School Board Hears Options
Members of the Jasper County Charter System board heard several presentations and approved a number of personnel changes during their regular business meeting last Tuesday.
To kick off the meeting the board recognized students that were chosen as representatives of the Young Georgia Author’s award. There were several students in attendance to receive a certificate and be recognized by board members.
The board then heard from Sherrie Gibney-Sherman, Superintendent of Foothills Education Charter High School for which the system partners with for alternative education options for students. Dr. Gibney-Sherman and her Assistant Superintendent presented to the board an overview of upcoming changes to their business model as a direct result of House Bill 318.
The presentation was mainly around funding and ages of students which determine enrollment classifications as either a JCCS student or a Foothills student. The new bill will allow any student to attend a non-traditional option of school with the biggest difference being students who attend Foothills versus those that are enrolled with Foothills based on age.
The fund realignment also alters the hours available for students in person by one day, however Foothills has provided additional hours for virtual connections with educators and will remain on campus at JCCS for in person instruction four days a week in the evenings.
The board then heard from LS3P Architects on upcoming and potential projects for the JCCS facilities in the next year. Supt. Kenny Garland informed the board that the system continues to see growth and in the last month the total students was over 2,600 with projected growth on target for 2,800 students for the next school year.
This data shows Jasper County as one of the top three growth percentages in the state. Mr. Garland said that just the Monday after Spring Break the system enrolled eight new full-time students.
With the growth seen across all schools, there is always a need to improve the facilities. The engineers opened by giving an overview of the renovations to the Jasper Co. Primary School (JCPS) as a part of the Summer 2023 renovation projects and will be completed by August. This work began over spring break with the activity room getting new paint.
There was a lengthy presentation from the firm which has done extensive walk-throughs and budgeting with Robbie Key, Director of Facilities and Maintenance and Supt. Garland on the needs of the facilities, budget, and priority. There were proposed future projects presented for the middle school, Washington Park, and the high school which included additional classrooms for JCMS and WPES and a possible Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) building for the high school.
The presentation went over a variety of scenarios as well as budget funding from several avenues for the board members to review before the next meeting.
The board did vote to approve the low bid to install cameras around the athletic complex at JCHS. There has been a need for some time for safety in and around the athletic complex for these cameras and the low bid came in at just under $85,700, which was a part of this year’s budget.
The board also approved an E-Rate RFP which will improve the network infrastructure and all access points across the district. The low bid was for $130,165 which will be funded 80 percent from the E-Rate funds received by the system.
The board approved a contract renewal for the agreement with Jasper County 4-H as presented by Kasey Hall for fiscal year 2024.
After an executive session to discuss personnel the board approved the following new hires:
Carrie Reeves, Pre-K teacher; Mallory Goodenow, SLP, Jasper County PK/PS; and Kolby DeGarmo, substitute teacher, Jasper County Primary.
Also, Rachel Trammel, Judy Bolen, Angela Page, Kami Wilson, and Janet Allen, teachers at Washington Park Elementary School.
Alisa Dale, Lauren El-Jourbagy, Caroline Button-Miller, Isaac Clayton, and Joseph Shaw, Teachers at Jasper County Middle School; and Cameron Shaw, Sub-Teacher for JCMS.
Anthony Barbera, Ashleigh Kelly, Nancy Williams, and Gayatri Perla, teachers, Jasper County High School.
Also, Bonnie Griffin, Sub Nutrition Assistant, all schools; Marcia Smith, Sub. Bus Driver, Transportation; and Emmett Clower, ISS Para, Jasper County District.
Transfers included:
•Clinton LaVaughn, Paraprofessional (full-time), JCPS, from PT Para and PT Custodian
•Matt Tumlin, to Central Services District Transportation Director PM/School Safety, from PEC JCHS
•Laura Smith, to Instructional Technology Coach Jasper County Middle/Jasper County High from Teacher WPES
•William Ragan, to PE Teacher JCHS Transfer from Alternative School Teacher JCHS/JCMS
•Tasia Ellis transfer to Central Services (CTAE Director/STEAM/ Beginning Teachers/Other Duties from CTAE Director/Instructional Coach JCHS
•Johnnie Sue Moore to Workforce Development Coordinator JCHS from CTAE Teacher/Workforce Development Coordinator JCHS
•Christopher Owens to PE Teacher JCMS from PE Teacher JCHS/JCMS
•Brady McMichael to Alternative School Teacher JCMS/JCHS from teacher, JCMS
The board then approved the following resignations:
Haley Hicks, paraprofessional; Stacey Moran, teacher; Cheryl Gerber, teacher; Jemica Brown, teacher; Eunice Blackmon, teacher; Jordan Moorman, teacher; Celeste Welch, Speech Pathologist; Kathleen Colwick Gibson, teacher; Hattie Sands, teacher; Briana Bailey, teacher; Camiyia Farley, teacher; Patricia Rowland, teacher and Ansley Booth, part-time para .
They also honored Vickie Crutchfield, teacher, Pre-K, and Stacy Isler, teacher, Washington Park Elementary on their retirements, effective June 1.
