Jasper School Board meeting notes
The Greater Jasper Consolidated School Board opened with a special spotlight on the Jasper High School Academic Teams. The teams competed in the IASP Academic Competition State Finals. The science team (Brittany Rasche, Alex Schmitt, Thomas Lowrey, Emily Ketzner) placed 4th in the state and the interdisciplinary team (Rasche, Lowrey, Schmitt, Michelle Young, Clayton Greis) placed 3rd in the state. The teams were coached by Mr. Jarett Helming and Mr. Fred Routson.
Assistant Superintendent Mike Hile gave the Building and Maintenance update. The school corporation will be renewing the general liability insurance this year and the premium has risen due to several factors. Last year the school paid $210, 076.79. This year workman’s comps claims increased $10,966. With the construction of the new gymnasium the school took on builder’s risk insurance for $17,500, and earthquake coverage went up $21,275 making the premium for 2012, $258, 835.
Hile stated he had asked the underwriter to shop around but due to the gymnasium collapse no other insurance company would provide quotes for general liability coverage. Hile stated after the gym is rebuilt they could possibly seek out other quotes. The board approved the new insurance rates.
Hile then introduced three bids for new telephone system for the school corporation. The board approved Matrix Integration’s bid. It was the lowest bid for a five year contract at $394,860 lease with a dollar buy out after five years and a five year extended service contract at $124,200.
Hile then requested permission to advertise flooring repair and painting at Tenth Street School. This was approved by the board.
Curriculum Director Dr. Tracy Lorey advised the board of plans to align the school’s absence and truancy administrative guidelines with guidelines provided by the state. The board approved the change.
Dr. Lorey informed the board in regards to the recent I Read 3 testing at Tenth Street School. According to Lorey, 18 of the 22 students that failed are eligible for a waiver due to special needs or English as a New Language (ENL) status and will be going on to the fourth grade. The students that failed will also have a chance to retake the test on June 27 after completing remediation classes that begin 0n May 30.
The board approved the Jasper French Club request to travel to France and the Spanish Club to travel to Costa Rica in 2013.
The board accepted resignations/retirements from:
- Jasper Art Teacher Amy Laakman – resigned
- Jasper Middle School Track Coach Kyle Jahn-Head – resigned
- Tenth Street Art Teacher Sue Pixley – resigned
- Ireland Elementary Second Grade Teacher Kathy Mauck – retirement
- Co-op School Psychologist Dave Kroen – retirement
- Vocational Co-op director Glenn Weil – retirement
The board also hired the following:
- Caitlyn Clark as ENL Instructional Aide at JHS
- Jessica Beck as Freshman Volleyball Coach at JHS
- Katie Spellmeyer as Spanish and ENL teacher at JMS
- Leah Henson as Earth Space Science teacher at JHS
- Jamie Lofton as Biology Teacher at JHS
- Glenn Buechlein as JHS Assistant Principal
