School Board Meets, Readies for New Year
The Jasper County School Board in meetings the last two Tuesdays have made several purchases, approved personnel moves and heard an extensive field trip proposal from a teacher at Washington Park. The members also reviewed and approved financial reports, insurance, fund raisers and field trips, as well as hearing a tribunal appeal.
The board of education adopted a $38,879,475 budget for fiscal year 2023, which includes local revenues of $8,583,673, and the remainder being made up by state, federal and other sources. The millage rate will be set at a called meeting on Thursday, July 7, at 1 p.m. at the school board office, 1411 College Street.
The board approved some major roof work at Jasper County High School that if not complete by the time school starts later this summer, the part that would inconvenience people coming and going will be done and work will be ongoing in the back of the building. Discussions over several meetings revealed that the roof has always had problems, and Supt. Kenny Garland is going to see if there is any way to recover any funds from the initial builder.
Board members last week approved the purchase of a “bond bus” meaning the state pays most of the expense for the 2023 Thomas Built Bus that will cost in excess of $88,000. Board members also approved the purchase of some new furniture for the Jasper County High School (JCHS) media center. They also approved several purchases for additional classroom furniture at Jasper County Primary School and Jasper County Middle School to accommodate growth in the system.
In addition, the board accepted the low bid for 300 Chromebooks for the 2023 school year from Arcangel at a cost of $79,209, a price more than $2,000 less than the next lowest bidder. They also approved a policy that allows teachers to purchase old equipment that is being replaced for a nominal fee. Board Member Lewis Rice was for the teachers purchasing the equipment but questioned if it was really past its prime. He said that the school’s general guideline is replace computers at five years, and questioned if that was really necessary. An extensive discussion followed.
Supt. Garland said he had talked with a company that would recycle the old electronics, costing the system nothing, but also not netting the system any gain. Mr. Rice again questioned if the electronics could be used by anyone rather than just being recycled. Other board members and Mr. Garland explained there is little use for the old electronics, and at least the system doesn’t have to pay to get rid of them, and it is being done in an environmentally friendly way.
In other action at the board meetings, the board approved several fund raisers and field trips. It also approved a renewal for its risk management services through the Georgia School Boards Association.
Personnel actions taken in June include the following:
New Hire
•Jeffrey Holloway, Athletic Director, Jasper County Middle/High School
•James Whatley, groundskeeper, Jasper County Maintenance Department (maintenance)
•Dusty Atkinson, maintenance helper, maintenance
•Lois Jackson, substitute teacher, Jasper County Board of Education (BOE)
•Patricia Rowland, teacher, Washington Park Elementary School (WPES)
•Rachel Nagy, therapist, BOE
•Jessica Stanley, teacher, JCHS
•Christopher Owens, teacher, Jasper County Middle/High School
•John McElheney, teacher, JCHS
•Jennifer Owens, teacher, Jasper County Primary School (JCPS)
•Tiffani Terry, custodian, Jasper County Middle School (JCMS)
•Zane Rowland, teacher, JCMS
•Precious Driskell, counselor, JCMS
Resignation
•Weslynn Taylor, substitute teacher/SN Assistant, BOE
•Ardasia Benton, paraprofessional, Jasper County Pre-K
•Clark Sweatt, teacher, JCMS
•Theresa Wright, school nutrition assistant, Jasper County School Nutrition Department
•Joshua Crouse, counselor, JCMS
•Darrell Booth, maintenance helper, maintenance
•Donald Hardwick, Lead Custodian, JCMS
•Stella Lewis, bus driver, Jasper County Transportation Department
Transfer
•Kristen West, Assistant SN Manager, Jasper County Primary School, transfer from School Nutrition Assistant Manager at JCPS to School Nutrition Manager at Washington Park Elementary School
•Chantel Amburgy, clerk, JCMS, transfer from clerk at JCMS to teacher at JCMS
•Tiffany Baker, custodian, JCMS, transfer from custodian at JCMS to Lead Custodian at JCMS
•Sarah Miller, custodian, JCPS, transfer from custodian at JCPS to Lead Custodian at JCPS
•Charlie Jackson, mechanic, Jasper County Transportation Department, transfer from mechanic at Jasper County Transportation Department to Fleet Manager at Jasper County Transportation Department
Retirement
•Jessie Hardwick, Lead Custodian, JCPS
