Jasper School Board Hears State Owes District Money

Jasper school board members heard that the State still owes the District, despite claims that schools would be fully funded this year.

While Illinois school districts are receiving their State Aid allocations, many districs have received little, if any, of their categorical funding, including Special Education, Transportation and other categories. 

Jasper Superintendent Andrew Johnson said the State still owes the District just under $705,000.

Jasper board members met Stetson Bierman, son of Brett and Jody Bierman who will begin his senior year this fall at Newton Community High School. Bierman has been named the 2017 Illinois High School Rodeo Association Bareback Champion and the 2017 Illinois High School All Around Rodeo Cowboy. He will be competing in the National High School Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyoming July 16-22.

The Jasper Board on a 4-1 vote awarded property/casualty and workers comp insurance coverages. Jed Earnest voted against the motion; Holly Farley abstained from the vote. The Board also purchased a vehicle for just over $12,000 from Louis Ochs Chevrolet/Buick in Newton and agreed to continue another year with the Louis Ochs dealership for driver's ed vehicles, utilizing the same vehicles for another year.

The Board declared two school buses as surplus, and agreed to raise cafeteria prices for the coming school year by 10 cents. Book fees and other fees will remain the same as this past school year.

In personnel moves, the Jasper board approved resignations from Karen Bolander as lunch room supervisor at the junior high and high school, Jordan Michels as junior high assistant track coach, and Dave Rubsam as maintenance person. Aaron Turner was hired as night custodian at Newton Elementary School.

Several extra-curricular assignments were approved, including Troy Bierman as frosh-soph boys basketball coach, Brock Tarr as high school assistant boys and girls track coach, Eric Schmidt as assistant boys tennis coach, Brian Halsey as assistant football coach, Sandy Webb as assistant girls tennis coach, Jordan Michels as junior high head baseball coach, Brad Bloemer as junior high head cross country coach, Kelsey Cox as junior high head Scholastic Bowl coach and Freshman class sponsor, Kristie Finley and Carrie Carr as high school assistant musical directors, and Sarah Will as high school Beta Club sponsor. Earnest voted against the motion.

Angie Homan was hired as a Title I aide at Ste. Marie Elementary, Beth Sturgeon's maternity leave was approved, and it was agreed to advertise for a junior high/high school lunchroom supervisor and for an hourly unit maintenance position.