Contract Renewed for Superintendent
Leadership for the Jasper County School Board will remain the same with Phyllis Norwood and Joel Gaston being selected as chairman and vice-chairman, respectively. The school system will also retain Superintendent Jay Brinson for another three-year term.
Mr. Brinson was reappointed Tuesday evening during the open session of their regular business meeting after the board entered into executive session for a discussion of personnel.
The newly reappointed superintendent informed the board of a series of meetings aimed at pre-planning for the construction of a new high school. Facilitator Steve Salmon will conduct three sessions (February 24, March 10, April 12) with faculty and staff for feedback on suggestions for the new school.
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Mr. Brinson said that following those sessions the architect selection would begin. Four firms will be sent questionnaires which will determine the selection of three firms that will then make presentations to the school board.
He also announced that Jasper County Primary School will receive $24,000 in federal funds for making adequate yearly progress, according to state standards, for the fifth consecutive year.
During a financial report, Mr. Brinson said that the school system was behind in tax collections for the fiscal year. He noted that the financials as of January 1 reflected $1.9 million whereas on Jan. 1, 2003 the system had collected $2.4 million.
In other financial business, the board authorized Mr. Brinson to negotiate a refunding of the 1994 school bonds with Citigroup Financial. The bonds were originally sold for the renovation of the middle/high school in 1988 and the construction of the primary school in 1991.
The board approved the following recommendations:
•Resignations of Christina Harper as a Jasper County Primary School paraprofessional and Jennifer Dawkins and Bonnie McElheney as bus monitors with the transportation department.
•Employment of 13 school system applicants including Beverly Belcher, Wynelle Clements, Lizzie Mae Green, and Dexter Jackson as bus monitors; Marquita Hill, Ana Ingram, Leslie Landress, Janet Luttrell, Carmen Ortiz, Lucille Sands, Donna White as school nutrition substitutes; Barbara Ann Manning as custodian; and Doyle Antonio Jackson as a substitute bus driver pending a motor vehicle check.
•Transfer of Emily Wall from a cafeteria assistant at the high school to a paraprofessional at the primary school.
•The 2004-2005 Leadership Team consisting of Jerry Williams as transportation director; Janice Moore, special education director; Joan Thornton, school nutrition director; Morad El-Jourbagy, technology coordinator; Princess Clarke, school social worker; principals Mike Mize, Tony Tanner, Kelvin Butts, and Howard Fore.
Hiring for the curriculum director position that will be vacated by Mary Lou Jordan after this school year has not been completed.
•A complete schedule of dates and times for the 2004 calendar of meetings.
•The 2004-2005 instructional calendar with an August 2 back-to-school date.
•A policy revision to Section C: General Administration of the school manual and tentatively approved Section D: Fiscal Management. The revisions were necessary in order to become compliant with the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) Standards for local boards of education.
The revisions will take effect July 1 and can be reviewed at the board office located on Fred Smith Drive.
•Sealed bid sales of a surplus 1988 Chevrolet/Bluebird bus and a .61 acre lot at the corner of Funderburg and Sands Drives
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The board handled some business during a work session last Thursday including approval of an overnight field trip for seniors to Grad Night at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. on April 23-25. The request was approved for 55 senior students and five chaperones.
Mr. Brinson suggested that the board consider not retaining a school attorney as a means of saving money. He said an attorney could be selected for specialized legal services when needed instead of paying retainer fees.
The appointment of a school attorney was removed from the business meeting agenda.
Mr. Brinson announced that their GSBA District Day at the legislature is February 24 while GSBA Day at the legislature is March 8. He also announced that the local Chamber of Commerce annual dinner would be held soon and encouraged participation by the board.
