Jennifer Perry Middleton
Jefferson Jimplecute
The Jefferson Independent School District’s Board of trustees swore in new members and considered the creation of a paid pre-K program during their regular meeting Wednesday.
Kirstin Johnson, Joey Romano and Jason Bonner were sworn into their respective seats by Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur.
The board also approved the canvassing of the votes from the early May election.
A resolution was also passed to consider how to implement a tuition-based pre-K program at the school for those students who are ineligible for Head Start. The program, which would accommodate three and four-year-olds, will cost a proposed $3,300 annually, with 18-20 students enrolled. Superintendent Rob Barnwell said the program’s potential came about through a drop in enrollment and facilities are now available to house it. He added that the tuition would cover the cost of hiring one teacher and one aide.
“If they’re going to be in daycare, I’d rather them to be in our school,” Barnwell said. “If they’re here, we can teach the things we want them to be taught,” he and added that the students would be given transportation and two meals per day with the program.
The proposal also included required payment in full in July of each year or for the payments to be split and paid in July and December.
Trustees discussed this at length and determined that they need to find out the level of community interest before proceeding further with the proposal.
In addition, trustees approved the Marion Central Appraisal District Budget, with Ann Lummus, chief appraiser stating that the budget went up 3%, although inflation itself is going up to 8 and 9%.
The board also approved the health curriculum at the junior high level. It’s not required by the state, but the board said they believed it was important for health to be taught to the junior high students.
“I think our needs need health instruction on personal hygiene and several things,” Barnwell said.
The approved curriculum is from 2006 and does not contain certain controversial topics, and the district had already purchased the books sometime in the past to implement a health program.
Dr. Lynn Phillips said it will be an elective for seventh grade and that when certain sensitive topics are discussed, parents may opt their children out of that portion of the lesson.
She added that students on the district’s health committee said the health curriculum was needed at a younger age than before because children are learning things earlier and they should be taught health correctly.
Also approved was a policy to be added to the JISD policy manual to allow employees who are peace officers to take mental health leave following a traumatic event.
In a final vote, the board approved the sale of a tract of land that is 10 feet wide and 600 feet long to Gary Fant, who owned the property before the district purchased it. The strip of land, located at 1001 North Walcott, is to give Fant access to land he has purchased adjacent to the school property.
The land will be sold for $1.74 per square foot, and it is located between the district’s land on US Hwy. 59 and the Bullpup Academy. Fant will be responsible for the survey and any closing costs associated with the sale.