Jasper Board Discusses Flipping School Start Times

Jasper school board members this week discussed flipping the start and end times of the school day at Newton Community High School and Jasper County Junior High with Newton Elementary School.  Ste. Marie School would remain the same.  

Administrators say the change would help regarding spring athletes leaving early for events and missing class time.  It would give more instructional time for those students and would not change the school day from a district perspective.

The Board was also asked to consider having Newton Elementary School operate on a trimester basis, rather than quarterly.  Principal Craig Carr presented the pros and cons of the move.

School registration for the coming year is set for Tuesday, July 22, from 10:30am to 7pm at the high school.  Parents will have the ability to register completely online.

Board members were asked to consider an increase in the driver's education fee.  The district currently charges $50, but the maximum allowable is $250.  The daily schedule at Newton Community High School is dictating the majority of the behind-the-wheel hours will have to be driven before or after school.  The issue will be decided at the June meeting.

The Board held a public hearing on repair of school grounds.  The discussion focused on possible work at Newton Elementary School.  The project decided on is the repair of the sidewalk steps at the building.  Board members also heard from Superintendent Dan Cox that the district has been selected to receive a School Security Grant that provides $34,000 to be utilized for security features inside district buildings.

The Board heard from John Stone, representing St. Thomas School in Newton, who spoke on the St. Thomas cooperating agreement with the district for junior high cross country and junior high girls basketball.  Board members voted to approve the cooperative agreements.

In personnel matters, the Jasper board approved Trent Mason, Suzanne Downs, Sarah Tucker, Scott Wilkinson, Mark Rheaume, Kylee Whitehurst, Steve Hardwick, and Kristie Finley as high school band camp volunteers; Pat Mammoser as high school baseball coach volunteer; Peyton Wyatt, Elijah Knepper and Nick Mammoser as high school basketball camp volunteers; Ben Davis and Scott Davis as high school football camp volunteers; Kyle Klier as high school football volunteer; Pete Pasero as high school tennis camp volunteer; and Carole Schafeer and Allison Tharp as high school and elementary school library volunteers.  Brock Tarr was approved as a high school assistant football coach.  District Counselor Kari Thompson was granted a voluntary leave of absence for the coming school year, and a graduate assistant from Eastern Illinois University was approved for the coming school year.

The Board accepted resignations of Danielle Hundley as fifth grade teacher at Newton Elementary and Jill Bierman as a junior high and high school Language Arts teacher, and approved high school principal Beth Probst's contract.

Board members rejected roof recoating bids from one firm, but accepted a bid from Mid-State Construction and Roofing of Beecher City for just more than $81,000 for recoating at the high school and at Newton Elementary.