School Board Approves Budget, Discusses Split Bus Routes, School Improvement
The Jasper County Board of Education voted to pass its FY2014 budget for the upcoming year. Within the budget the board kept the millage rate at 18.99, the same as last year’s rate.
The total budget for the year is about $21 million dollars. This budget number will leave the fund balance line item at $8.4 million. The board also voted to approve the application for the HeadStart budget to be submitted.
One hot topic during the meeting was that of divided bus routes in the heavily populated areas of the county. Supt. Dr. Mike Newton said that his number one transportation complaint is that of both young and older students being on the same bus. He also hears about the younger kids being on the bus too long, he said.
Jerry Williams, transportation director with the help of Margie Jackson, has come up with a method to split some of the heavily populated routes such as around Jackson Lake, Bear Creek, and Shady Dale/Newborn without incurring any additional costs, and in some cases saving the school system money. Some of the city routes are split currently as logistically and the close proximity of the schools make it possible.
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According to Mr. Williams’ findings, he will have 15 buses that still go to both schools (six of these routes are currently divided), nine buses that only go to the middle and high schools, and eight that go to Washington Park and the primary school.
Dr. Newton said that all of this looks good on paper, and that “we’ll see what happens once its implemented.”
Lewis Rice, board member said “it’s a good idea in heavily populated areas.”
Bobby Norris, board member asked, “what about if the older sibling keeps the younger sibling?” Dr. Newton responded by saying that the schools will notify parents as best as they can. He said that there are sure to be some complaints and further details to be worked out once the split routes begin.
On the school improvement end, Dr. Newton shared data on the CRCT that compared both elementary students (third through fifth grades) and middle school students (sixth through eighth grades) data from last year and this year.
He said that overall, students are doing better in all areas with less instruction time (165 days last year) and harder criteria than ever before. He saw improvement across the board for the elementary students and the only cause for concern with middle school was the science scores received. Dr. Newton said, “this test is just a snapshot—it’s one test, one day, not the end all be all. We’re more partial to this view as the Georgia Legislation thinks that this is [the end all be all].”
The board also heard from Morad El-Jourbagy on a computer lease that was bid. He said that three vendors responded and he chose to recommend to Dr. Newton and the board that 440 units be leased, desktops from Bytespeed and laptops from Lenovo.
With this option, there will be three payments made in the next 14 months totaling, $377,793, which was budgeted for. Technology was heavily talked about during the meeting with Mr. El-Jourbagy stating that all of the systems being the same allows for quick diagnosis and repair of the machine. He stated that the money was budgeted and the machines will go into two business computer labs, an academic lab, and classrooms.
With the lease the board will receive 330 student desktops, 35 teacher/admin desktops, and 75+ laptops. There were several questions as to the warranties for each machine and if leasing was cheaper than buying up front.
Mr. El-Jourbagy assured the board that the desktops tops were under warranty for five years, and the laptops for three years. The advantage of having a lease was getting more machines up front and being able to make three payments rather than the big lump sum up front.
Mr. El-Jourbagy also said that when the lease is up, in July 2014, the board can choose to send an extra $440 with the final payment and keep all of the equipment. Dr. Newton said that technology changes so quickly that eventually we will look into SPLOST money to be designated to technology. He said the kids already have better technology quicker than the schools can get it, so we encourage students, especially on the high school level to bring those in and utilize every resource available.
In personnel action, the board voted to approve the following new hires:
Jasper County Primary School—Shakeirra Middlebrooks, pre-K teacher; Sara Calies, 49% EIP teacher; Brittany Kimble, ½ day PEC paraprofessional; Lynn McWaters and Courtney Spradlin, teachers, and Maricel Wood, media paraprofessional, and Vickie Vickers, 49% EIP teacher.
Washington Park School— Chad Sanders, assistant principal; Jennifer Allen, ½ day math interventionist, and Joan Arnold, paraprofessional.
Jasper County Middle School— Mona Jones, School Nutrition Manager.
Jasper County High School—Janice Garrett, ECE teacher, Jeanette Standifer, guidance clerk; Geana Gordon, paraprofessional.
Resignations were received from Stephanie Hieber and Alton Standifer, teachers; Ernest Scott, teacher/varsity boys basketball coach, and Stephanie Scott, teacher.
Transfers were approved for Martha Hewett, from JCMS school nutrition manager to JCPS food assistant; Debra Collins, transfer from part-time transportation department driver to full-time transportation safety/trainer and driver; Amanda Thompson, transfer from transportation department substitute bus driver to transportation department full-time bus driver; Sheri Guli, transfer from transportation department bus driver to Washington Park Elementary School paraprofessional, half-day.
Other items included:
•Heard about the June financials to date, and found out that the schools had completed 92 percent of the school year and were strong on the revenue side, were about on target with expected state money and were a bit low on the expenditure side.
•Approved the Risk Management and Workmen’s Compensation contracts for the FY14 year.
•Discussed future approval of job descriptions that will be reviewed and revised and passed in a future meeting by the board.
• Noted that Tuesday, July 16, at 5 p.m. is summer graduation and the regular board business meeting at 7 p.m.
•Noted how well the renovations in building C at the middle school were coming. There had been some plumbing issues previously that became a main priority to be fixed this summer. Dr. Newton said that everything was going well and commended Perry Hyde on all of his hard work. All the work will be complete when school starts.
