Schools Receive Tech Grant
Jasper County Charter School System is the recipient of a Verizon Innovative Learning schools (VILS) grant, board members learned at their regular meeting on March 21. The $40,000 grant is a two-year grant with possible extension into years three and four.
The grant has an overarching goal of addressing barriers to digital inclusion by equipping every student and all instructional staff with a LTE-enabled Chromebook. The grant will also provide extensive teacher training and support.
The goal of the grant is to improve student achievement through increasing equitable access to technology, enhancing technology integration in classrooms, expanding STEAM activities, and opportunities and career exposure for students.
The grant is designed to enrich instruction through technology by focusing on student collaboration, student product development, personalized learning, and increased family and community engagement.
Supt. Kenny Garland also told the board that Jasper County High School has been named an AP Honor School, and received four out of eight possible awards for its showing on advanced placement testing. Some of the teachers who teach AP classes were on hand to be honored, and others were not, but each will receive a certificate.
Supt. Garland also announced that Jasper County Primary School (JCPS) and Washington Park Elementary School (WPES) were named Operational PBIS Schools by the Georgia Department of Education. PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) is the positive behavior program that each school uses to encourage good behavior and discourage bad behavior.
The board also named Michelle Coward to the vacant District 5 School Board seat. Mrs. Coward was one of three applicants who interviewed with the board, and she was selected. She will be sworn in during the next few weeks, and take part in the next board meeting.
Mr. Garland told board members that the board cannot deed the parking lot behind Thomas Persons Hall to the Historical Foundation, that the foundation would have to buy it for fair market value. Therefore board members took no action, and the parking lot will still be used as it is now, for the hall, but the school will continue to own it. He explained it could be given to another government entity, but not to a non-profit.
Board members also learned that the Special Education Program and the School Nutrition Program each received positive reviews by the state. In addition, the school board audit was favorable. Supt. Garland also reported the mid-term adjustment from the state was good, as the system has 220 more students than it had the same time last year.
Board members approved roof repair at Washington Park School as well as furniture purchases to accommodate all the new students and teachers. They also approved next year’s Head Start budget.
The board also approved certain payroll software purchases, and technology purchases. The board agreed to work with Associated Staffing to hire custodians as the system seems to have a revolving door, reported Peyton Proctor, who supervises the custodial staff. Employees hired through the agency could come to work directly for the school after 90 days, if desired.
Mr. Garland said that the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) receipts were down slightly, but that people are buying vehicles and TAVT revenues are up. In addition, the school has collected a good amount of interest.
Board members reviewed a positive financial report, and approved several fund raisers, field trips and use of facility requests. Mr. Garland said they were going to need to look at possibly revamping the application for use of facilities, as they are getting requests sometimes before school uses of a facility have been determined.
After a closed session, board members approved the following personnel moves, as well as offering contracts to returning teachers across the board.
New Hire
Jan Bloodworth, teacher, Jasper County Middle School (JCMS)
Tishcia Boring, teacher, JCPS
Daniel Bradley, substitute custodian, JCMS
Wanda Driskell, bus monitor, Jasper County Transportation
Julia Hamilton, teacher, WPES
Dana Holloway, teacher, JCMS
Kimberly McDonald, teacher, WPES
Lauren Moore, teacher, JCPS
John Morgan, bus driver, transportation
Samantha Timberman, substitute custodian, JCMS
Abagail Zerwig, teacher, JCMS
Ansley Hargrove, Samantha Gower, Ashley Frew, Amanda Frew, Leslie Simpson, and Claredon Sharp, substitute teachers, Jasper County Schools
Samantha Timberman, custodian, JCMS
Marie Bryans, teacher, JCMS
Nash Bragg, CTAE Teacher, Jasper County High School (JCHS)
Jacqueline McNure, teacher, JCPS
Ansley Dean, teacher, WPES
Resignation
Ansley Booth, part-time Para, JCPS
Daniel Bradley, substitute custodian, JCMS
Nicole Casper, teacher, JCPS
Lindsey Dial, PE paraprofessional, JCPS
Jessie Murphy, paraprofessional, JCPS
Jennifer Owens, teacher, JCPS
Marcia Smith, bus driver, transportation
Jessica Stanley, teacher, JCHS
Jessica Turberville, teacher, JCMS
Rebecca Whittle, paraprofessional, WPES
Tina Williamson, bus monitor, transportation
Tammy White, teacher, JCMS
Ashleigh Cagle, teacher, WPES
Transfer
Sanqueninta Barron, payroll officer, transfer from Admin. Clerical Support to Payroll Officer, Central Office
Jeremy Best, grounds keeper, transfer from custodian to grounds keeper
Sydni Caldwell, PEC teacher, transfer from Pre-K Teacher to PEC Teacher, JCHS
Retirement
Thomasa Bowden, teacher, JCMS
Lynn Matthews, teacher, JCPS
Rosalyn Byrd, paraprofessional, JCPS
