Jasper School Board Changes Student Recognition Process at High School

Jasper County school board members have approved a change in the way top scholars will be recognized at Newton Community High School.

Over the past 18 months, high school staff members and student advisory groups have reviewed the school's practice of recognizing student achivement. The staff and students have voted to eliminate the titles of valedictorians and salutatorians. Instead, a new system has been instituted, effective with this year's incoming freshman class.

The plan is to recognize students with a grade point average of 4.0 as Summa Cum Laude, those with a GPA of 3.75 to 3.99 as Magna Cum Laude, and those with a GPA of 3.50 to 3.74 as Cum Laude.

The Board also heard about new transportation guidelines for the district. Students will be permitted to have an alternate pickup and drop off location besides their primary pickup and drop off location.

Before and during registration, parents or guardians must notify the Transportation Department of their child's pickup and drop off alternate location. All previous transportation changes on file will be deleted before the start of classes. For more information, phone the Transportation Department at 783-3023.

Superintendent Andy Johnson also updated the Board on the District's financial situation. The end of the fiscal year 2017 budget showed the District finished the year approximately $240,000 in the black from the year before. The only deficit is in the Transportation Fund and that's due to the State being a slow pay.

The Board commended Stetson Bierman for his competition at the National High School Rodeo Finals this past week. Board members also gave approval to allow individuals to compete in IHSA sports or activities that the District does not currently offer, such as swimming, at no expense to the District.

Also approved was creation of a building committee to research the best direction for the District's future. Johnson will work on the issue over the next month with implementation expected in August.

In personnel moves, the Jasper board approved Crayton Chesnut, Collin Harris, Caitlin Massey, Ariel Richards, Taylor Smith, Elly Short, Meredith Matson, Sydney McReynolds, Haylee Schoonover, Sarah Blecha, Cole Jackson, Joni Elliott, and Madalyn Woodard as volunteer students and former students to help with junior high band camp this summer. Ariel Richards, Abby Frohning, Josey Hyatt, Taylor Smith and Mariah Earnest were approved as volunteers students to help with junior high softball practices and games when they are available. Resignations were accepted from Sara Mitchell as junior high and high school Business teacher, Jill Kistner as Class of 2020 sponsor, Whitney Ritchhart as fifth grade teacher at Newton Elementary, and Annette Kirts as high school secretary as of August 14. The Board hired Gail Turner to succeed Mitchell as Business teacher.