Students To Get Chromebooks at Home

By superadmin | April 16, 2020 |

Students in the Jasper County School System who do not have computers at home or who are having to share with siblings, will be able to check a Chromebook out from the school starting next Monday, April 20.

Monday through Thursday, April 20-23 and 27-30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., parents may visit their child’s school and sign out a Chromebook which the student (if he/she is not a senior) will be allowed to keep until school begins in the fall. Parents will sign a contract, and be responsible for any damages to the Chromebooks or cord.

In addition, for those parents who are working and unable to pick up during those hours, there will be curbside pick-up at the Central Office, 1411 College Street, on Monday and Tuesday, April 20 and 21 and 27 and 28, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pre-K students will not receive Chromebooks.

The Georgia Department of Education is sending several portable “hot spots” to the county, which will be placed where students can access them.

Board members approved the Chromebook distribution when they met for a work session Tuesday evening.

Supt. Kenny Garland also told board members that packets will go home again to the students today, April 16, and one more time, and then they will issue instructions on how packets will be returned and graded.

He said they are delivering about 3,000 meals daily, and when packets are distributed, more meals are also distributed. Several board members shared some of their experiences riding the bus to deliver meals and packets.

Dr. Shannon Barton talked about how the children looked forward to the packets of work. She said she really enjoyed making the deliveries. Towander Dennis said she rode the bus for her neighborhood, and was still surprised at some of the areas the bus went that she was not familiar with. She echoed Dr. Barton’s sentiments about how wonderful it is to see the children’s smiling faces, and their eagerness to do school work.

Mr. Garland told board members work was progressing on the athletic complex. He said there has been significant progress in the last month, and most of the outdoor work is complete. Some hydroseeding does remain, and a large concrete pour is scheduled for today or Friday.

He also explained the funding for Headstart. Mr. Garland told the board about the beginning teacher support program. He said that service will be offered for teachers in their first two years, and he will extend that to three years later.

Mr. Garland said he has promised seniors a senior breakfast, senior awards, senior walk, baccalaureate, prom and graduation. He plans to have suggested times and procedures at the business meeting. The current shelter in place order for the state currently goes through April 30.

The superintendent and board went into closed session to discuss personnel. After about 30 minutes they approved the following personnel changes:

New Hire

•Susan Lafferty, executive director of ISS.

•Donna Poole, executive director of teaching & learning(49%).

•Katherine Cott, Clinical Diagnostician.

•Madelyn Gore, teacher, Jasper County Primary School (JCPS).

•Meredith Thompson, teacher, JCPS.

•Jordan Stone, teacher, Jasper County Middle School (JCMS).

•Nickole Sirmans, teacher, Washington Park Elementary School (WPES)

•Keily Bagwell, teacher, WPES.

•Anita Branan, teacher, Jasper County High School (JCHS)

•Wade Clemons, teacher, JCHS.