Jasper School Board: Seeking space solutions for Ireland Elementary
Courtesy of WITZ AM/FM
The Greater Jasper School Board approved advertising $1.7605 per $100 of assessed value as the tax rate for the 2016 budget.
School Superintendent Dr. Tracy Lorey reminded the board that this is just the first step in getting the budget approved by the state. “The actual tax rate is determined by the Department of Local Government Finance. We advertise that tax rate high, because we know that they are going to trim that back and we want to make sure that we are able to, based on our certified assessed valuation, are able to levy enough dollars to fund each of those funds,” she explained.
She’s talking about the general, capital improvement and the bus replacement funds in the budget.
Also in the meeting last night Lorey asked for and was given permission by the board to pursue getting quotes on an expansion at Ireland Elementary to help alleviate overcrowding.
Lorey says that they’ve been dealing with the issue by making adjustments in space usage, but now the problem is beyond the physical resources.
“We’ve already started re-purposing class space. Our music room is not in a traditional classroom, it’s been moved to the auditorium,” she said. “And we’re just outgrowing that space in terms of technology and cafeteria.”
Lorey says that it makes more sense to pursue a permanent solution that fits with their overall plan for the school than it does to spend money on a temporary solution.
The approval by the board also covered the hiring of Gibraltar Design of Indianapolis to get quotes and help design the expansion which would include adding several classrooms and an addition onto the cafeteria.
Gibraltar was also the company that helped the board to put together their master plan for expansion and utilization of the school facilities.
The board also took the following actions:
–Lorey announced that all third graders passed assessments after summer remediation and will be moving on to 4th grade for this fall session.
–Heard from Clerk of the Works Scott Stenftenagel that the roof projects at Jasper High School and Ireland Elementary are almost completed and will be ready for the start of school in August.
–Heard that the new grass fields at the soccer and football stadium are almost ready for use, but access to them will not be opened until August 12th.
–Passed a large slate of resignations and hirings for the upcoming school year.
–Accepted milk and bread bids for the 2015-16 school year from the only two suppliers that provided quotes for the school system.
–Heard about NEOLA updates and approved them for the next school year. NEOLA is creates policies and handbooks based on education law changes.
–Passed the cooperative agreement with the Dubois Perry Spencer Pike schools for the special education services.
–Signed a memorandum of understanding between the school system and the Jasper Police Department for the services of School Resource Officer Jason Knies.
–Approved a listing of old and no-value tech equipment for recycling and removal from the school’s books.
