Fiber optics may benefit schools

New fiber optic infrastructure being installed in Jay County has the potential to transform technology education in Jay Schools, and the system will make use of a small piece of school ground while doing so.
Jay School Board members approved a $5,000 lease, a right of way, and a utility easement Monday so Community Fiber Solutions can install a cabinet where 500 pairs of fiber optic line will be spliced together.
The cabinet is about 6 feet tall and about 4 feet by 5 feet at its base. It will be installed on a concrete pad near the parking lot at East Elementary School.
Mark Clemens of Community Fiber Solutions told the board the company is engaged in a $4 million infrastructure build that will eventually involve fiber optic line all the way to Muncie and Fort Wayne.
“The difference between fiber and what we’re doing now is the difference between a soda straw and a fire hose,” superintendent Tim Long told the board. “This is going to maximize our potential for technology.”
School business manager Brad DeRome noted, “We should be able to eliminate some of our Internet towers if we switch to fiber optic.”
When in place, the new fiber optic line will be able to provide Internet, telephone, and television service.
The lease was approved on a 6-0 vote with board member Larry Paxson absent.
DeRome told the board that current projections for school finances in the year ahead have him cautiously optimistic.
“I have no idea which direction the legislature may go,” he said. But he noted, “Our enrollment was up.” The best information available from the state indicates Jay Schools should see an increase of 1 percent each year in the state’s two-year budget.
Meanwhile, expenses continue to be trimmed. DeRome said 13 to 14 teachers have now committed to early retirement under an incentive plan that is available to them until April 1.
Long said he expects that 20 to 24 teachers will opt to retire.
“We always try to spend less than we take in,” said Long. “I feel really good about where we are (fiscally) as a school district.”
“So far so good in 2011,” said DeRome.
Long had words of praise for school staff and students during the Feb. 28 flood. “We had a lot of stars that day,” he said. “We lost very few things. … The staff did a great job and the kids did a great job.”
Sandbags put in place at East Elementary greatly reduced flood damage to the cafeteria kitchen and all-purpose room.
Board president Greg Wellman, who lives near flood-prone New Corydon, said he had never seen floodwaters rise so quickly. “It wasn’t there, and then it was,” he said.
School closings related to the flood now mean the last day of classes for students will be June 9. The last day for teachers will be June 10. A waiver of state requirements for school days is unlikely under current policies at the Indiana Department of Education, Long said.
In other business, the board:
•Set Long’s evaluation session with the board for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5.
•Approved a third-grade literacy plan developed by teachers and administrators as required by the state.
•Heard Long report that nearly $3,000 was raised over the weekend with a garage sale event to help cover the costs of an upcoming trip to China by students and teachers. In all, almost $12,000 has been raised. The balance will come from the individuals participating. Four students, seven teachers, Long, and Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier will travel to China April 12 to 21.
•Approved new handbooks for elementary and middle schools that raise the bar in terms of expectations for attendance. Previous handbooks had indicated that nine days of absence were allowed before action was taken. The new handbooks change that to six days. “It’s just setting a higher standard,” said assistant superintendent Wood Barwick.
•Learned 18 elementary school teachers from Taiwan will be in east central Indiana on May 11 to 19. They will be visiting schools in Jay, Randolph, Adams, Delaware, and Wells counties under a program funded by the Taiwan government.
•Approved the health and science curriculum for kindergarten through grade 12.
•Noted an agreement with the Jay County Sheriff’s Department to provide full-time deputies to provide security at Jay County High School. A deputy will be present at the high school on randomly chosen days during the school week. Similar agreements are being put in place with Portland and Dunkirk police.
•Heard Long and past board member Rob Weaver, speaking as a citizen, praise JCHS boys basketball coach Craig Teagle and his team for their performance during the recent season and tournament play.
•Hired Elizabeth Skiver as an instructional assistant at Redkey Elementary School, Cynthia Evers as a part-time adult education instructional assistant, Steve Cash as a custodian at East Jay Middle School, and Jesse Mangus as INPACE coordinator. An earlier consent agenda had incorrectly listed Cindy Cash as INPACE coordinator.
•Accepted the retirements of health and physical education teacher Michael Mertz and fourth grade teacher Sharon Bubp, both effective at the end of the school year.
•Approved leaves of absence for custodian Mary Lou Frazee, bus driver Marjorie Baldwin, bus driver Barb Stults, and kindergarten teacher Sarah Davidson.
•Accepted the extracurricular assignment resignations of Jason Phillips and James Heflin as JCHS assistant varsity football coaches.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for Lindsey Current as girls track coach at West Jay Middle School, Violet Current as volunteer girls track coach at West Jay, Andrea Hines as girls track coach at West Jay, Annette Stultz and Larry Stultz as boys track coaches at West Jay, and Tim Millspaugh as assistant varsity football coach at JCHS.[[In-content Ad]]