Board Votes on Teacher Contracts

Members of the Jasper County Board of Education got an early start on next school year by voting to offer contracts to teachers during their regular meeting Tuesday, March 15. They also are going ahead by consensus with hiring at least one additional teacher at each school and additional custodians. When final budget figures are set, board members believe they will be able to provide bus driver and monitor raises and an additional three school days to the school calendar.

All of the above happenings are at the recommendation of Dr. Mike Newton, superintendent of schools. He, along with Anne Harrison, Business and Finance Director presented the board with budget books for the 2017 fiscal year and discussions have been held in regards to the budget. Ms. Harrison presented that before any of the school and maintenance requests were considered the budget was $467,027 “to the good.” Dr. Newton stated that this was significantly better than at this time last year.

Dr. Newton attributed several points to the better financial state of the school system noting that austerity was down and QBE from the state had increased approximately $600,000 due to adding teachers last year. He also noted that the forest land revenue has continued and that tax collections have continued to be higher than projected.

The budget and items discussed above were not finalized, however Dr. Newton and board members were anxious to begin looking at hiring the teachers early as they did last year to ensure that they get highly qualified personnel on staff. There was also some discussion as to adding two more days to the calendar, putting students back at 180 days, which will be decided further along in the budget process.

Those current employees offered contracts Tuesday included:

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At Jasper County Primary School – Amanda Allen, Rebecca Ammons – Warren, Patsy Ann Boykin, Keicha Cornelia Bridges, Lyn R. Brown, Brittney Bryant, Sara Burrell, Melanie Cagle, Elizabeth Cain, Sarah Calies (PT), Amanda Cheek, Joyce Christy, April Clark, Patricia Coady, Dawn Corrigan, Karen Dotson, Pamela Edge, Stephanie Hays, Patti Hobby, Lois Jackson, Amanda Jenkins, Amy Lou Johnson, Sonya Jordan (PT), Brittany Kimble, Shelley Kirchner, Joan Elizabeth Lackey, Nanette Manning, Lynn Matthews, Sandra Lee McDonald, Lynn McElheney, Shakeirra Middlebrooks, Regina Nance, Tonya Newton, Rachael Pitts, Laurie Robinson, Kierra Rojas, Angela Savage, Kimberly Savage, Autumn Swarner, Vickie Vickers (PT), and Shanon Willard.

At Washington Park Elementary School – Eunice Blackmon, Allison Booth, Maria Brown, Jan Childs, Shawna Lynn Clemons, Ashley Copelan, Kimberly Couch, Brandy Nicole Fair, Jena Marie Fowler, Alexis Grzybowski, Kraig Hawkins, Shawne Holder, Lisa Kelly, Jeanie Lockett, Sonja Morris, Amanda Norris, Lisa Perry, Shamkia Qualls, Kimberly Suzanne Ragan, Jessica Ravenel, Chad Sanders, Deloris Thomaston, Laura Thompson, Shelley Tingler, Amy Wade, Claudia Weathers, Melissa Westbrook, and Sanna Wise.

At Jasper County Middle School – Sandra Adkison, Mandie Behling, Rebecca Bell, Kamwanya Belle, Amanda Billings, Thomasa Bowden, Ray Buck III, Pam Burkhead, Caroline Button, Howell Scott Cooper, Dionka Davis-Jackson, Mae Dickson, Kimberly Dutton, Yelberton Frazier, Bonnie Garvin, Rebecca Jayne Guyton, Justin Hamby, Rydell Jackson, Cheryl Marrett, Justine Dorothy Martin, Karen L. Martin, Alicia Ann Parker, Elizabeth Anne Pratt, Lindsay Riden, Anita Maureen Ryan, Hattie Sands, Deborah Eileen Saulmon, Carol Shell, Rhonda Stephen, Anita Stephens, Jim Strength, Rachel Tatum, Mary Tumlin, Angie Lee Willis, NeAnn Wooten and Casey Wright.

At Jasper County High School – Frank Altschul, Suzanne Arena, Beth Berg, Veronica Bouhana, Charles Cain Jr., Clarissa Cavender, Robert Cobb, Patty Cole, Gary Cooper, Michael Cooper, Amy Cox, Scotti Ann Cummings, John DeGarmo, Lee Edwards, Jannifer Fowler, John Graybill, Tyson Harty, Kathleen Hatchett, Doug Huff, Ethan Huff (57%), Heather Huff, Chris Jenkins, Chad Malcom, Karen H. Martin, Kelly Maybin, Christie McAlum, Deborah McClendon, Phillip Meadors, Johnnie Sue Moore, Alicia Moore, Karen C. Murner, Denise Parker, Brian Patrick, Amanda Paulk, Elizabeth Proctor, Peyton Proctor, Andrew Rewis, Matthew Riden, Jessica Sanders, Bobbi Sauls, Chris Savage, Amy Scroggs, Christopher Swars, Lionel Taylor, William Thomas, Matt Tumlin, and Cora Whidby (PT).

Central Staff – Denise Burrell (PT), RaNae Fendley, Shirley Gee, Angela Gordon (PT), Maria Moore, Donna Poole, Vicki Rogers (PT), Ella Walker (PT), Jerry Williams, and Leigh Wright.

At the beginning of the meeting Tuesday board members Dr. Shannon Barton, Paul Kelly, Erin Lynch, Bobby Norris and Lewis Rice were presented plaques in honor of School Board Appreciation Week.

Board members then went into a closed session to discuss a student’s personal records and heard from Sheriff Donnie Pope about a mutual agreement and understanding between the schools and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Dr. Barton stated that the board is always appreciative of the positive presence of the JCSO on school campuses. She said that “if a student has a felony warrant for them, JCSO is allowed to go get them.” She asked that the questioning of students take place off campus if at all possible and that the principal be notified before the questioning and the superintendent and board be notified. She also stressed that parental permission is to be in writing or verbally recorded when necessary for questioning students. Dr. Newton thanked Sheriff Pope for his continued support and the positive relationship between the two entities.

The board voted to begin a relationship with Campus Benefits, a broker consultant/compliance firm for extra coverage for those such as vision, accidental death insurance, long-term and short-term disabilities, etc. Dr. Newton said that a proposal had been done and there were three proposals for this service reviewed. He stated that this firm handles all of the programs as a “one stop shop” rather than numerous providers and they ensure compliance with the Affordable Care Act.

In other action the board voted to approve the FY17 Headstart allocation which is money received from the federal government which is approximately $600,000. They also voted to approve an amended policy JCDAG regarding bullying to now include a section on cyber bullying. The board voted to surplus technology items.

In monthly personnel action, the board took the following action:

New hires include Gloria McCombie, bus driver; Alicia Lindsey, JCPS teacher; Jessica Sargent, WPES teacher; and Alexis Grzybowski, WPES teacher. Resignations include Jessica Sheffield, JCMS teacher; Rosalie Harris, JCPS/Pre-Kindergarten paraprofessional; Jeannie Cape, CARE psychologist; Thomas Head, bus driver; and Valarie Fritz, JCPS teacher.