Board places focus on $$

The financial position of Jay Schools improved slightly during 2014, but school board members want to maintain their focus on controlling costs.
While business manager Brad DeRome reported Monday that the school corporation’s general fund ended the year with a cash balance of $2,020,000, board goals include striving to build that to $3 million and figuring out how to match finances with declines in student enrollment.
DeRome said the year-end figures were $11,000 higher than at the end of 2013 thanks to a broad variety of cost-cutting measures and shifts in school spending.
“Now it’s time to move on to the new year,” he said.
Fiscal discipline was among some 35 board goals presented by superintendent Tim Long for review Monday, and board member Greg Wellman urged that it stay front and center.
“Some day we’ve got to face the fact that Jay County’s going down in student population,” said Wellman. “I think we need to address that now.” He added later, “We really need to look at a great big master plan” that combines a number of issues facing the board.
Among the other goals Long presented for board consideration were:
•Reviewing the teacher evaluation model.
•Becoming a Master Board through board participation in Indiana School Boards Association training sessions.
•Exploring “virtual classroom” options for students, particularly seniors.
•Surveying parents about the student dress code.
•Presenting a cultural diversity program to students in grades six through 12.
•Providing opportunities for Jay County High School students to receive up to one year of college credit.
•Analyzing the need for a life skills program at the middle school level.
•Offering a robotics class for credit at JCHS.
The board is expected to revise and approve the list of goals at its February meeting.
Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman appeared before the board Monday to provide information about two major construction projects that will have a significant impact on travel around three schools in the city.
Geesaman said a major Indiana Department of Transportation project on Indiana 26 (East Water Street) roughly from Meridian Street to the bridge over the Salamonie River at the eastern city limits could begin in late April or early May.
That will complicate travel to and from East Jay Middle School and East Elementary School. While the state will make arrangements for access, the project will create headaches for bus traffic and parents.
“They’re telling me it will take the whole (construction) season,” Geesaman said.
Meanwhile a sewer project on Portland’s west side will complicate travel near Judge Haynes Elementary School beginning in late March or early April. That project will be done street by street and should be less of an obstacle than the Indiana 26 work.
“Those two projects are coming right away and will be coming before school’s out,” said Geesaman. “We’ll keep you guys updated.”
Public informational hearings are planned on both projects before work begins, he said.
Weather continues to create transportation problems for Jay Schools, Long told the board. (Schools are closed today because of freezing rain.) A detailed informational piece outlining guidelines for school delays and closings has been posted on the Jay Schools website: http://www.jayschools.k12.in.us.
“We always try to err on the side of safety,” said Long.
In other business, the board:
•Approved a contract for the JCHS robotics team to build a robot for the Indianapolis Children’s Museum for a future exhibit.
•Upheld administrative action, which had been the subject of an appeal, in regard to a student. The board reviewed the appeal in executive session prior to its regular meeting.
•Accepted Wellman’s resignation as board secretary and elected Beth Krieg in his place.
•Accepted the low bid for a one-ton truck from Bill McCoy Ford of Muncie for a net cost of $21,938. The truck replaces one damaged in an accident, and the net cost reflects the insurance settlement for the loss.
•Accepted a state grant of $6,000 for professional development at Pennville Elementary School.
•Hired Mariana Garcia as an English as a second language instructional assistant at JCHS.
•Accepted the resignations of food service employees Ashley Bonifas, Treva Fraley and Nancy Renner as well as bus aide Erika Frazee and instructional assistant Kelly Henry.
•Transferred Lexie Penrod to General Shanks Elementary School as an instructional assistant.
•Approved leaves of absence for East Jay librarian Abby Homan and Redkey Elementary School second grade teacher Shelly Miskinis.
•Approved Ryan Smitley as wrestling coach at West Jay Middle School.
•Accepted the resignation of Chris Overholt as assistant football coach at JCHS.
•Approved a field trip by Latin students to Italy in March.
•Approved a bus request by the Holy Trinity Catholic Church youth group.
•Learned that all schools in the system have submitted their school improvement plans as required by state law. Those plans may be viewed at http://www.jayschools.k12.in.us. After logging in, look for a red tab titled “Resources.” Under that tab, click on “Documents.” The next page will have “School Improvement Plans” as a title with each school’s plan listed below.