Jasper School Board Welcomes Holt as Interim Superintendent

Jasper Unit 1 school board members Thurday held their first meeting with interim superintendent Marilyn Holt at the helm.

Holt was hired for up to 100 days work in the interim position, filling in for departed superintendent Dan Cox, who left at the end of July for another district.

The Board acted on some personnel matters, recognizing the resignation of Jackie Menke as a custodian and the resignation of Joni Milliman as a teacher's aide, and then approving Michael Jones as junior high Scholastic Bowl coach and Luke Stone as assistant junior high girls basketball coach.

The Board recognized HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital for a $27,000 grant for technology needs, and made note that Craig Carr will be recognized as Wabash Valley Elementary Principal of the Year at the fall meeting on September 1.

Board members approved an agreement with Jasper County Health Department Behavioral Health for mental health issues, crisis intervention and hospital pre-screening services on an emergency basis, and also approved the tentative fiscal year budget with a hearing and final action on the measure at the September meeting.

The Board learned that district enrollment is at 1,328, and heard from Chris Parr and Beth Probst on renovation work in the high school building. An Open House for the public to view the work will be scheduled.

Following a closed session, the Board approved the hiring of Kimberly Runde as a third grade teacher at Newton Elementary and Kristie Finley as a fourth grade teacher at Newton Elementary, and approved Amy Koebele as a volunteer junior high girls basketball coach. Board members also declared a school bus as scrap.