School O.K.s Payment, Discusses Dress Code

By superadmin | April 28, 2022 |

The Jasper County School Board at its regular meeting April 19, approved a $109,803 appropriation to cover the local cost of a $2,000 per teacher supplement not included in HB 190 signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.

The legislature approved the action, but Jasper County has 51 employees not included in HB 190…whether they are covered by a federal program or are a local expense. In addition, the board approved $31,338 to be paid into Social Security, as the employer is responsible for 6.2 percent of FICA contributions for all employees.

The meeting opened, as usual, with the invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Then Chairman Bill Schilling read the system’s mission and vision statements as is done at the beginning of each meeting.

The Mission statement reads: The Jasper County Charter School System will provide superior and innovative learning experiences to prepare every student for life beyond school.

The Vision statement reads: The vision of the Jasper County Charter School System is to provide dedicated staff and supportive learning environments to inspire and motivate every student to achieve individual success.

The board recognized the REACH scholarship recipients, Daisy Lytle and Aaliyah Johnson, (see related story) who each spoke a little about herself.

Also during the meeting, board members spent considerable time discussing the dress code particularly two items that stand to be outlawed at the schools: hoodies and torn pants.

The hoodie issue caused the most discussion, with high school principal Jim Strength giving some of the reasons to outlaw them. He said vaping is a real problem at the high school, as it is across the region, he said, and wearing a hoodie makes it easier for the student to conceal what he or she is doing. In addition, they hide earbuds, which the student may be using when he or she should be listening to the teacher, and a multitude of other reasons, he said.

Board members did not discuss the torn pants as much, and Mr. Strength indicated he thought the real battle will be over hoodies. Mainly, he said he wants it clearly communicated if the board takes this action. Supt. Kenny Garland said he will be bringing the student handbooks, which include dress code, for approval to next month’s board meeting, so he wants to know the board’s desire before the meeting in May. He asked board members to call with any concerns, and to be ready to review the notebooks at the meeting. The May school board meeting is set for May 10 at 6 p.m.

Parents with concerns may want to contact their board member before that time. Board members include Towonder Dennis, District 1; Erin Lynch, District 2, Dr. Shannon Barton, District 3, Bill Schilling, District 4, or Lewis Rice, District 5.

In addition, keep in mind that District 1, 3 and 5 are up for election in May, so those members may change next January. Dr. Barton is not seeking re-election, and Mr. Rice does not have opposition.

They also discussed a Chromebook user fee of $30 per year, saying that the fee gives the children a sense of ownership, and discussed the student being able to purchase his or her Chromebook for a nominal fee after using it for years.

Board members briefly reviewed changes to the promotion/retention/placement guidelines for all grades, acknowledging the changes are to make the policy more in line with standards.

The board also approved contracts for administrators at each school, as well as Central office staff and pre-Kindergarten/Head Start personnel. Other personnel moves included:

New Hires:

Antonio Standifer, Brittany Ross, and Jamie Farnsworth, all substitute custodians, Jasper County Board of Education (BOE)

Amanda Billings, Ronda Brown, and Robert Rosser, substitute teachers, BOE

Darrell Booth, maintenance helper, Jasper County Maintenance Department

Mandy Fletcher, bookkeeper, Washington Park Elementary School (WPES)

Kathy Kendrick, teacher, Jasper County Middle School (JCMS)

Jennifer Christian, teacher, Jasper County Primary School (JCPS)

Susan Henson, teacher, Jasper County High School (JCHS)

Alisha Lynwood and Taylor Yancey, substitute school nutrition assistant, BOE

Resignation

Jeanne Howell, teacher (Part-Time), JCPS

Dustin Whitener, paraprofessional, JCPS