Board needs a long-term plan

The decision-making process on the future of Judge Haynes Elementary School continues to move forward, and superintendent Jeremy Gulley wants to make sure that decision is made in a broader context.

“It would be wise to consider the long-term configuration of our schools” in the face of a continuing decline in enrollment, Gulley told the Jay School Board on Monday night. “I think we need a broad concept,” he said. “The decision (on Judge Haynes) should be feasible within a larger concept. … People expect us to plan.”

Gulley said he’ll be assembling an advisory committee of parents, teachers and community members in an effort to get a handle on the big picture.

“That’s a parallel process that’s going to be going on,” he said.

Gulley’s initial analysis of the Judge Haynes situation is focusing on closing the school at the end of the 2017-18 year, converting East Elementary School to a kindergarten through grade two facility and General Shanks Elementary School to a grade three through grade five facility.

The Judge Haynes decision, like the board’s decision this spring to close Pennville Elementary School, is being driven by continuing drops in student enrollment.

“This is not unique to Jay County,” Gulley said.

In the past 10 years, Jay Schools’ enrollment has gone down 13 percent. Meanwhile, enrollment has dropped 24 percent in the same period in Blackford County and 15 percent in Huntington County.

Overall enrollment is down 45 percent since 1973.

Gulley’s timeline for a board decision calls for final review on Nov. 20 and a board decision by Dec. 11. Architects have told the board that a December decision is necessary to provide time for any modifications that might be necessary at East and Shanks to be done in time for the start of the 2018 school year.

The extent of those modifications, if any, has yet to be decided by the board.

Gulley said he hopes to have the options narrowed by the Sept. 18 board meeting.

In the meantime, he has been talking with teachers, parents and staff in a series of meetings and focus groups. Some of those individuals will make a visit to Baker Elementary School in Randolph County soon to see how a grade-aligned elementary school functions.

In other business, the board:

•Heard a report from Jay County High School principal Chad Dodd on how the new requirements of the Every Child Succeeds Act will negatively impact graduation rates at JCHS. “Do not let this be disappointing to you,” board president Kristi Betts told Dodd. “The rules were changed. We recognize that’s out of your control.”

Board member Phil Ford added, “They keep moving the goal posts. … It’s another way to pull the financial rug out from under us.”

•Commended the West Jay Middle School cheerleaders and the Jay County High School Marching Patriots for their outstanding achievements at the Indiana State Fair.

•Heard no public comment on the 2018 budget totaling $35,030,778. Budget adoption is set for Sept. 18.

•Heard a report from Dodd on the success of the career and technical education program at JCHS. Nine out of 10 JCHS seniors took a CTE course last year, and the school ranks in the top 7 percent in the state in the number of students who earn college credit or industry recognized certifications while in high school. Fifty-two dual credit courses are available in both college and career content.

•Accepted donations from Ardagh Group and grants from The Portland Foundation and the Ball Brothers Foundation.

•Hired Jenna Muhlenkamp as a third grade teacher at Bloomfield Elementary School.

•Approved the retirement of Deb Moore as an instructional assistant at JCHS.

•Accepted the resignations of instructional assistants Dawn Alicea and Breanna Dahlstrom, custodian Richard Raines Jr. and school bus aide Glenda Masterson.

•Approved extracurricular assignments for Lauren Runkle as cheer coach at Redkey Elementary School, Jenny Outcalt as yearbook sponsor at Redkey, Betty Harris as Just Say No sponsor at Redkey, Christy Shauver as sponsor of Just Say No and intramurals at Redkey, Jenny DeHoff as cheer coach at Bloomfield, Josh Gibson as Just Say No sponsor at Bloomfield, Giles Laux as student council sponsor at Bloomfield, Marc Bogenschutz as girls’ assistant basketball coach at JCHS, Emily Knapke as assistant volleyball coach at JCHS, Donna Watson as student council sponsor at Redkey, Bruce Wood as assistant wrestling coach at JCHS, Lori DeRome as yearbook sponsor at Judge Haynes, Jane Prescott as Just Say No sponsor at East, Hailey Gross and Elizabeth Inman as yearbook sponsors at East and Kirk Comer as girls basketball coach at JCHS.

•Accepted the extracurricular assignment resignation of Dru Mercer as boys basketball coach at Redkey.

•Approved field trips by JCHS choir students and JCHS FFA students.

•Approved a one-year lease for use of the West Jay Community Center at a cost of $8,400. Board member Phil Ford abstained because he is a member of the community center’s board.