Jennifer Perry Middleton
Jefferson Jimplecute
Jefferson Independent School Board Trustees discussed switching to a four-day instruction week and unexpected parking lot repairs during their regular meeting Tuesday. Several area districts, including Athens, DeKalb, Paul Pewitt and New Boston ISDs have been researching the pros and cons of the switch, and trustees brought their own opinions to the table during the meeting.
No action was taken, as it was simply a discussion item.
“The fact is, there are the beginnings of a movement in this area, in our region, to go to a four-day week,” Superintendent Rob Barnwell said. “All we’re doing tonight is hearing from folks; asking questions; and getting input.” He added that the next steps would include a public presentation and a site-based committee to gather and consider information related to the four-day week.
Barnwell said he had been talking to staff at Athens ISD and that one of the reasons they switched to the four-day week was to increase the “depth and breadth” of the teacher applicant pool and that with the incentive of the four-day week, additional qualified applicants would seek a position at JISD.
“The assumption is If you get high quality teachers, you get high quality instruction,” he told the board, adding that the district also needed to do some research, and they didn’t need to be last in line if the four-day week becomes the norm. Barnwell said that in Camden ISD, the applicant pool approximately doubled and enrollment decline ceased, along with reducing faculty turnover.
If the board should approve the measure at some point down the line, the change would not immediately happen, as the calendar for the 2022-23 school year has already been approved.
In other business, the board approved a $243,348 change order to improve the stadium parking lot. Repairs were part of the improvements the board previously approved, which include new turf and field improvements, along with fencing and a new press box for the football stadium. Architect Jerry Hollensworth and Contech Representative W.B. Douglas told the board that some of the material in the strata of the parking lot is silt-based and when it gets wet, it turns to mush and is not stable. Tests prior to bidding indicated the soil would be fine dry, but failed to identify the issue when the soil is wet. Full dump trucks running over the area have shown several sinkholes, Barnwell said, and that work needed to begin ASAP for the project to be completed by the beginning of the 2022-23 football season.
Board members also recognized the first group of Jefferson High School seniors who will receive Associate of General Science degrees from Panola College before they graduate from high school, thanks to their taking dual credit courses. These students are: Brady Burns, Cadee Humphrey, Curliyah Jefferson, Avery Keller, Marleigh Mears, Caden Rutz, Zoe Scott, Sarah Smith, Hannah Wales and Caden Whatley.
Dr. Lynn Phillips, director of curriculum and instruction, said there was a goal of having just two students earn the associate’s degrees this year, and to have so many was quite an accomplishment.
“This wasn’t easy. They worked really hard to earn this,” she said. “it’s a lot of extra work and I am super proud of them. It’s quite an honor.”
Trustees also approved the Teacher Incentive Allotment Payment Plan, which is coordinated through the Texas Education Agency to reward exemplary and master teachers.
The board also approved a change in policy to allow for final grades at the end of the school year to determine GPA calculations related to each senior class rank, including valedictorian, salutatorian and the top 10 percent for consideration by colleges for scholarships and admissions. GPA will be calculated at the end of the third nine weeks for graduation ceremony purposes, but the grades at the end of the school year will be used for the scholarship and admission requirements.
Patti Wallace with the Marion County Tax office told trustees the results of the March 1 and April 5 tax sales. In March, 10 properties were sold for a total of $176,000 in first-time sales and three tax liens were paid off before the sale. In April, a sale of struck-off properties earned $89,750. Wallace said they will hopefully have another sale in July and possibly August.
A June 6-9 band member trip to Branson, Mo. was also approved by the board during Tuesday’s meeting. All current JHS band members are eligible to participate in the trip, which will include excursions to Silver Dollar City, shows and other fun events. The trip is paid for through funds raised by the Jefferson Band Boosters.