Students present programs for board

JISD students gave presentations on programs they are involved in as part of the school board meeting Monday evening.

Ag Mechanics teacher Gage Graybill and some of his students spoke about the program and how technology has played a major role in what they do. A virtual welding simulator was demonstrated by Josh Wells.

Graybill said the machine is available through Region 9 and allows students to test their welding skills, which Wells demonstrated. The machine can even grade the weld the student made and show how to make it better.

Hillary Deffebach, instructor of Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID told the board about her program. AVID, which is in its third year at JHS,  prepares students with academic potential for success in the advanced high school classes and in college. 

Thirty one students are enrolled in the program, which requires a four-year commitment. Of those, 30 of them will be the first in their family to attend college, Deffebach said. AVID students have contributed more than 900 community service hours as well and are expected to fill out college applications and go college tours.

Junior Jonathan Green said the program has helped him go from a below average student in middle school to one with a 93.8 average now.

“It has given me the skills to better myself in school and organize my time,” Green said. “It has opened doors for me and enabled me to reach goals of being the first in my family to go to college.”

Deffebach has recruited JHS teachers Karen Adkins and Elyssa Bennett to assist in math and science areas with good results in test scores.

During principal reports, JMS Principal Sara Mathis said the school was going to be having it Level 1 Certification of the High Reliability School program on Thursday. All JISD schools are taking part in the HRS program. JHS Principal Brad Burnett  told the board that the teaching team is going through instructional rounds and are scoring above four in all categories on surveys given to teachers and parents.

Burnett said the school is working on ways to improve the lines of communication with the community. Implementation of those are expected early next year with Level 1 certification expected in April, Burnett said.

In his report, Superintendent Dwain Milam said preliminary work on security doors and windows at the middle school began last week with installation of new security doors and windows to be completed during the Thanksgiving break at both the middle and elementary campuses.

Milam said the district food service program has served 6,377 more meals this year than at the same time last year. The district is now looking into food costs.