Greater Jasper Consolidated School July board meeting minutes

The Greater Jasper Consolidated School Corporation Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting and took the following actions.

Eagle Scout Project Presentation and Approval

Jaxson Hulsman from Troop 130 presented his Eagle Scout project to install shadow boxes along the walking path that encompasses Ireland Elementary. The project aims to encourage physical activity among children and families by displaying student artwork, stories and school announcements. The shadow boxes are green wooden, waterproof displays measuring 17 by 23 inches, positioned at eye level for easy viewing. The project requires four to six boxes, and Jaxson’s goal is to raise $4,000 to cover the cost of the boxes and provide additional money to the school.

“We really want to shoot for six so that we have one for each grade level,” he told the board.

Jackson has raised $900 so far through local business donations.

The board unanimously approved the project.

Building Maintenance and Clerk of Works Agreement

Scott Stenftenagal, clerk of the works for the corporation, provided a building and maintenance update, reporting that projects remain on schedule. The north side construction is progressing well, and middle school cleaning is complete. However, drainage issues persist at the administration office due to tree debris clogging gutters and poor design elements. Stenftenagel outlined a comprehensive plan to address these problems, including tree removal and drainage improvements. The board also approved an updated clerk of works agreement with the Stenftenagel Group, increasing hourly rates from $100 to $106. This agreement covers construction project management across the district, separate from routine facilities oversight, with most costs funded through bond issues.

Security Camera System Enhancement

The board considered a significant security camera upgrade for Jasper High School, costing $143,600. The current system consists of outdated equipment with inconsistent coverage throughout the building. The enhancement will install 48 new modern cameras, allowing better visibility and the ability to track students through the building for investigation purposes. The upgraded system will integrate with existing infrastructure where possible while adding coverage to previously unmonitored areas. The project timeline spans September through the end of the semester. While the system may eventually integrate with the safe evacuation system, that capability is not currently available. The board unanimously approves the project.

Human Development and Sexuality Curriculum

Tina Fawks, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, presented the required human development and sexuality curriculum for board approval, mandating compliance with Senate Enrolled Act 442. The curriculum covers grades five and six, with fifth grade focusing on puberty and physical development, while sixth grade implements evidence-based abstinence education, including consent instruction, information on sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention. High school students in child and adolescent development courses receive additional instruction on fetal development. All instruction requires parental consent, with students whose parents opt out attending study hall instead. The curriculum includes newly required fetal development videos and ultrasound content.

Fawks said most of the requirements are similar to the past, except for the addition of the fetal development and ultrasound videos.

The board unanimously approved the curriculum plan as presented, maintaining similar content to previous years with legislative additions.

Assessment Data Summary and Performance Analysis

The board heard the district significantly outperformed state averages across all ILEARN categories, ranking in the top 15% statewide. ELA proficiency reaches 55.2% (top 8%), math achieves 58.5% (top 11%), with 45.2% passing both subjects. Science and social studies also exceed state benchmarks at 55.6% and 51% respectively. Subgroups, including free and reduced meals, special education, and English learners, all surpass state averages. The SAT school day results show improvement across all categories from 2024 to 2025. AP exam participation increases to 629 exams across 18 courses, with 37.5% earning college credit scores. Four courses achieve 100% pass rates: 2D art, chemistry, physics, and Spanish, though computer science shows concerning low performance at 12% — Fawks explained this performance was due to the large number of students with diverse abilities taking the class.

Fawks noted that though the proficiency rates hover around 50 percent for the corporation’s students’ proficiencies, “when you look at that ranking, and you … see how it reflects across the state, we feel very good about how our students are performing.”

She added that the corporation doesn’t sit on its heels, though they are outperforming much of the statewide proficiency ratings. The teachers are given access to the data to help determine how to improve student performance. Plus, grade levels are tracked as they advance through the school system to further clarify how students are progressing.

Budget Advertising

Superintendent Dr. Tracy Lorey presented the 2026 budget with an advertised tax rate of $1.8382 per $100 of assessed value, though the actual rate will be significantly lower based on certified assessed valuation. Last year’s advertised rate of $1.7125 resulted in an actual rate of $0.9777. The board approved advertising the budget and posting capital projects and bus replacement plans online. A public hearing is scheduled for August 18, with budget adoption on September 22.