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Superintendent’s Report Jan 2022'
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Superintendent’s Report                                                                        January 17, 2022


I want to first thank the administration and staff for the success of the first half of the 2021-2022 school year.  The demands on our staff are much greater and much more stressful than ever before in the educational world. But I have seen our staff persevere through and meet the needs of your students day in and day out.  For that I am so grateful and you as a community should be as well.  I would ask that if you see one of the following, please tell them “thank you” for what they have done and they continue to do for our students:  teachers, teachers aides, bus drivers, counselors, cooks, secretaries, custodians, nurses, administrators, the health department, our students and our parents / guardians of our children.  So many have made sacrifices, adjustments to schedules due to children being quarantined or the entire family being quarantined.  In the end, what is best for our children has come to fruition, and again I say “THANK YOU”!!!!

The district currently has 1,160 students enrolled.  We have 40 children in preschool and Early Childhood. We have 70 in Kindergarten at Ste. Marie, 490 first through sixth grade at Newton Elementary, 163 students at Jasper County Junior High, and 379 students at Newton Community High School. We have 18 students that are transported out of the district to be educated.

We have 7 Board members elected by the community to set policy and direction for the district.   2021 had Mandi Utley being appointed to the board to step into the seat that was previously occupied by Rob Street, then Mindy Street.  Thank you Mandi for stepping into this important position for the future of our children.  Employees of the district include 181 paid staff members.  The district covers 462 square miles and is the largest geographical school district in the state.

Donors / Support Groups for JCCU1

The JCCU1 district is very fortunate to have received donations from the community and from several civic groups:

        PTO                        Booster Club                        

        Rotary                        Band Boosters                Anonymous Donors

** We appreciate your continued support for our academic and athletic programs!!!!

The board of education and administration worked on a Strategic Plan for the coming years and it was approved by the school board earlier this past Fall:

Jasper County Community Unit 1 Board of Education

Strategic Plan (FY22’ - FY25’)

 Vision:

Mission:

Strategic Objectives:

Strategic Objective 1 - Parent Involvement – The JCCU1 School District values the importance of involving parents and families by increasing participation in all aspects of the educational process.

Strategic Objective 2 - Facilities Reliability / Functionality- The JCCU1 School District creates a safe and conducive teaching and learning environment by maintaining, enhancing, and expanding our existing facilities and infrastructure to meet the needs of students, staff, and community.

Strategic Objective 3 - Academic Achievement- The JCCU1 School District strives to provide a positive and engaging academic atmosphere in which all students are challenged to achieve academic growth.

Strategic Objective 4 - Social Emotional Learning – The JCCU1 School District’s comprehensive SEL program is designed and structured to meet the personal / social needs of every student in an equitable, multi-tiered approach.

Strategic Objective 5 - Student Involvement – The JCCU1 School District will strive to engage all students by offering a diverse set of additional programs and extracurricular activities.

Financial Trend Data:

The following reflects an estimated comparison from FY19, FY20, FY21 and FY22 budgets fund balances:

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2020

June 30, 2021

June 30, 2022 (est)

Educational

$1,820,653

$3,024,745

$4,281,190

$4,174,318

O & M

$954,961

$1,109,589

$1,043,063

$1,075,222

Debt Services

$197,476

$248,311

$251,870

$633,700

Transportation

$138,307

$240,151

$454,484

$319,700

Social Sec / IMRF

$702,106

$612,993

$725,588

$613,047

Capital Projects

$4,418

$84,774

$418,138

$246,148

Working Cash

$442,594

$395,694

$496,019

$385,269

Tort

$204,035

$402,696

$416,341

$434,801

Fire Prevention

$275,571

$373,476

$469,250

$541,396

Total

$4,740,121

$6,492,429

$8,555,943

$8,423,042

Big 4 Funds

$3,356,515

$4,770,179

$6,274,756

$6,267,950

        

The JCCU1 district is currently eligible for the following from the Federal and State grants that began in FY21:

1.        Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Grant (CARES or ESSER I):

                2020 - 2021        =         280,564        (269,234 for JCCU1 and 11,330 for St. Thomas)

                2021 - 2022         =        53,943                (Carried over from 2020-2021, 52,178 for JCCU1 and 1,765

For St. Thomas)

                

Estimate on areas money was used:

Salaries

$90,461

Benefits

$23,844

Purchased

$59,013

Supplies & Materials

$89,150

Capital Outlay

$15,996

Transfers

$2,100

                

Grant descriptor for use of this money (per ISBE):        

Under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), the Department awards grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation. LEAs must provide equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools as required under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

Items of use specifically for our County Schools:

** money that was not spent in the 2020 - 2021 school year was carried over to the 2021-2022 school year. So we are trying to spend that money on the same items we utilized it for in FY21.  This grant money is almost spent to date.

2.        Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Grant II (ESSER II)

                2021 - 2022 through September 30, 2023        =        $1,098,603

Estimate on areas money was used:

Salaries

$288,910

Benefits

$78,790

Purchased Services

$612,295

Supplies & Materials

$85,520

Capital Outlay

$29,088

Grant descriptor for use of this money (per ISBE)

Under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief II Fund (ESSER II), the Department awards grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation. LEAs must provide services to students and teachers in public schools as required under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation (CRRSA) act, 2021.

Items of use specifically for our County Schools:

** If you would like to weigh in on other suggestions to spend the ESSER II money in the coming months - please contact Andrew D. Johnson at 618-783-8459 - thank you!!!

3.        American Rescue Plan (ESSER III)

                2021 - 2022 through September 30, 2024        =        $2,549,025

Estimate on areas money was used:

Salaries

$591,160

Benefits

$196,301

Purchase Services

$1,569,064

Supplies & Materials

$172,500

Capital Outlay

$20,000

Grant descriptor for use of this money (per ISBE)

Under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III ARP Fund (ESSER III), the Department awards grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) for the purpose of providing local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation. LEAs must provide services to students and teachers in public schools as required under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Items of use specifically for our County Schools:

** If you would like to weigh in on other suggestions to spend the ESSER III money in the coming months - please contact Andrew D. Johnson at 618-783-8459 - thank you!!!

Ste. Marie Elementary

Ste. Marie Elementary strives everyday to provide a safe environment that is both nurturing and rigorous.  Our Kindergarten students learn through large group instruction, small group instruction, and hands-on learning centers. Instruction at the Kindergarten level is focused on reading, phonics, writing, and math.  Students are benchmarked three times per year using Aimsweb plus.  Based on those scores, students can receive extra support in both reading and math from our title department.  There is also a full time special education teacher and part time speech language pathologist to provide special education services according to the students Individualized Education Plans.  Along with the academics, our students learn social emotional skills through our second step program.  They also get a chance to share ideas and feelings with the class through our community circles.  The students are also learning to work in small groups where they are also developing their conflict resolution skills.  The smaller school setting allows the teachers to create such a supportive environment that will help them become prepared for entering Newton Elementary.  

There are currently 40 Preschool students who attend a morning or afternoon session every day at Ste. Marie.   Our program is centered around play based learning which allows children to interact socially and academically during center time.  PreK also focuses on developing gross motor skills through free play in the gym or outside.  Students progress is monitored using portfolios in which the teacher collects data at certain times in the school year.  The preschool program also has a parental involvement component where they conduct 5 different parent night opportunities in which parents are working on a project with their children. The program has one full time teacher, one full time paraprofessional, and one half time paraprofessional.  Our part time speech language pathologist also provides services to students who are found eligible through the IEP process.  

There are currently 70 kindergarten students and 40 PreK students enrolled at Ste. Marie Elementary.   The staff consists of 8 certified and 9 classified staff.  

Newton Elementary

Newton Elementary is home to 490 students in first through sixth grade. These Elementary Eagles live by the Eagle Way mission statement: Newton Eagles work hard, are kind, are brave and have fun.  Staff and students work and learn by this mission statement.

Newton Elementary students and staff work hard. We started off the year again this year with an Eagle Way Training Camp in which staff helped students learn the expectations of Newton Elementary's classrooms, hallways, playground, and lunchroom. Students and staff worked on building relationships and getting to know one another and then began the work of academics. High academic achievement has always been and continues to be a focus at Newton Elementary. We are working diligently to make up the academic gaps that have been created over the last couple of years due to the pandemic. In addition to high academic achievement, we also strive to build strong social emotional skills. Second Step curriculum is being taught in grades 1-5 to lay a strong social emotional foundation. As of this year, our grade 6 students have transitioned to the Suite 360 SEL program to build upon their social emotional learning. The students and staff of Newton Elementary have worked hard from day one and have continued with that strong work ethic each day.

Newton Elementary students and staff are kind. Learning and showing kindness is a top priority at Newton Elementary. One of the ways in which students grow in kindness is through community service projects and acts of kindness. So far this year, students have made cards for grandparent’s day for the residents of Newton Care Center and Villas of Holly Brook, delivered socks for seniors at Newton Care Center,  made cards for Veterans in November, and partnered with Jasper County Home Front to make Christmas cards to send to our troops in December. Additionally, the students and staff of Newton Elementary have participated in hat days over the past several months with proceeds going to various causes and organizations within the community, such as the Jasper County Ministerial Association to raise money for their boxed food program. There are several more community service projects scheduled for the remainder of the year, and we make every effort to continue to teach and model kindness on a daily basis.

Newton Elementary students and staff are brave. The students and staff of Newton Elementary show their bravery everyday as they lead, learn and try new things. Students at Newton Elementary have leadership roles within the building and in their classroom. Within the building, students lead the announcements each morning, greet students at the entrance each morning, raise and lower our American and Illinois flag at the beginning and end of each day, and help in the office at the end of the day by running notes. Also, new this year, is the addition of our sixth grade leadership council. These students were selected by their peers to represent them and help organize and facilitate special events for the building. Seeing our students shine is so rewarding, and giving them opportunities to exert their leadership and bravery is a core value at Newton Elementary.

Newton Elementary students have fun. Students and staff at Newton Elementary like to have fun learning every day. Students have fun learning and exploring with science experiments, participating in their Physical Education classes and classroom activities. Fifth and sixth grade students participate in an art class once a week and have the option to join band and/or choir as elective classes. The staff at Newton Elementary does an excellent job finding creative and fun ways to engage students in learning each and every day!

Newton Elementary staff understands and believes that no significant learning occurs without a significant relationship with students. Working hard, being kind, being brave and having fun are all focused around building positive relationships with students and the staff does a great job keeping relationships at the center.

Jasper County Junior High

JCJH has an enrollment of  163 - 7th & 8th grade students.  They are asked to take more responsibility for their daily approaches as well as being challenged to grow daily by a highly qualified staff that believe having strong positive relationships with students is the basis of all learning and growth in education. The Chorus & Band program continues to prepare students and enhance their skills  to have the highest quality of performances you will ever see and hear from a Jr. High.   We are looking forward to the Science Fair in the Spring for all 7th & 8th graders. They always have fun and interesting projects.   The 8th Grade Reading Rocks program, also in the Spring, does a tremendous job of connecting a student with an adult partner, a truly outstanding community reading program.  This year, we have incorporated a Life Skills class that every student at JCJH participates in.  They have learned some very valuable life skills such as counting change, managing money, sewing, communicating with sign language, discussing possible careers and so much more.  Finally, JCJH had their Rise Above Day, where teachers host sessions about current topics such as body image, friendships, social media, self care, self awareness, gaming etc.  Students choose which sessions they would like to attend.  It is a day full of wonderful information and powerful discussion.  

JCJH offers 10 different extra-curricular activities throughout the year which on an average over 70% of the students take part in at some point throughout a school year. JCJH has some wonderful coaches and role models that care about building confidence and producing great young men and women on and off the court.  It is so rewarding and fun to watch our junior high athletes improve their skills and compete with other schools.   The students and coaches work hard at all facets of their activities learning life lessons beyond the classroom.

JCJH continues to have strong academic expectations for all students.  The staff continues to collaborate, analyze data and explore new ways to enhance student learning.  Some of the main goals this year is to engage students, focus on their social and emotional well-being,  and define their strengths and weaknesses to better serve them.   The staff and administration have been very involved with an assigned ISBE staff member and have teamed up with a learning partner, Atlantic Research.  I am very proud of our staff and students with the movement in a successful direction.  Change is not easy and this group has and are still seeking changes to better the educational process for those students.  This group has proven that individuals can achieve so much more when they work together as a TEAM.  

Newton Community High School

Newton Community High School is the home of 380 Eagles this year, freshmen through seniors.  At NCHS, we all strive to be our best every day and prepare students for whatever path they choose in life.   We want to prepare students to go and chase their dreams!

A goal this year at NCHS is challenging students to be the best they can be in all that they do.    NCHS also continues to look for ways to focus on soft skills and prepare students for their future.  We have also made it a goal to keep our students positive and involved any way we can since we know that is a key to making students successful.  

As far as academics and class offerings at the high school, we continue to offer many dual credit courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and to help families financially.  Our CEO program continues to offer students a great opportunity to consider the business world as an entrepreneur for a career.   Currently, we have 10 outstanding students enrolled.  Their class business this year was Jasper CEO Under-Wraps.  It was a very successful business and very much appreciated by the community members that took advantage of it.    They will once again host an annual Trade Show in late April at the West End Reception and Event Center.  Our Fine Arts department continues to excel.   This year our directors and students put on five stellar performances of “White Christmas” and are already preparing for the Spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast”.  We have so much talent at NCHS.  The Yearbook Club continues to win numerous awards and the art classes are bursting at the seams.  Our new Family Consumer Science teacher along with her classes have prepared delicious meals and desserts for our staff in appreciation for all they do for our students.  NCHS is also proud to announce that they have eleven Illiniois State Scholars this year.  

Extracurricular is another area where our Newton Eagles exceed expectations.  Around 80% of our student body is involved in some type of extracurricular activity or sport! This year, students were able to participate in all sports like normal.   Our loving and supportive community has once again filled our stadium and bleachers this year.  There is nothing better than seeing all the orange and blue and hearing the roar of our crowd cheering for our Newton Eagles!!!   It is so wonderful to have our loyal fans back!!  Our athletes and coaches continue to work hard, stay dedicated, and represent NCHS in a very positive way.    The spirit of volunteerism extends throughout the entire student body and staff.  Whether it be packing bags for Blessings in a Backpack, racking yards for the elderly, tutoring their peers, collecting food, or organizing coat and gift drives, helping with community events, the students at NCHS are proud to give back to a community that does so much for them.

NCHS has amazing teachers that put students first, a dedicated staff that works very hard, and a student body that has a limitless future. They have put in countless hours to ensure students have everything they need to be successful and stresses the importance of them being who they are and who they want to be.  JUST BE YOU!  The staff continues to  “Be the Difference” for many of our students.  We really do have an outstanding TEAM  helping our teenangers seek their desires for the future!!  

Special Education Department

The Special Needs Department continues to provide individualized services to our students who have been identified as having a disability.  Our staff focuses on supporting our special needs students through pull out and push in services.  Each student who is eligible for special education has an individualized education plan in which the IEP team lays out what goals the students will be working towards, accommodations they may receive, and what their individualized services will look like.  The special needs staff continues to build positive relationships with staff in the building as they have to effectively work as a team to make the best decisions for our students.  

Students in our cross categorical programs can take part in the coffee cart program where they build functional skills such as taking orders, counting money, filling drink orders, and delivering the items.  This has been a positive experience for both our students and our staff.  We look forward to expanding the coffee cart to the Junior High.  

The special needs staff works hard at creating an environment that is welcoming for all students and focuses on individual growth, both academically and social emotionally.   Our staff consists of 11 special education teachers and three speech language pathologists.

Jasper County Community Unit #1 Counseling Report

The counseling department at JCCU#1 continues to put students' social and emotional well-being as a top priority.  We have four counselors in the district.  Two of them are housed at Newton Elementary, one at the junior high and one at the high school.  These counselors do both individual counseling and  group counseling.  They also spend time planning and teaching SEL lessons to students which we have found to be very valuable.  They communicate regularly with parents to build relationships and be the bridge between school and home.  Our counselors continuously look for ways to connect with students and assist students through stressful situations and be someone they can turn to when they need something. Finally, monthly themes are developed to support character growth among our students.

An area of emphasis in the counseling department this year due to the added stress COVID has caused many of our students and families is building resilience by teaching coping skills.  Community outreach is another avenue that counselors utilize to support families and students.  An example of this would be our mentoring program.  We have several community members that serve as mentors to our students.  Community resources are also utilized to assist students and families in need.  A future focus of the department will be to continue to strengthen relationships with families and the community.  

Our counseling department is an amazing team that is willing to help students and families at any time.  If you or your student are in need of assistance, please feel free to reach out to the counselors in the building that your student attends.  

PTO

Our Parent Teacher Organization in the Jasper County School District is Amazing. We are very Blessed to have this group to support our students and staff in the manner in which they do.  There is much work and many hours of donated time from them as they provide so much that we as a district are unable to provide.  The current PTO officers are:  Brooke Wolf, Kristin Radke, Kylee Frichtl, Jennifer Meinhart and Robin Deckard.  Here are items in which they have contributed in both FY21’ and FY22 ‘:

2020/2021

P/T conferences, Subway sandwiches and snacks: $348.05

Blessings in a Backpack donation: $500

100th day donuts, Gr. K: $69.63

NE ice cream day: $203.87

3rd grade ice cream for completing multiplication facts: $163.58

Gr. K inflatable party: $130

District lunch appreciation lunch: $540

2020 Teacher wish lists: $3,100

1st grade park shirts and supplies: $349

2021/2022

Teddy bear day, 1st grade: $33.37

P/T conferences, Subway sandwiches and snacks: $375.57

Scholastic Book Fair - teacher books for their rooms: $810.26

2nd grade project donation: $62.88

Blessings in a Backpack: $500

Hot chocolate/snack day before Christmas: $402.54

2021 teacher wish lists: $3,500

.....to be continued for 2022.....

The Annual Basket Bingo is back on this year after taking a year hiatus due to Covid.  It is set for Friday, March 18th!

What is the State of the District?

Jasper County Community Unit District #1 continues to focus on student achievement and building relationships with students for the purpose of positive growth for continual learning! Many of our administrators, staff and coaches have continued emphasizing community service this year as the information above supports.  We continue to put students first.  Our students are learners, leaders, and our best hope for this community, state, and country. They are excelling because of excellent  administrators and faculty, an outstanding classified staff, parents who are involved in their lives, and a community that values and supports them.  It takes a village to raise a child and we have many elements in this village to promote the success of our students.  We feel our TEAM, which has been listed here, is topnotch!

Specific things we have been working on this year are:

Some real challenges looking us in the face are:

After six years as the Superintendent of this fine district, I can honestly say we have great students, staff and community members.  I have been Blessed beyond imagination to serve this community, staff and students affiliated with the Jasper County Community Unit District #1 educational / athletic programs. I would encourage all residents and staff members  to create a more cohesive bond between each other and between our education system and our community.  After all, we are all on the same TEAM!!!! After what we as a COMMUNITY have experienced over the past twenty plus months, we need to begin the healing process together.  Trust is very important to me and I desire for that to continue to grow within this district and with the school and community!! The future of our educational institution weighs heavily on you as a community.  Education is changing at an alarming rate and we must be ready to embrace these changes.  We will likely see more financial concerns with the effects from the potential closing of the power plant.  However we are working diligently to prepare for the day that takes place, if it does.  Also with the latest information from Vistra of the potential move from a Coal-fired power plant to a Solar / Battery powered plant in the future is a great sign of at least some sustainability to the tax base of the County.  We will continue to be transparent with what our needs will be and options of how to attain those needs.  We again appreciate your support for our systems as we are only as good as you help us be!!

Please know that the Board of Education is working diligently with the Illinois Association of School Boards to secure a replacement for me in the coming months.  Interviews will be conducted during the next several weeks with a goal to hire someone to begin with the 2022 - 2023 school year by the end of February 2022.  The board members are very committed to finding someone to meet the needs that were conveyed from the community and staff in the surveys provided to all of you prior to Christmas 2021.  The future of your students / families is in very good hands with this seven member board.

As 2022 rolls in, let’s pray collectively for the families that have lost loved ones to the COVID-19 virus.  Let’s reach out and help one another in times of need during this Pandemic. And, lastly let’s pray the virus leaves our County and Country during this 2022 year.  We desire to get back to normal with most of our activities.  However, my hope for all of our Jasper County residents is that we take what we have learned during this difficult year of 2021 and help others strive to be better because of what we have learned.  Let’s slow down and enjoy those dinners with the entire family that could begin to diminish as we get back to normal.  Let’s take a few extra minutes when we are around others to value what they are saying rather than listening long enough to suffice a belief that we heard what they said and off we go.  TIME is precious, use it wisely and take good care of yourself and your families.   We have a community that CARES - please continue to build on those beliefs that we all possess for the future of our children.  We have a community that supports the educational process for their children.  With these two combinations our students are destined to SUCCEED over the next five months and beyond.  I ask that you communicate with your child’s school on a regular basis so we can work together for our children.  Stay the course with us - Pandemic or not , because at the end of the day #WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF UNITY!!