Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2010
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 3A
Jefferson school calendar released
County school calendar announced
THE 2010-2011 school year calendar for the
Jefferson City School System is as follows,
although the calendar could be changed during
the school year.
The potential changes in the school calendar
may be due to inclement weather make-up
days or budget changes affecting employees’
work days.
•Monday through Wednesday: July 26-28:
Furlough days
•Thursday and Friday, July 29-30: Teacher
pre-planning days
•Monday, Aug. 2: First day of class
•Monday, Sept. 6: Vacation day (Fabor
Day)
•Monday through Friday, Oct. 4-8: Vacation
days
•Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 22-23: Furlough
days
•Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 24-26:
Vacation days (Thanksgiving)
•Friday, Dec. 17, through Friday, Dec. 31:
Vacation days (winter break)
•Monday, Jan. 3: Furlough day
•Tuesday, Jan. 4: Students return to class
•Monday, Jan. 17: Vacation day (Martin
Futher King Jr. holiday )
•Thursday and Friday, Feb. 17-18: Vacation
days
•Friday, April 1: Furlough day
•Monday through Friday, April 4-8: Vacation
days (Spring Break)
•Thursday and Friday, May 5-6: Furlough
days or weather make-up days while the
school system hosts the state track meet
•Friday, May 20: Last day of class for stu
dents
•Monday and Tuesday, May 23-24: Pre
planning days for teachers
•Wednesday, May 25: Furlough day
THE 2010-2011 school year
calendar for the Jackson County
School System is as follows,
although the calendar could be
changed during the school year.
The potential changes in the
school calendar may be due
to inclement weather make-up
days or budget changes affect
ing employees' work days.
•Monday through Wednesday,
Aug. 2-4: Teacher workdays
•Thursday, Aug. 5: First day
of school
•Monday, Sept. 6: Student
and teacher vacation day (Labor
Day)
•Friday, Oct. 8, and Monday,
Oct. 11: Student and teacher
vacation day
•Wednesday and Thursday,
Nov. 10-11: Early release days
for elementary and middle
school students
•Monday through Friday,
Nov. 22-26: Student and teacher
vacation days (Thanksgiving)
•Friday, Dec. 17, through
Monday, Jan. 3: Student and
teacher vacation days (winter
break)
•Tuesday, Jan. 4: Teacher
workday/student holiday
•Wednesday, Jan. 5: Students
return to class
•Monday, Jan. 17: Student and
teacher vacation day (Martin
Luther King Jr. holiday)
•Tuesday and Wednesday,
Feb. 8-9: Early release days for
elementary and middle school
students
•Friday, Feb. 18, and Monday,
Feb. 21: Student and teacher
vacation day
•Monday and Tuesday,
March 14-15: Student and
teacher vacation days. March
14 is also a designated snow
make-up day.
•Monday through Friday,
April 4-8: Student and teacher
vacation days (Spring Break)
•Friday, May 20: Last day of
class for students
•Monday and Tuesday, May
23-24: Teacher workdays
•Wednesday, May 25, through
Monday, May 30: Teacher vaca
tion days (Memorial Day).
NEW FRONT OFFICE
Among recent renovations to North Jackson Elementary School is a new front
office. Michaela Rucker, a summertime clerical employee, is shown in the newly-
renovated office. Photos by Katie Huston
Back to School continued from page 1A
said. “However, Jefferson High School is
taking steps to enhance its SAT preparation
program.’’
As far as major renovation projects, the
Jefferson School System is resurfacing
the track at Memorial Stadium at a cost
of $297,600. In addition, it is installing a
drainage and irrigation system at the sta
dium.
The school day schedule for the city
schools is as follows:
•Jefferson Elementary School; 7:40 a.m.
until 2:30 p.m.
•Jefferson Academy; 7:30 a.m. until 2:45
p.m.
•Jefferson Middle School; 7:50 a.m. until
3:05 p.m.
•Jefferson High School; 7:50 a.m. until
2:55 p.m.
JACKSON COUNTY
SCHOOL SYSTEM
The Jackson County School System is
expecting a slight increase in enrollment
from last year, with a projection of 7,400
students. Superintendent Shannon Adams
attributes the stagnant total to the slumping
housing market.
The school system is implementing one
new program at the elementary school
level. It’s called HealthMPowers and aims
to keep students active throughout the
school day without taking up instructional
time. The program was implemented at
West Jackson Intermediate School last year
and was a success.
In addition, standard based report cards
will now be issued to students in grades
first through seventh. These report cards
help clarify whether or not a student is on
grade-level, and the system has added a
grade each year.
For renovations, Adams said the major
construction project was at North Jackson
Elementary School, with renovations to its
front office area and cafeteria. The proj
ect overall cost $1,038,142, and was paid
for with SPLOST (Special Purpose Local
Option Sales Tax) funds. In addition, the
gym at WJPS is undergoing total renova
tions.
NJES work to be complete by start of school
■■
NEW CAFETERIA
A major portion of construction at North Jackson
Elementary School was renovation to the cafeteria.
The new cafeteria has new tile and a fresh coat of
paint.
BY KATIE HUSTON
NORTH JACKSON Ele
mentary School - one of the
older schools in the system
- is undergoing renovations
to the building. The con
struction has been ongoing
since October of 2009, and
according to NJES principal
Kathy Elrod, will be com
plete before teachers return
to the school on Aug. 2.
Overall, the construction
and renovation cost $1,038
million and was paid for
with SPLOST (Special
Purpose Local Option Sales
Tax) funds.
Among the renovations was
construction to the school’s
cafeteria. The old tile was
taken out and replaced with
new tile, and the walls were
also painted. Elrod said
that the cafeteria was not in
dire need of repairs, but the
growing number of students
called for changes.
“The cafeteria was not in
bad condition,” Elrod said.
“Additional space was need
ed.”
The school’s renova
tion plan also included new
administrative offices, a
clinic housing the nurse’s
station/office and reception
area.
In addition, the old office
was renovated into a confer
ence room, book room and
an additional staff restroom.
The book room will be used
to store the school’s leveled
book collection.
“North Jackson now has
new offices for the princi
pal, the assistant principal
and the bookkeeper,” Elrod
said. “The reception area is
the office of the receptionist.
All visitors will report to her
when entering the school.”
Another major improve
ment is that no classes will
be held in the portable units
located outside the main
school building.
“All classes will be in the
building and gym,” Elrod
said.
The project is estimated
to be about 95 percent com
plete at this time, and Elrod
is confident construction
will be finished by the time
students return.
“Parents, staff and students
are all excited,” Elrod said.
“(And also) very apprecia
tive.”
NJES was built in the
1950s and celebrated its 50th
anniversary a few years ago.
Elrod said that during the
26 years she’s been with the
school, it has undergone two
other major renovations.
W©RLD OF KIDS
ACADEMY
QUALITY CHILD CARE IN COMMERCE
FREE ENROLLMENT!
MEET OUR STAFF - TOUR THE FACILITY - REFRESHMENTS
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, July 31st
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
5780 Mt. Olive Rd
706-423-9777
School budget continued from page lA
financial policies don’t require that it main
tain a specified reserve balance, Adams
said.
But if its finances continue to do well, the
district’s budget committee would review its
options at which programs and services to
rebuild, he added.
The school system had initially expected
it would take two years to come out of a
deficit — especially during a poor economy,
Adams said.
“We’re extremely pleased and I’m
extremely grateful for the cooperation of
everyone in the school system — here in the
central office and out at the schools — for
rebounding that financial situation that we
found ourselves in,” Adams said. “And I’ve
got to say that it exceeded our expectations
that anyone had. In my opinion, we came out
of that deficit twice as fast and five times as
far as anyone could have predicted.”
The Jackson County Board of Education
is expected to adopt a finalized budget in
October, after the county tax digest is avail
able.
The board approved a short-term loan
for $11.5 million two weeks ago that will
carry the school system through the end
of December, until county tax payments
arrive.
DOT continued from page 1A
Anyone unable to attend the public information
open house may send comments on the project
to Glenn Bowman, Georgia DOT - Office of
Environmental Services, One Georgia Center, 600
Peachtree Street - 16th floor, Atlanta, Georgia
30308.
All comments will be considered in the devel
opment of the final project design and must be
received by Aug. 17,2010.
After the open house, you can view the displays
of the project at the Georgia DOT District Office
located at 2505 Athens Highway in Gainesville.
The phone number at the DOT District office is
770-532-5526.
Plans will also be available at the Georgia DOT
Area Office, located at 450 Old Hull Road in
Athens. The phone number at the Athens office is
706-583-2644. Visitors are asked to call and make
an appointment to ensure that someone is there to
show them the project information.
3D program continued from page JA
Council, tourism council chairman Kay Parks;
Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, Mark
Zoeller (a commercial and industrial engineer);
Georgia Power, Bo Braswell, Jefferson High
School principal Dr. Kevin Smith; East Jackson
Comprehensive High School teacher Tommy
Palmer; Department of Community Affairs Design
Services, community design specialist Carmine
Fischetti; Sky Lark Enterprises, Don Lohmeier;
Northeast Georgia Regional Commission and
Steve Cumblidge.
More information on the Main Street in 3D
program can be found at www.preservationnation.
org.
etneffee uf end aur neej p/ftcef
1520B Jennings Mill Road, Bogart GA 30622
Women’s Center of Athens
Obstetrics, Gynecology, Infertility, and Surgical Care
1520B Jennings Mill Road
Bogart GA 30622
(706)227-8999
L. Michael Thompson MD, FACOG
Melissa M. Anderson MD, FACOG
Melissa M. Halbach MD, FACOG
Camille A. McPherson MD, FACOG
Natalie S. Romines CNP