FINANCIAL PLAN VITAL FOR JACKSON SCHOOLS

JACKSON -- School Superintendent Wayne Maupin says one of the most important events last year in the Jackson School District was the Board of Education establishing a financial plan for the district.

Many school districts around the state face financial problems because of cutbacks in state funding. The Jackson system is among them.

Maypin said: "The board spent a year-and-a-half studying all facets of school financing. They did a complete study of past or historical trends, and made some plans for the future to meet the financial needs of our school district.

"Their interest in this entire process is in evidence of their commitment to serve this district. The board did not wait until we were in a financial crisis situation. They are now equipped to deal with a very uncertain future. All efforts will be made toward maintaining our instructional program."

Maupin said the board's and administration's goal is that the school district's academic program be preserved. "In our opinion, this is the heart and soul of the school district," he said. "This is why we are here; to educate kids and prepare them for their future. So far we're meeting that goal, but I'm concerned for the future."

In 1991 the district saw completion of a $5.5 million capital improvements program that included a new elementary school, a new multipurpose gym at the high school, renovation of a former elementary school on the high school campus, and construction of a bus transportation center.

The decline last year in state funding forced the district to eat away at fund balances to the extent that by next year the district could have deficits in at least two funds. To avert a crisis, the board decided in January to place a 35-cent tax-levy-increase proposal on the April ballot.

The district, which has about 3,500 students, is growing by about 50 to 75 students each year, Maupin said. To meet demand and reduce classroom sizes, the district built Orchard Elementary School, which now houses grades 1-3. The upper elementary grades are at West Lane Elementary School.

Construction of the multipurpose athletic building and renovation of the former Central Elementary School building on the high school campus allowed the high school to expand. "This has been a tremendous asset to the high school," said Maupin. "It has allowed them to expand into other buildings, into some much-needed space."

One result of the capital improvements program was startup of two computer class programs. The computer programs were instituted at the high school at the suggestion of former Jackson High School graduates.

"It was a weakness in our curriculum, and the board made a commitment," said Maupin. "But we could not start until the remodeling of the old elementary school was completed. That allowed us to convert two classrooms into a computer science lab."

Maupin said both classes are operating at full capacity. "Next year, we'll begin the advanced computer programs," he said.

Assistant Superintendent Fred Jones said the teachers and administration at the junior high school got together with the Parent Teacher Organization and asked: "What can we do to make our school better, and how can we address some of the needs at the school? They did all of the work and sent them to us for our approval."

The goals included a closer working relationship between the school, the Parent Teacher Organization, and parents; supervised after-school study time; an adopt-a-student program that allows a teacher to work on a one-on-one basis with a student in need of academic help; development of an academic letters program similar to the athletic letter program; a telephone homework hotline; and more student recognition programs.

Jones said some of the goals have been implemented and others will be implemented this year.

At the high school, a new program called peer tutors puts volunteer high school students on a one-on-one basis with other high school students having difficulty with their academic work.

Maupin said after last year's evaluation by the Missouri School Improvement Program, the district received accredited status, the highest level of achievement possible. He said the district also received a favorable review by a visiting team from the North Central Association of Elementary and Secondary Schools.

Maupin said the most significant thing that came out of both reviews was the statement in both reports that: "There is evidence of a school system in the community, where all parts of the system and the community are pulling together in the same direction, toward academic excellence."

Said Maupin: "That's what it takes for a district to be successful; the parents, teachers, students, community leaders, business leaders everyone working together. To me, that says a lot for our community and the attitude the community has for the school system."

He said strong, parent support can be seen in all of the district's attendance centers. He said parents in Gordonville raised $4,000 last year to purchase air conditioners for the elementary school.

At North Elementary School at Fruitland, parents donated time, money and materials to upgrade the playground, saving the district several thousand dollars.

"The PTO at West Lane has been very active raising money and purchasing things for the school. They have just about equipped a computer center there," said Maupin.

"Our instructional staff has also played a vital role in our academic excellence," said Maupin. "And we can't leave out the parents, because the concern for education really starts and ends in the home."

Maupin said his greatest concerns are financial stability, the teacher-pupil ratio in classrooms, and teachers' salaries.