Jacksboro ISD working on cutting student absences

news@jacksboronewspapers.com

Teacher absences were a big problem for the Jacksboro Independent School District in 2021-22.

District Administration is looking to ease some of the burden and announced how during the Aug. 8 school board meeting. Superintendent Brad Burnett said the district had a problem with personal leave last year with 501 personal leave days taken among the 160 staff members. When staff members are taking personal leave days, which Burnett called discretionary or non-illness related, it puts the district at a disadvantage.

“It’s a challenge to meet students academic needs without teachers in the classroom,” Burnett explained. “”With a massive shortage of certified substitutes, it puts us at a disadvantage.”

The district had 2,042 absences last year which cost $153,000 in substitute pay. More than half of those, 1,145, were classified as discretionary, Burnett said.

“Mental health days are becoming a thing of the past,” Burnett said. “We need (staff and teachers) here.”

To help with that, personal leave will now be required a five day advance notice and must be approved by an administrator. Anything not approved, or if the person is out of persona leave, will be docked at a full day (not substitute) pay.

Burnett said the district is not trying to take away legitimate reasons for time off, such as illness or bereavement, but something needed to be done.

“We’re not trying to be cruel or mean but this must be addressed,” Burnett noted. “We need to address what is best for the kids and that’s having a teacher in the classroom.”

In other news:

• Taxpayers will see a more than four cent drop in the district’s tax rate for the 22-23 school year.

Burnett noted the total tax rate will drop from $1.4034 per $100 valuation last year to $1.3841 this year. The district’s maintenance and operation tax rate dropped from $0.9634 to $0.9441, accounting for the drop. The district interest and sinking rate remained the same at 46 cents.

A public hearing and discussion of the tax rate will take place Aug. 31 at 8 a.m., the last date the tax rate and budget can be approved. The budget goes into effect Oct. 1.

• Burnett said the district is putting together a facilities needs committee to discuss a possible bond election next year.

A number of people have been chosen, some coming from a Facebook post looking for people to be on it.

Burnett said he wanted a cross section of the community to be a part of the group. Members will meet once a month September through December and report their findings to the board in January. The final date to get a bond issue called would be at the February board meeting, Burnett said.

Committee members are still being sought. Those wanting to sit on the committee may contact Burnett at 567-7203.

• Tornado recovery work continues with marquees going back up at both the elementary and high school at a cost of $12,450 each. New lighting will accompany the signage, which is being sponsored by Jacksboro National Bank, which sponsored the last marquees.

The new marquees will not have video available, as the cost for that would nearly triple the cost of the marquee. Burnett said people traveling down the highway really don’t have time to see a video sign anyway.