Board Recognizes REACH Scholars

Eighth graders Giovanny Alday (seated, left) and Drennon Vaughn signed contracts at the Jasper County Board of Education meeting last week agreeing to be REACH scholars.

Gov. Nathan Deal launched Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH), the state’s first needs-based mentorship and college scholarship program as a key component of the state’s Complete College Georgia initiative.

REACH Georgia provides Georgia’s low-income, academically promising students with the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, access college, achieve post-secondary success and be prepared for the 21st century workforce.

REACH scholars are selected in middle school and sign a contract to maintain a 2.5 grade point average, remain crime, drug, and behavior issue free, and meet with a volunteer mentor and academic coach until they graduate from high school.

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Their parents or guardians also sign a contract to support their student through high school graduation, college enrollment, and college graduation. Students who complete program requirements will receive a scholarship of up to $10,000 ($2,500 per year for up to four years) to be used at any HOPE eligible two- or four-year institution.

Mr. Alday was accompanied by his father, Samuel Alday, and Mr. Vaughn was accompanied by his mother, Tonya Vaughn. Posing for the photo with them are (standing, left to right) their Assistant Principal Dionka Jackson, Principal Cheryl Marrett, Superintendent Dr. Mike Newton, Samuel Alday, Tonya Vaughn, Board Chair Shannon Barton, and Board Members Erin Lynch and Bill Schilling.

This is the second year Jasper County has had REACH scholars.

Also at last Thursday’s work session, board members heard a report from Angie Steele, chairman of the School Governance Team (SGT) for Washington Park Elementary School. Under the charter system, each school has a SGT, which serves as a liaison between the board and school personnel, parents, and students. The SGT is often the first place a parent would go to discuss a concern with the system.

The board then approved a calendar revision so that the days lost because of Hurricane Irma could be made up by the students and faculty. Students will go to school all day on Fridays, Dec. 15 and March 9, previously one-half days for students, and they will return to school after Christmas break a day early, on January 2, when teachers were already scheduled to have a work day, and the third day students will make up will be Monday, Feb. 19, which was scheduled to be a winter break day.

Also on Thursday, the board heard reports from each of the schools, with each principal telling the good, the bad, and the particular challenges at his or her school. Buddy Cain at Jasper County High School mentioned, among other things, that the graduation rate was up significantly to 76.6 percent. They also heard from Ms. Marrett at JCMS, Susan Stone at Washington Park, Pam Edge at the Primary School, and Nannette Manning at the pre-school. Each principal had positives to share while admitting there are still many challenges. Both Mrs. Stone and Mrs. Edge said that their “atmosphere” at their schools is excellent.

At Monday’s meeting, board members agreed for the superintendent to begin talking with the architects for the proposed addition at the high school, which will include a football stadium, track, other athletic fields, and more. The plan is to get renovations at Jasper County Middle School completed by early summer, so work can begin on the high school project.

Voters will be asked to pass an Education Local Option Sales Tax next May to fund the improvements. Much background work must be done before bidding which officials want to begin as soon as possible after voters approve the expenditure. The bids for the middle school project are to be opened Monday, Nov. 20, and the board will have a called meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 12:30 p.m. to approve a bid.

Dr. Newton talked to board members about a proposal from Jones County about its new College and Career Academy that will open in Fall 2019. Jones County would like Jasper to partner with that system which would allow Jasper students to take part in programs offered there. Dr. Newton said it may give more opportunity to our students, because the academy will offer courses Jasper County does not. Board members were interested, but wanted to have time to digest it before agreeing to partner with Jones. More talks are planned.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, the board agreed to give all 12-month employees two days paid leave per year.