Enrollment discussed at JISD board meeting

"Enrollment on the first day of school was 4,713 students in grades PK-12," Jan Hill, Jacksonville ISD director of state and federal programs, told members of the school board Sept. 24.

"A total of 4,928 students were enrolled at the end of school day on Sept. 24," Mrs. Hill added.

She asked the board to approve a classroom attendance waiver similar to the one adopted during the 2006-07 school year for Fred Douglass ES. In addition, Mrs. Hill requested board approval for a waiver to modify the schedule on TAKS testing days and the professional development and appraisal system calendar.

During the public comments portion of the meeting, Ann Jones, teacher from the middle school, presented the board with a thank you card from the staff. The card was in appreciation of the raise teachers received.

Nancy Lee, director of human resources reported on the areas of critical need. These areas, as identified by the state, are math, science, special education and technology.

She said JISD recruits teachers in a variety of ways, including job fairs, web sites and university placement services. All teachers hired by JISD in these critical need areas are qualified. She added that the raise the board voted for teachers helped in recruiting efforts.

The List of Acute Shortage Areas for 2007-08 was adopted by the board.

Director of transportation, John Keller, presented the annual transportation hazardous routes review. He told the board there were no changes in the report and no changes are anticipated unless a new school is added to the district.

Mr. Keller said, "Even with higher gasoline prices, it is still less expensive for JISD to operate the bus transportation program than as in the past with an independent company operating the system. When the district operates the buses we also have more control over the safety equipment on buses, including the sleeping child alarms and video camera monitor."

The school board approved the nomination of James Houser as a candidate for the Cherokee County Appraisal District's board of directors.

Superintendent Stuart Bird said the new public announcement sign will be installed soon at the Tomato Bowl and will be visible from U.S. Highway 79.