School Board Handles Much Business
The Jasper County Board of Education discussed many items at its regular meeting Tuesday evening, with one of them being approval of a special project credit for Jasper County High School students.
The special project can be any number of things, but the student must get prior approval. It is a way for students to earn credit for work done outside the normal classroom setting. Mrs. Alicia Moore, assistant principal at Jasper County High School, presented the proposal, and explained it to the board. Any number of projects would be developed to receive class credit.
The student must get prior approval to get credit, and work must be done under supervision of a teacher. It does not have to be a subject the student is taking, and it does not have to be a current teacher of the student.
Mrs. Moore also told board members that keychains at their desks were made by Technology Student Association (TSA) students, and that they are making other items and trying to sell them. She showed plaques they had made for the school’s wall of fame. The board was to honor Alina and Mari Jablonski for their cross-country success, and Mrs. Moore showed the plaques made to honor them for last year’s success.
Dr. Mike Newton, superintendent, talked to board members about the upcoming Education Local Option Sales Tax that citizens will vote on in May. If approved, it would be the first of three cycles to build an athletic complex at the high school and other improvements, including heating and air conditioning at the primary school.
Dr. Newton said the bond attorney will come speak to the board in January to better explain how the bond works. If passed, the bonds would be sold to begin the project this summer, and it would take 15 years from 2020 to pay them off, because the current ELOST is still being collected to finish paying for the high school.
The board also received an update on the renovation at the middle school, and learned that the teachers and students like their little “cottages” out in front of the middle school where classes are conducted while the school is being worked on. The temporary classrooms are being leased, and will be returned once the work on the school is complete.
Board members also learned about the Great Promise partnership (GPP). GPP is a public-private partnership that empowers and equips at-risk students to complete high school while gaining real-world job skills and experience, creating a path to personal success and the workforce of the future. The program has been around for several years, and Monticello Mayor Pro-tem mentioned it to Dr. Newton. It would have the school partner with industry to help students.
The board also approved several policies, and placed one on the table.
The board accepted the resignations of two employees–. Christopher Swars, seventh grade math teacher, effective December 15, and Amber Jones, Paraprofessional, Jasper County Pre-K/Headstart, effective November 9.
The next board meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 at 6 p.m. for a work session with the business meeting following on Tuesday, Jan. 16, also at 6 p.m