Jasper School Board Meeting for January

Jasper school board members Monday got a three-year budget projection from Superintendent Dan Cox, and the news wasn't good.

During the past year, net assets of the district have decreased by 8.4%, or more than $2.2 million.  District expenditures have decreased by almost 13%, but district revenues have decreased by almost 8%.  Total revenues since 2007 have decreased by more than $2.7 million.

Since 2008, Cox said local revenues have decreased by close to half a million dollars, state revenues have decreased by more than $2.1 million, and federal revenues have decreased by more than $710,000.

Cox also reported that since 2010, total salaries have been reduced by almost $1.2 million.

The Jasper board heard that the decline of education and transportation fund revenues project a negative fund balance in those accounts by 2016 if all criteria stays the same.

In regular business, Jasper school board members agreed to discontinue the district's contract for nursing services and CNA instructor services with the Jasper County Health Department at the end of the current contract in July.  The Board also approved a contract for audit services with DBH and Associates for the next three years, and approved Jasper County Junior High for membership in the Junior High Little Eastern Illinois Conference.

Cox reported a team of teachers and administrators have been trained to facilitate stakeholders in the strategic planning process.  Facilitation meetings will be held with staff and the community on March 13, 15 and 26. 

The Board approved Courtney Eaton and Travis Lingafelter as volunteers in the JV and varsity softball program, and heard from building administrators on learning principles for each building.