Newspaper Page Text
THE
ACKSON
H Wednesday, May 18, 2011
ERALD
www.JacksonHeraldTODAY.com
VOL. 136 NO. 49 54 PACES 4 SECTIONS PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 75c COPY
— Inside —
Area news:
•World's largest des
sert party ... page 12A
•Gilbert joins sheriffs
race page 2A
Op/Ed:
•'More mountains
yet to climb'.. page 4A
Sports:
•Local teams hope to
build on spring practice
momentum ... page 1B
Features:
•Mosaic Student Mall
to offer after-school
options for teens
page 1C
Other News:
•Public Safety
pages 6-7A
•Legals
pages 8-26C
•Church News
page 5C
•Obituaries
page 11B
•School News
pages 5-11B
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County budget edges into the red
Town hall meeting details budget hardships for coming year
BY KRISTEN MORALES
SINCE THE recession hit and until
2010, Jackson County was able to keep
its budget in order without dipping into its
reserves to make up the difference.
But that's about to change.
At a town hall meeting held May 10 at
the Braselton Municipal Building, hosted
by County Commissioner Bruce Yates,
residents got a chance to hear how the
county spends its money, plans for future
development and how it’s handling the fis
cal crisis. Representatives from the coun
ty’s planning Public
Development. Parks
and Recreation.
Capital Projects and
Finance departments
gave presentations
updating the latest
from each depart
ment, all tying in to
one common goal:
How to fund it all.
John Hulsey, finance director for
Jackson County, said his department is in
HULSEY
the middle of both preparing the budget
for the 2012 fiscal year while also wrap
ping up the audit of the current year’s
budget. And after years of lost revenue
through dropping property values, the
result is a combination of more belt
tightening by the county and dipping into
reserves to keep the budget balanced.
“We have $130 million in lost tax
digest,” Hulsey said, addressing about
a dozen local residents who came to the
presentation. “That really hampers our
ability because as the digest declines, our
services don’t.”
From 2008 to 2011, Hulsey said, the
county’s general fund budget, the prin
cipal source of money for the county,
declined by $5.4 million. Just in the past
year, the general fund decreased about $4
million.
To make up the difference, he said, the
county has cut 41.5 positions in the county
government and had 12 furlough days.
But the recession continues, and the
continued on page 11A
TORCH PASSES THROUGH JEFFERSON
Law enforcement personnel and firefighters participated in the Georgia Special Olympics Torch
Run last week, with Dwight Allen shown carrying the torch through downtown Jefferson. Also
pictured are Jefferson firefighter Darrell Chaisson, Arcade police chief Randy Williams and
Jackson County deputy Krista Clarke. Photo by Ben Munro
Parents, teachers give school Wish lists’
BY KRISTEN MORALES
SOME WANT a change to the
school system’s attendance policy.
Others want a higher-level arts pro
gram or an air-conditioned gym.
School councils recently gave their
annual reports to the Jackson County
School Board, and requests ran the
gamut from simple policy fixes to
entire buildings being constructed.
Complicating the list of requests
is the budget crisis, which is translat
ing into another 10 teaching positions
being cut from the upcoming school
year. But still, said Superintendent
Shannon Adams, there is a general
maintenance fund built into the budget
It’s now up to the school board to
prioritize the requests and come up
with a way to maximize the upgrades
on a minimum budget.
School councils are advisory boards
comprising parents, business leaders
and school administrators for each
school in the system. Each council
spent the year meeting on topics either
specific to the school or on more gen
eral subjects, such as SPLOST funds
or new educational tools. At the school
board’s recent work session and its
voting meeting, each school had the
chance to air any problems or con
cerns. as well as tout their achieve
ments from the past year.
Many councils requested a system-
wide meeting for school councils to
teach new members what is expected
of them, because a few councils spent
their first meeting wondering what
they could or couldn’t do as a group.
Other trends in school council requests
included fixes to leaky windows or
older doors, foreign languages, art or
gym courses, school nurses and updat
ed tools for teachers to improve math
and reading instruction.
All elementary schools, except for
Gum Springs Elementary, must pro
vide their own grounds maintenance
after a contract with Martin-Pennco
was cut in half two years ago. PTOs
at some schools have stepped up to cut
the grass or take care of other chores,
leaving the schools more specific land
scaping needs.
At West Jackson Primary School,
council members asked the board to
help improve a neglected courtyard. A
crabapple tree attracts yellow jackets
and an air conditioning unit needs a
fence, making the area unsafe for kids.
But the council told the board that with
some improvements, the area could
be used as an outdoor classroom that
could be used all year long.
Adams said the requests will now be
compiled by board of education staff
and prioritized.
“We make a list of the priorities
and try to make sure every school
gets something,” he said. “The budget
just makes it such that we’ll be hard-
pressed to do some of these things.”
But safety comes first, Adams
added.
“Safety is first, appearance will
come second,” he said. “For example,
taking the carpet out and putting in
tile — that will be much safer (for the
students) when we get that done,”
Several schools requested their car
pet be removed and replaced by tile,
which harbors fewer allergens.
During the school board meetings,
schools listed their requests, which
included the following.
BENTON ELEMENTARY:
•Suggested a systemwide school
council meeting to allow councils to
set goals at the start of the year.
•Some specific teaching tools for
teachers to allow them to better teach
math and reading.
•The carpet was recently removed
in the school’s kindergarten room, and
the council requested the board replace
the carpet with tile in one grade each
year.
•Assistance with grounds mainte
nance and would like an LED sign.
GUM SPRINGS ELEMENTARY:
•A change to the system’s atten
dance policy that currently limits the
number of parent notes for an excused
absence. Typically, a doctor’s note is
required for each sick day, but parents
can’t afford to take their students to the
doctor multiple times during one ill
ness. The council requested a change
to allow a parent’s note be valid for
three consecutive days, not to exceed
eight days a year.
MAYS VIILI. ELEMENTARY:
•Would like to see a full-time school
nurse, because the school is seeing
more kids with specialized disabilities.
•Requests that the board look at
busing problems, where one route has
consistent supervision problems.
NORTH JACKSON
ELEMENTARY:
•Would like to see a higher-level
arts program and physical education
increased.
•Would like to see the school start
date moved back to a time of year
when it’s not quite so hot.
•Requested foreign languages class
es.
•Would like air conditioning installed
in the gym.
•Healthier food choices.
EAST JACKSON
COMPREHENSIVE
HIGH SCHOOL:
•Requests an in-school SAT and
ACT prep class.
•Several building and grounds
requests included securing the front
of the building, an additional custo
dian, storage buildings, upgrades to
the baseball and softball complex and
windows that don’t leak.
SOUTH JACKSON
ELEMENTARY:
•Requests a parapro to assist the
librarian.
•Building and grounds requests
include air conditioning in the gym
teacher’s office and new bleachers.
West Jackson Intermediate:
•Said there is a need for a system-
wide school council meeting.
•Would like a field for the kids to
play.
WEST JACKSON MIDDLE:
•Also requested school council train
ing from the school district.
WEST JACKSON PRIMARY:
•Along with requesting improve
ments to a dilapidated courtyard, the
council also requested repair of a
walkway, that the board remove an
continued on page 11A
Graduations
coming up
this weekend
LOCAL HIGH school seniors are prepar
ing for graduation exercises to be held later
this week.
East Jackson Comprehensive High School
will hold its graduation ceremony at 8 p.m. on
Thursday, May 19, in Eagle Stadium.
Parker Wilson is valedictorian of this year’s
senior class and John Robinett is salutato-
rian.
In case of inclement weather, the ceremony
will be held in the gym and entrance to the
ceremony will be by ticket only.
The graduation ceremony at Jackson
County Comprehensive High School will be
held at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 20, in Panther
Stadium.
This year’s valedictorian is Josh Andrews
and the salutatorian is Nick Buran.
In case of inclement weather the ceremony
will be rescheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday,
May 21, in the stadium. “Every attempt will
be made to have the graduation ceremony as
originally scheduled,” leaders state. If weather
does not allow the ceremony to take place at
10 a.m. on May 21, it will be rescheduled for
4 p.m. on Saturday. May 21, in the stadium.
Any guest who needs special assistance
should call Joe Lancaster at 706-367-5003,
extension 262, prior to May 20.
The Jefferson High School graduation cer
emony is set for 8 p.m. on Friday, May 20. in
Memorial Stadium.
The valedictorian this year is Kasey
McDonald and the salutatorian is Julia
Ouellette.
In case of inclement weather, the ceremony
will be moved to the Jefferson High School
gymnasium.
FUTURE PLANS
At Jackson County Comprehensive High
School, 91 of the seniors plan to go on to
college, while seven plan to attend techni
cal school. Eight of the graduates plan to
enter the military.
At East Jackson Comprehensive High
School, 94 of the students plan to attend
college, while 53 will attend technical
school. Ten of the seniors plan to join the
military, while 43 will join the work force.
Results from Jefferson High School were
not available at press time.
Beckwith named
as JES principal
BY BEN MUNRO
PROMOTING from within, Jefferson school
leaders named Annette Beckwith as Jefferson
Elementary School principal Thursday.
Beckwith is currently Jefferson Middle
School’s assistant principal.
Superintendent John Jackson made the rec
ommendation Thursday based on meetings
conducted by an interview committee. The
Jefferson Board of Education (BOE) approved
Beckwith unanimously.
“She has a lot of experience,” Jackson said.
“We’ve gotten to know Annette very well over
the years. She does a very good job in anything
you ask her to do, and we don’t have any doubt
that she’ll do a very good job at this position.”
continued on page 11A