The Jones County Board of Education celebrated the hard work of literacy and math teachers and student achievements at its January business meeting and voted to implement a significant change for future board meetings. The Jan. 13 meeting was called to order by Board Chairman Ginger Bailey. Her chairman’s report included wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a word about the opening session of the state legislature.
“State laws affect what we do in the classroom. I’ll be sending a daily report with information important to know. Please read them; it may involve you,” she said.
Superintendent Dr. Jessica Graves updated her 100-day entry plan. She said she visited all school campuses in December and noticed some good trends. The superintendent said she saw standards-aligned teaching in all the sites.
“There is a sense of community everywhere I go,” she said.
Graves said work has begun to form a Central Office Advisory Team, and there is more to come. She said the goal is to support the whole child.
The superintendent said she has met with a couple of civic organizations and would like to meet with more.
“I met with the Leader of the Village and want to continue to engage with small groups. The goal is to capture where we need to go,” she said.
The information session included the presentations to literacy and math leaders from Dames Ferry, Gray and Mattie Wells elementary schools and Gray Station Middle School.
Literacy Specialist Kristen Beaver explained the literacy and math leader honors celebrate schools that demonstrate extraordinary student progress and proficiency. Schools are recognized for achievement, growth, or both on annual end-of-grade or end-of-course assessments.
“The criteria recognizes the crucial importance of grade-level reading in third and sixth grades and numeracy skills in fifth and eighth grades, and requires higher growth from schools with lower achievement levels,” Beaver said.
Math Specialist Alisha Gordon recognized the 2024-25 Math Leader, Gray Station Middle School, and Dames Ferry Elementary was recognized with the 2025 Title I Distinguished School Award.
GSMS math teacher Leroy Brooks gave a presentation about the school’s robotics team that started two years ago in partnership with Robins Air Force Base. He talked about the sponsorship of Star Base Robins and the process of block coding that includes math.
He said the team won the grand champion award in regionals for the B group.
“The students are doing a great job. They are very enthusiastic,” he added.
Finance report
JCSS CFO Tonya Merritt presented the finance report for the month ending Dec. 31, which marks 50 percent of the school year.
The total revenues were $36,252,943 and total expenditures $28,236,831. The total cash in the bank was $28,238,831. The December collection of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax was $345,066, bringing the monthly average collection to $328,222.
Bailey emphasized the stability of the JCSS finances in light of the news of issues for other systems.
“We are audited every year,” she stated.
Action items
The first action item is a significant change in future board meeting dates. Graves discussed the idea in the Jan. 8 work session, which is to move the meeting to the second Monday to avoid conflicts with sporting events, Board of Commissioners meetings and the December Christmas Parade.
That change will start with the July meeting.
The minutes of that meeting stated the superintendent also suggested moving work sessions to the same night as the board meetings to improve efficiency and effectiveness. She said each work session would have a targeted focus.
Board member Kim Washburn made the motion for the meeting date change, and it was approved unanimously.
Board members voted as required to set the qualifying fees for the 2026 election that includes three positions on the board. The fees are in the amount of $180 for the chairman and $108 for the representatives for District 1 and 3. Board member Dr. Nancy Nash made the motion, and it was approved unanimous.
The remaining actions items were recommended by Graves and unanimously approved.
Contract with The Sign Store for the purchase of vinyl graphics window tinting film and installation for classroom exterior doors at Mattie Wells Elementary for the estimated cost of $10,420 utilizing funds from the Maintenance and operation budget.
Contract with Armitek Clearly Safe Solutions to purchase clear window security tinting film for Clifton Ridge and Gray Station middle schools for the estimated cost of $12,270 utilizing funds from the QBE Security funds.
Contract with ReDesign Group to purchase two servers, Windows DC Licensing and four hours of ProSupport for 60 months for the JCSS for an estimated cost of $50,173 for the servers and licensing and $24,499 for 60 months of ProSupport with a total estimated cost of $79,672 utilizing funds from the technology budget.
At the conclusion of the agenda, the meeting was adjourned to enter closed session.
