School Board Adopts Budget, Millage Rate
The Jasper County School Board last Wednesday, July 12, adopted the Fiscal Year 2018 budget, and millage rate of 18.140 to receive the funds to make the budget work. No members of the public attended the budget hearing to speak on the budget.
After the hearing, the school board went right into its meeting, discussing numerous items. They heard from a parent who was bringing a concern about her son to the board after having gone through channels. Dr. Shannon Barton, chair, assured her someone would get back with her. Later in the meeting, they went into closed session to discuss that issue as well as personnel.
At the meeting, the board agreed to increase the price for school meals. The meals are basically increasing by 20 cents per meal, and Nutrition Director Felicia Holman feels like that should hold for at least this year and hopefully another year as well.
Board members approved the Bright from the Start funding that funds pre-kindergarten, and were surprised to learn that the school system won’t use all the funds, because there are not enough four year olds to have the number of classes that the funds would accommodate. Board members wanted to be sure parents are aware there is a spot at the preschool for every four-year-old. There is no waiting list.
Board members also spent some time discussing facility needs, and a time line for those. The School Governance Teams have brought their most pressing needs to the board, and they looked at the numbers for that, while considering also trying to figure in the athletic complex that would be placed at the high school. There will be more discussion of those facilities at the next meeting, July 25, and Dr. Mike Newton, superintendent, is hoping to finalize plans by the August meeting.
Board members received a report of official start and end times at each school, all of which takes into consideration bus transportation. School will start at 8:05 a.m. at Washington Park Elementary School, Jasper County Middle School, and Jasper County High School. Jasper County pre-kindergarten and Jasper County Primary School will start at 8:10 a.m. School ends for those youngest students, at those two schools, at 2:35 p.m.
Washington Park wraps up at 3 p.m., and the high school and middle school will see changes. The high school will end school at 3:15 p.m. and board buses before they go to the middle school, which will release at 3:25 p.m.
Board members approved an item discussed last month, which is giving each school principal or director seven additional paid days off during the year. Board member Lewis Rice questioned why not include the transportation director and others, and Dr. Newton said that wasn’t what was discussed. It was determined they would look at other positions at another time, and currently just vote on those six—Jasper County Preschool, Primary School, Washington Park, Middle School, High School, and Virtual Academy.
The board also approved an overnight field trip for FFA.
Personnel action approved by the board included:
New hires–Matthew Martin, teacher, Jasper County High School; Crystal Martin, registrar (part-time), Jasper County High School; Josh Stone, paraprofessional, Washington Park Elementary School; Chassidy Hoffman, teacher, Washington Park Elementary School; Rebecca Long, school food assistant, Jasper County High School, and Mary Ann Key, teacher (math), Jasper County Middle School.
Resignations–Steven Hopper, paraprofessional (part-time), Washington Park Elementary School; Lauren Deck, teacher, Jasper County Pre-School, and Jennie Williams-Cook, substitute teacher, Jasper County Board of Education.
