(NEWTON) The Jasper County School Board held it regular monthly meeting for August last night (8/18/25) in Newton. The Board :
Approved the payment of all bills as presented
Discussed the tentative budget for fiscal year 2026, noting that overall, the District ended the past fiscal year in good standing with revenues exceeding budgeted numbers and expenditures less than predicted with a surplus in the Education Fund and Operation & Maintenance Funds – the District remains concerned about its Transportation Fund as the state continues to prorate funding for transportation – while the Education Fund looks to be in a deficit, the District will continue to monitor revenues and expenditures
Approved the first reading of several updated District policies
Established a Budget Hearing for the FY26 Budget prior to the next regular meeting on September 22nd, at 6:20pm
Agreed to seek bids for the construction of a building addition at the Newton Elementary School, which will be east of the current building and will include new parking, new classrooms, a new cafeteria space, new office space, an IT office, and more with construction possibly to start in spring 2026 and completed within a year, weather permitting – the project will be funded by reserves, 1% sales tax funds, and Energy Transition Grant funds
Approved members Mandy Rieman & Nichole Mulvey to serve on the SESE Governing Board
And in personnel – accepted the resignation from NES Education Teacher Rachel Buening and agreed to employ Shandy Holmes as a Ste. Marie Elementary Teacher, Austin Reisner as a Maintenance Worker, Jordan Baker as a Paraprofessional, Katie Wiles as JCJH Scholastic Bowl Coach, and Linda Tharp as JCJH Assistant Cross Country Coach
the Jasper County School Board’s next regular monthly meeting is September 22nd, 2025.