October Cat Connection
October
October is in the Books! 📚🐯☘️
Superintendents Corner
GJCS by the Numbers
A priority for our school district is to constantly monitor all pertinent statistics about our current reality, as well as looking at trends to ensure ongoing strategic planning for the future. As we examine these stats, we are fully able to understand our curricular, operations and fiscal health, as well as ascertain current and future needs. As stakeholders in our school district, we felt it would be important to share a current snapshot.
Student Enrollment
Our current pupil enrollment as of 9/30/22 in grades Pre-Kindergarten through grade 13 is 3,273 students. Our student body is represented by 21 different countries and students speak 14 different native languages other than English. Ethnicities of our students are represented by the following:
White 77%
Hispanic 19%
Multi-racial 2.4%
Asian 1%
Black 0.8%
Native American 0.03%
Approximately 9% are English Language Learners. Nearly 14% of our students have an Individual Learning Plan (IEP) for special education resources and services. 38% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunches through the National School Lunch Program.
Our students’ educational programs and schools are served by approximately 343 staff members. 194 certified and highly qualified staff members provide instruction and program/operations facilitation. Credentialing statistics are as follows:
Bachelor’s Degree 34%
Master’s Degree 65%
PhD 1%
149 support staff members support academics, social work and health services, operations, food service and transportation.
Support Services
The district supports many programs that provide well-rounded services and ensure our schools are safe and operate efficiently. Health and social services, custodial and maintenance staff, food service and transportation are all vital to a comprehensive educational program. It is interesting to see the sheer magnitude of their efforts.
Our district is fortunate to have a school nurse assigned to every school. These caring individuals chart nearly 12,000 visits per year for student illness, injury and other health related concerns.
Five full-time and one part-time social worker are available to address the mental health, academic and behavior needs of our student body. They work closely with our students, parents, teachers and administrators. Last year, they collectively logged nearly 5,172 individual student contacts.
Our cafeteria staff served approximately 477,000 meals to students across all schools. This includes breakfast and lunch.
Maintenance and custodial staff maintain and clean 940,745 square feet of facilities and nearly 203 acres of property annually.
The district runs 32 school bus routes twice per day for 180 days per year. That is nearly 175,000 miles traveled per year (7 times around the Earth at the equator!). This is not inclusive of extra travel for field trips, athletics and extracurricular activities.
Fiscal Health
All of this does not occur without closely monitoring the fiscal statistics of our district.
Average Revenue (5 year average) $47,936,643
(ALL Federal, State, Local Funds)
Average Expenditures (5 year average) $43,966,791
(ALL Federal, State, Local Funds)
2022 Annual Budget $42,036,814
(Education, Operations, Debt Service, Rainy Day Funds)
Total Assets $330,195,174
Net Worth $273,074,586
The district has strategically managed our debt service plan for many years to address our facilities needs in a manner that has not increased our local tax-payer obligation. This steady debt service tax rate has resulted in the construction of a new elementary school, bus maintenance facility with plans to expand and renovate Ireland Elementary, Jasper High School and athletic facilities. Again, all accomplished without extra-burden to our taxpayers.
We are proud of the current state of our district and will continue to monitor our progress to ensure our students have excellence in the classroom, exceptional support services and top-notch facilities all while being fiscally prudent. These are the attributes that make #JasperGREAT!
GJCS Marketing Folder
Need access to the new GJCS logo and/or branding guidelines? Here is a link to the Google Drive Folder.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11QNtf8UTghR38Pj-xxt9BsIL7YQQRK7i?usp=sharing
November Birthdays
What's Happening?
Want to Share What's Happening?
Find the GJCS Event Sheet here!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qs3C7k_BhkkZ3nVz7UTcf_LRYbuRmBhRjycLgnmWlg0/edit?usp=sharing
OR...
Fill out the News Release found here:
October was National Principal Month!
Happy Halloween!
Thanksgiving Break - November 23 to November 25
Tech Tip of the Month
How to Print to Sticky Notes
- Get materials. You will need good sticky notes, a sticky note template (find template below), and a printer.
- Prep the template. You can type whatever you want into them. Then, place your sticky notes you wish to print on onto a blank template. Make sure you put the sticky part on top.
- When going to print, make sure the sticky part of the sticky note goes in first. Then, press print!
Photo Instructions
Sticky Note Template
91.7 The Curve - Grade A Music
Make sure to tune into 91.7 The Curve on your work commute for some great music and talk shows! Or, listen using the link below.
IDOE News
Dubois County Career Cruise
Do you know of an organization like to participate in the Dubois County 8th Grade Career Cruise this spring on April 5, 2023? This event will allow you to help expose 600+ 8th-grade students to careers available in Dubois County. Please share the link with them:
Have something for the December Cat Connection?
Email gblessinger@gjcs.k12.in.us!