Jasper School Board: Habig announces she will not run for re-election

Right before the Greater Jasper School Board adjourned their meeting Monday night, board president Nancy Habig announced she would not be seeking another term on the board.

Habig was not specific about the reasons why but made the announcement in a very matter of fact way saying, “I would just like to say before I entertain a motion to adjourn, I want to announce that I have decided not to run for re-election to this board.”

Habig has served on the board since 1984.

Habig said, “I’ve been fortunate to work with both the present and past board members. All of the administrators, all of the staff are wonderful here.”

Her decision comes at an interesting time for the school corporation as they begin to look to the future to expand the school facilities to be able to handle greater student population numbers.

Also at the meeting, Clerk of the Works Scott Stenftenagel was not able to appear at the meeting, but provided an update on building and maintenance issues in a report to Superintendent Dr. Tracy Lorey.

She reported that the two school roof projects — one at Ireland and the second at Jasper High School — are nearly done with only minor items to completed.

The concrete slab flooring for the expansion at Ireland Elementary has been poured. She said that the fire alarm system for the new section of the building has been installed and is being tested so that the fire marshall can issue certification on it before students are allowed in the building. Also the new structural steel and roof trusses will be installed over the next few weeks.

Also during the meeting, Lorey announced that the school district has been meeting with leaders of the Tri-County YMCA to discuss the offering an after-school program to be run in one of the Jasper school facilities. She said that Fifth Street Elementary could become a site for that K-5 program that would accommodate students from both Fifth Street and Tenth Street Schools.

She said that the program would be a paid program, but would provide healthy snacks, physical activity, exposure to the arts, and homework assistance. The Tri-County YMCA is looking at how they can staff the program in Jasper.