July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
$35 million budget gets no comment
Jay School Board
A $35 million spending plan for Jay Schools in 2011 drew no comments Monday at a public hearing.
The budget — which includes a general fund of $24,666,000 from state tax revenues — calls for a property tax rate of $1.564 per $100 of assessed valuation. That rate is expected to be revised when the budget is reviewed by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
As advertised, the 2011 budget calls for a debt service fund of $3,715,864, a pension debt service fund of $976,882, a capital projects fund of $3.3 million, a transportation fund of $3.2 million, and a bus replacement fund of $172,000 in addition to the general fund.
Adoption of the 2011 budget is scheduled for Sept. 13.
School board members did hear comment from a taxpayer unhappy about a cultural exchange program with China initiated by superintendent Tim Long, and one board member questioned the costs involved in having a Chinese teacher on the Jay staff this year.
He Yan Xin will be teaching Chinese language skills, history, and culture at Westlawn Elementary School and West Jay Middle School this year under a program largely funded by the College Board.
Martin Lee, Portland, told the board he finds that objectionable.
“Are they going to teach about the ones they shot in Tiananmen Square?” he asked.
“It is a Communist nation. Why should our children be taught anything about the culture of a Communist nation? … How can you do this? … Our children are supposed to be taught the American way.”
Though neither the board nor Long responded to Lee’s objections, Long has promoted the China initiative as an aspect of economic development in a global economy. The exchange initiative has seen Chinese teachers and students visiting Indiana schools, and Jay teachers and administrators visiting schools in China. A group of Jay students hopes to visit China next spring.
Board member Jim Sanders voted against approving claims that included miscellaneous expenses related to the exchange teacher program after raising a number of questions.
“Jim, nobody’s lying to you and nobody’s cheating,” said Long, noting that he had provided Sanders with a full accounting of the teacher exchange arrangement earlier this summer. “I want to be transparent. … I’ll have to look (details of specific claims) up and get back to you.”
Improvements to the Jay County High School TV studio may be on the horizon as board members heard a presentation about software that would allow the use of computer-generated virtual sets for JCHS programs.
The software uses green-screen technology and can provide as many as 16 different sets viewed from multiple perspectives.
“It’s what kids are going to see when they get out in the industry,” said longtime studio director Dave Reece. “That’s basically where I think we ought to go.”
At Jay Halstead’s request, Reece will provide a demonstration at a future board meeting. A total of $25,000 has been budgeted for improvements at the TV studio in 2011 according to the capital projects plan.
Long told the board he expects total enrollment in Jay Schools to be stable in the year ahead. “We’re holding our own,” he said, noting that a total of 13 staff positions have been eliminated since May.
Official enrollment figures won’t be available until Oct. 1.
In other business, the board:
•Congratulated Jay County’s cheerleaders for award-winning performances in Indiana State Fair competition.
•Heard another positive report on the Read 180 program which teachers and administrators believe is boosting student performance.
•Authorized an auction of surplus equipment at 4 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the old bus garage at East Jay Middle School.
•Accepted a $250 donation from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6515, Fort Recovery, for the special needs classroom at General Shanks Elementary School.
•Reviewed on first reading policy changes on non-resident students. The changes bring the policy into compliance with changes in state law.
•Approved an Adult Basic Education cooperative agreement that has New Castle Community Schools as the fiscal agent.
•Approved standard bus driver contracts for the coming year in accordance with the corporation’s memorandum of understanding.
•Hired Rod Middleton as a food service driver; Elaine Harris, Whitney Whitehair, and Jennifer Bernard as special education instructional assistants; Robin Hayden as a secretary at JCHS; Shu Bergman as a food service employee; Cindy Bracy as a bus aide; John McGlothlin as an elementary physical education and assistant basketball coach at Bloomfield and East elementaries; Celeste Tetrault as a kindergarten teacher at Westlawn; and Cindy Grile as an aide at Redkey Elementary School.
•Accepted the resignations of secretary Tammy Overton, bus aide Erica Powell, instructional assistant Jane Ferguson, and crossing guard Eldon Stevens.
•Authorized leaves of absence for teachers Jennifer Blackford and Stephen Sommerfield, bus drivers Barbara Stults and Nicole Byers, and food service employee Robin Jeffers.
•Approved the non-renewal of part-time instructional assistant Judy Supinger.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for Tiffany Mathias as swim coach at East Jay, Lori Sims as sponsor of the newspaper, yearbook, and Just Say No Club at East Jay, Kim Bye as assistant cross country coach at East Jay, Jane Prescott as sixth grade volleyball coach at East Jay, Carrie Byrum as intramural coach at Bloomfield, Lona Shuey as student council sponsor at Bloomfield, Nicole VanSkyock as volunteer athletic trainer at JCHS, Ross Patz as volunteer soccer assistant at JCHS, Susan Garrringer as volutnjeer assistant boys tennis coach at JCHS, Glen Bryant as volunteer assistant football coach at JCHS, Sarah Wenk as volunteer assistant volleyball coach at JCHS, Kurtis Hess as assistant wrestling coach at JCHS, Brittany Bridges as Earth Watch Club sponsor at JCHS, Christie Sommers as junior class sponsor at JCHS, Margaret Ralph as business department chair at JCHS, Eric Hemmelgarn as boys and girls fifth grade basketball coach at East Elementary School, Kyli Ann Kelso as cheer coach at Redkey, Shawna Davis as yearbook sponsor at Redkey, Cathy Franks as student council sponsor at Redkey, and Bill Back as assistant seventh grade football coach at West Jay.
•Accepted extracurricular resignations from Amy Bergman as assistant cross country coach at East Jay and Chris Krieg as boys junior varsity basketball coach at JCHS.
•Approved field trips by JCHS theater and English students and eighth graders at East Jay.[[In-content Ad]]
The budget — which includes a general fund of $24,666,000 from state tax revenues — calls for a property tax rate of $1.564 per $100 of assessed valuation. That rate is expected to be revised when the budget is reviewed by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
As advertised, the 2011 budget calls for a debt service fund of $3,715,864, a pension debt service fund of $976,882, a capital projects fund of $3.3 million, a transportation fund of $3.2 million, and a bus replacement fund of $172,000 in addition to the general fund.
Adoption of the 2011 budget is scheduled for Sept. 13.
School board members did hear comment from a taxpayer unhappy about a cultural exchange program with China initiated by superintendent Tim Long, and one board member questioned the costs involved in having a Chinese teacher on the Jay staff this year.
He Yan Xin will be teaching Chinese language skills, history, and culture at Westlawn Elementary School and West Jay Middle School this year under a program largely funded by the College Board.
Martin Lee, Portland, told the board he finds that objectionable.
“Are they going to teach about the ones they shot in Tiananmen Square?” he asked.
“It is a Communist nation. Why should our children be taught anything about the culture of a Communist nation? … How can you do this? … Our children are supposed to be taught the American way.”
Though neither the board nor Long responded to Lee’s objections, Long has promoted the China initiative as an aspect of economic development in a global economy. The exchange initiative has seen Chinese teachers and students visiting Indiana schools, and Jay teachers and administrators visiting schools in China. A group of Jay students hopes to visit China next spring.
Board member Jim Sanders voted against approving claims that included miscellaneous expenses related to the exchange teacher program after raising a number of questions.
“Jim, nobody’s lying to you and nobody’s cheating,” said Long, noting that he had provided Sanders with a full accounting of the teacher exchange arrangement earlier this summer. “I want to be transparent. … I’ll have to look (details of specific claims) up and get back to you.”
Improvements to the Jay County High School TV studio may be on the horizon as board members heard a presentation about software that would allow the use of computer-generated virtual sets for JCHS programs.
The software uses green-screen technology and can provide as many as 16 different sets viewed from multiple perspectives.
“It’s what kids are going to see when they get out in the industry,” said longtime studio director Dave Reece. “That’s basically where I think we ought to go.”
At Jay Halstead’s request, Reece will provide a demonstration at a future board meeting. A total of $25,000 has been budgeted for improvements at the TV studio in 2011 according to the capital projects plan.
Long told the board he expects total enrollment in Jay Schools to be stable in the year ahead. “We’re holding our own,” he said, noting that a total of 13 staff positions have been eliminated since May.
Official enrollment figures won’t be available until Oct. 1.
In other business, the board:
•Congratulated Jay County’s cheerleaders for award-winning performances in Indiana State Fair competition.
•Heard another positive report on the Read 180 program which teachers and administrators believe is boosting student performance.
•Authorized an auction of surplus equipment at 4 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the old bus garage at East Jay Middle School.
•Accepted a $250 donation from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6515, Fort Recovery, for the special needs classroom at General Shanks Elementary School.
•Reviewed on first reading policy changes on non-resident students. The changes bring the policy into compliance with changes in state law.
•Approved an Adult Basic Education cooperative agreement that has New Castle Community Schools as the fiscal agent.
•Approved standard bus driver contracts for the coming year in accordance with the corporation’s memorandum of understanding.
•Hired Rod Middleton as a food service driver; Elaine Harris, Whitney Whitehair, and Jennifer Bernard as special education instructional assistants; Robin Hayden as a secretary at JCHS; Shu Bergman as a food service employee; Cindy Bracy as a bus aide; John McGlothlin as an elementary physical education and assistant basketball coach at Bloomfield and East elementaries; Celeste Tetrault as a kindergarten teacher at Westlawn; and Cindy Grile as an aide at Redkey Elementary School.
•Accepted the resignations of secretary Tammy Overton, bus aide Erica Powell, instructional assistant Jane Ferguson, and crossing guard Eldon Stevens.
•Authorized leaves of absence for teachers Jennifer Blackford and Stephen Sommerfield, bus drivers Barbara Stults and Nicole Byers, and food service employee Robin Jeffers.
•Approved the non-renewal of part-time instructional assistant Judy Supinger.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for Tiffany Mathias as swim coach at East Jay, Lori Sims as sponsor of the newspaper, yearbook, and Just Say No Club at East Jay, Kim Bye as assistant cross country coach at East Jay, Jane Prescott as sixth grade volleyball coach at East Jay, Carrie Byrum as intramural coach at Bloomfield, Lona Shuey as student council sponsor at Bloomfield, Nicole VanSkyock as volunteer athletic trainer at JCHS, Ross Patz as volunteer soccer assistant at JCHS, Susan Garrringer as volutnjeer assistant boys tennis coach at JCHS, Glen Bryant as volunteer assistant football coach at JCHS, Sarah Wenk as volunteer assistant volleyball coach at JCHS, Kurtis Hess as assistant wrestling coach at JCHS, Brittany Bridges as Earth Watch Club sponsor at JCHS, Christie Sommers as junior class sponsor at JCHS, Margaret Ralph as business department chair at JCHS, Eric Hemmelgarn as boys and girls fifth grade basketball coach at East Elementary School, Kyli Ann Kelso as cheer coach at Redkey, Shawna Davis as yearbook sponsor at Redkey, Cathy Franks as student council sponsor at Redkey, and Bill Back as assistant seventh grade football coach at West Jay.
•Accepted extracurricular resignations from Amy Bergman as assistant cross country coach at East Jay and Chris Krieg as boys junior varsity basketball coach at JCHS.
•Approved field trips by JCHS theater and English students and eighth graders at East Jay.[[In-content Ad]]
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