Ambriel Wyatt, paraprofessional, Jasper County Primary School; Josephine Norwood, bus monitor, Jasper County Transportation Department; Sheryl Hopper, paraprofessional, Jasper County High School; Lisa Knight, substitute teacher/substitute school nutrition assistant; Mary Fore, substitute teacher/substitute school nutrition assistant; Monica Dallas, substitute custodian; Sarah Miller, substitute custodian; Tori Thomaston, custodian, Jasper County Primary School.

Resignation

Debra Manderson, substitute teacher, Jasper County Board of Education.

Release from Contract

Aaron Pitts, teacher/head varsity football coach, Jasper County High School.