November 19, 2019 at 6:20 p.m.
High school going to seven periods
High school going to seven periods
When Jay County Junior/Senior High School opens its doors next fall, students will be experiencing a seven-period school day.
“Our recommendation is to keep things simple during a very complicated transition,” superintendent Jeremy Gulley told the Jay School Board Monday night.
The board agreed unanimously.
Having made the decision to end block scheduling at the high school because it couldn’t be afforded in terms of payroll or potential building renovation, the board weighed two options: A traditional seven-period day as is used in surrounding school districts or a system known as 8/Drop 2, which would allow students an opportunity to take more electives using a somewhat complex rotation system of classes during the week.
“It’s an interesting idea, but maybe not the best time,” said Gulley.
Feedback from faculty and parents backed the seven-period day, but many were intrigued by the opportunities that 8/Drop 2 afforded.
“I was kind of excited about 8/Drop 2,” said board member Donna Geesaman.
But for now, said board member Krista Muhlenkamp, “We’re sticking with something we know.”
Gulley said that once the consolidation of junior and senior high school classes in the current high school building has become the norm it’s possible that the issue could be revisited.
“You may decide to come back to this in a couple of years,” he said.
Construction work related to consolidation is still underway, and board members awarded contracts Monday for renovation work at Bloomfield Elementary School and the current East Jay Middle School building, which is slated to become East Jay Elementary School. (See related story.)
On a vote of 6-0 with Muhlenkamp abstaining, board members Phil Ford, Chris Snow, Jason Phillips, Mike Shannon, Ron Laux and Geesaman agreed to hire Muhlenkamp Building Corporation to do the renovation work on both buildings.
Muhlenkamp, Coldwater, Ohio, was the low bidder on both projects.
Work at Bloomfield came in at $349,923 with a $13,000 alternate for new light poles, fixtures and concrete bases. Work at East Jay came in at $549,719 with a $26,300 alternate for replacement of the existing asphalt pavement drive and a $40,800 alternate for milling and overlaying an existing asphalt pavement drive.
Other bidders included Hamilton Hunter Builders Inc., Fort Wayne, Bowman Construction Company, Marion, and Miller Contracting Group Inc., Ottoville, Ohio.
Curriculum after consolidation will be on the board’s agenda in December, with some class offerings being dropped and others being added.
Details are still taking shape, Gulley said, adding, “Kids at the junior high level are going to get some opportunities they never had.”
Arts Place executive director Eric Rogers, a former school board member, urged that art programs be preserved when curriculum is revised.
“Arts Place believes the arts are basic to education,” he said. “I’m going to ask that you keep an open mind about keeping art education in Jay Schools.”
“I do think that perspective’s good to hear,” said Gulley. “Great comments, and not falling on deaf ears.”
Administrative alignment of the junior/senior high school will also be on the agenda in December. But board members unanimously approved an administrative memorandum of understanding that sets salaries for those positions.
As approved by the board, next year’s administrative salaries are as follows: Superintendent $125,495 on a 260-day contract, assistant superintendent $105,198 on a 260-day contract, special education director $106,080 on a 260-day contract, junior/senior high principal $103,989 on a 260-day contract, junior/senior high assistant principal $89,879 on a 260-day contract, junior/senior high school dean $77,211 on a 215-day contract, two other junior/senior high school assistant principals at $82,990 on 210-day contracts, five elementary school principals at $81,060 on 210-day contracts and an assistant principal at East Jay Elementary $71,837 on a 205-day contract.
“I initially was against this,” said Snow. “We do need to discuss the amount of administrators we have in the corporation.”
Gulley assured him that would be a part of the December discussion on administrative realignment.
In other business, the board:
•Heard Gulley urge board members to pay attention to the Red for Ed events this week in Indianapolis. “Clearly something is occurring,” he said. A message needs to be sent to state lawmakers, he added. “Let’s put a pause on the amount of changes. You’re about to break the system.”
•Approved a 2020-21 school calendar that calls for the first student day on Aug. 12, fall break Oct. 21 through 23, Christmas vacation Dec. 23 through 31, spring break March 22 through 26, the last student day on May 23 and graduation on June 6.
•Heard a financial report from business manager Tarinna Morris who said she projects a cash balance in the education fund at year-end of $449,539. She noted that salary expenses are down $128,065 year-to-date because of staff reductions.
•Approved the purchase of a new sound system for the JCHS auditorium from Sight and Sound Music Center, Muncie, at a cost of $62,260. Funds for the purchase, Morris said, came from refinancing school construction debt.
•Approved the purchase of walkie-talkies from Two Way Radio Gear, Fort Pierce, Florida, for $5,681 with money from the elementary athletic extracurricular fund.
•Accepted an Indiana Department of Education grant of $56,831.18 for summer school programming.
•Accepted a Teacher Appreciation Grant from the IDOE in the amount of $115,702.76 which will be distributed to those teachers who had a rating of 4 or 3 on their evaluation for the 2018-19 school year.
•Accepted and expressed gratitude for donations from Friends of the Jay County Public Library and Tyson Foods Inc. The Friends of the Library donated $500 to help fund a performance of “Charlotte’s Web” at JCHS on March 19 for first and second graders. Tyson Foods has donated $26,930.25 to 61 different classroom projects in Jay Schools through the website DonorsChoose.org.
•Hired Amanda VanNote as a school nurse at East Jay Middle School.
•Approved leaves of absence for instructional assistant Sheryl Lawrence and special education teacher Jean Rockwell.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for Krista Chenoweth as a half-time assistant gymnastics coach at JCHS, Rodney DeHoff as archery coach at East Jay, Kyle Sibray as assistant swim coach at JCHS, Renae Laux as seventh grade girls’ basketball coach at East Jay, Britlyn Dues as eighth grade girls’ basketball coach at West Jay, Andrew Davidson as Just Say No sponsor at Westlawn and Olivia Cash as cheer coach at East Jay.
•Approved field trips by the JCHS manufacturing class, JCHS German students and JCHS FFA students.
“Our recommendation is to keep things simple during a very complicated transition,” superintendent Jeremy Gulley told the Jay School Board Monday night.
The board agreed unanimously.
Having made the decision to end block scheduling at the high school because it couldn’t be afforded in terms of payroll or potential building renovation, the board weighed two options: A traditional seven-period day as is used in surrounding school districts or a system known as 8/Drop 2, which would allow students an opportunity to take more electives using a somewhat complex rotation system of classes during the week.
“It’s an interesting idea, but maybe not the best time,” said Gulley.
Feedback from faculty and parents backed the seven-period day, but many were intrigued by the opportunities that 8/Drop 2 afforded.
“I was kind of excited about 8/Drop 2,” said board member Donna Geesaman.
But for now, said board member Krista Muhlenkamp, “We’re sticking with something we know.”
Gulley said that once the consolidation of junior and senior high school classes in the current high school building has become the norm it’s possible that the issue could be revisited.
“You may decide to come back to this in a couple of years,” he said.
Construction work related to consolidation is still underway, and board members awarded contracts Monday for renovation work at Bloomfield Elementary School and the current East Jay Middle School building, which is slated to become East Jay Elementary School. (See related story.)
On a vote of 6-0 with Muhlenkamp abstaining, board members Phil Ford, Chris Snow, Jason Phillips, Mike Shannon, Ron Laux and Geesaman agreed to hire Muhlenkamp Building Corporation to do the renovation work on both buildings.
Muhlenkamp, Coldwater, Ohio, was the low bidder on both projects.
Work at Bloomfield came in at $349,923 with a $13,000 alternate for new light poles, fixtures and concrete bases. Work at East Jay came in at $549,719 with a $26,300 alternate for replacement of the existing asphalt pavement drive and a $40,800 alternate for milling and overlaying an existing asphalt pavement drive.
Other bidders included Hamilton Hunter Builders Inc., Fort Wayne, Bowman Construction Company, Marion, and Miller Contracting Group Inc., Ottoville, Ohio.
Curriculum after consolidation will be on the board’s agenda in December, with some class offerings being dropped and others being added.
Details are still taking shape, Gulley said, adding, “Kids at the junior high level are going to get some opportunities they never had.”
Arts Place executive director Eric Rogers, a former school board member, urged that art programs be preserved when curriculum is revised.
“Arts Place believes the arts are basic to education,” he said. “I’m going to ask that you keep an open mind about keeping art education in Jay Schools.”
“I do think that perspective’s good to hear,” said Gulley. “Great comments, and not falling on deaf ears.”
Administrative alignment of the junior/senior high school will also be on the agenda in December. But board members unanimously approved an administrative memorandum of understanding that sets salaries for those positions.
As approved by the board, next year’s administrative salaries are as follows: Superintendent $125,495 on a 260-day contract, assistant superintendent $105,198 on a 260-day contract, special education director $106,080 on a 260-day contract, junior/senior high principal $103,989 on a 260-day contract, junior/senior high assistant principal $89,879 on a 260-day contract, junior/senior high school dean $77,211 on a 215-day contract, two other junior/senior high school assistant principals at $82,990 on 210-day contracts, five elementary school principals at $81,060 on 210-day contracts and an assistant principal at East Jay Elementary $71,837 on a 205-day contract.
“I initially was against this,” said Snow. “We do need to discuss the amount of administrators we have in the corporation.”
Gulley assured him that would be a part of the December discussion on administrative realignment.
In other business, the board:
•Heard Gulley urge board members to pay attention to the Red for Ed events this week in Indianapolis. “Clearly something is occurring,” he said. A message needs to be sent to state lawmakers, he added. “Let’s put a pause on the amount of changes. You’re about to break the system.”
•Approved a 2020-21 school calendar that calls for the first student day on Aug. 12, fall break Oct. 21 through 23, Christmas vacation Dec. 23 through 31, spring break March 22 through 26, the last student day on May 23 and graduation on June 6.
•Heard a financial report from business manager Tarinna Morris who said she projects a cash balance in the education fund at year-end of $449,539. She noted that salary expenses are down $128,065 year-to-date because of staff reductions.
•Approved the purchase of a new sound system for the JCHS auditorium from Sight and Sound Music Center, Muncie, at a cost of $62,260. Funds for the purchase, Morris said, came from refinancing school construction debt.
•Approved the purchase of walkie-talkies from Two Way Radio Gear, Fort Pierce, Florida, for $5,681 with money from the elementary athletic extracurricular fund.
•Accepted an Indiana Department of Education grant of $56,831.18 for summer school programming.
•Accepted a Teacher Appreciation Grant from the IDOE in the amount of $115,702.76 which will be distributed to those teachers who had a rating of 4 or 3 on their evaluation for the 2018-19 school year.
•Accepted and expressed gratitude for donations from Friends of the Jay County Public Library and Tyson Foods Inc. The Friends of the Library donated $500 to help fund a performance of “Charlotte’s Web” at JCHS on March 19 for first and second graders. Tyson Foods has donated $26,930.25 to 61 different classroom projects in Jay Schools through the website DonorsChoose.org.
•Hired Amanda VanNote as a school nurse at East Jay Middle School.
•Approved leaves of absence for instructional assistant Sheryl Lawrence and special education teacher Jean Rockwell.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for Krista Chenoweth as a half-time assistant gymnastics coach at JCHS, Rodney DeHoff as archery coach at East Jay, Kyle Sibray as assistant swim coach at JCHS, Renae Laux as seventh grade girls’ basketball coach at East Jay, Britlyn Dues as eighth grade girls’ basketball coach at West Jay, Andrew Davidson as Just Say No sponsor at Westlawn and Olivia Cash as cheer coach at East Jay.
•Approved field trips by the JCHS manufacturing class, JCHS German students and JCHS FFA students.
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