Board encourages discussion

Pennville wants to be part of the discussion.
With the possibility of closing Pennville Elementary School among the dozens of cost-cutting options Jay School Board is weighing, members of the Pennville community told the board Monday they don’t want to see that happen.
“All of us certainly understand these are difficult economic times, but we’re extremely concerned about that option,” Tammy Hanlin told the board. “We will do whatever it takes to have the closing of Pennville removed from the table.”
Board members stressed that cost-cutting will be an ongoing and open discussion over the next few years.
“We want you to be engaged,” board president Mike Masters told those in attendance Monday. “It’s a difficult task for all of us at times.”
Masters urged the public to “continue to come (to meetings), continue to ask questions.”
Board member Greg Wellman said, “You might hear a lot of things that scare you to death,” but the board needs to put every option out for consideration.
“There will be more work sessions,” said board member Ron Laux.
Board member Kristi Betts noted that all of the board’s email addresses are available at the Jay Schools website and input is welcome.
“All of us are being asked to do more with less,” said superintendent Tim Long. “Much of what we’re doing at this time is surveying.”
Long and the Jay Classroom Teachers Association presented lists of areas where costs could be reduced at a February board work session.
Currently, Long is asking teachers, board members and the public to sort those options into three categories: Cuts that could be made relatively painlessly, cuts that would be painful but which could be made and cuts which would only be considered as a last resort. He hopes to be able to report back to the board in April.
Options include everything from staff reductions to the closing and consolidating of schools.
(The lists of possible cuts from both the administration and the JCTA can be found at www.thecr.com.)
In other business Monday, the board:
•Heard a presentation by the Jay County High School and West Jay Middle School robotics teams. West Jay was one of only three middle school teams in the state to qualify for the world competition with Vex robots. JCHS will compete at the world Vex event for the sixth consecutive year.
•Reviewed on first reading a variety of policy changes to keep the school corporation in compliance with state and federal laws.
•Heard Long say the additional hour on the school day in an effort to make up days lost to bad weather seems to be going smoothly.
•Approved summer school classes in reading, band, English, algebra, geometry, applied economics, U.S. government, U.S. history, world geography, biology and supervised agricultural experience.
•Accepted a grant of $68,800 from the Department of Education for early intervention at the elementary level.
•Hired Adam Daniels as kitchen manager at West Jay and Dennis Dwiggins and Ted Habegger as driver education teachers.
•Approved the retirements of health clerk Pat Cowan and librarian Vicki Dunlap at the end of the school year.
•Accepted the resignation of food service employee Randin Landon.
•Approved leaves of absence for JCHS math teacher Jessica Longerbone, Westlawn Elementary School food service employee Robin Jeffers, bus driver and food service employee Judy Schoenlein, bus driver Mary Botts and East Elementary School reading recovery teacher Jennifer Snow.
•Accepted the extracurricular assignment resignations of Carol Gebert as drama club director, musical director, and thespian sponsor and Mindy Weaver as cheer sponsor at JCHS. Both are effective at the end of the school year.
•Approved field trips by the JCHS PVE Club, the West Jay band and choir and the JCHS and West Jay robotics teams.[[In-content Ad]]