JACKSON PANEL ASKS FOR REVIEW OF FUND-RAISERS

JACKSON -- Jackson Board of Education member Marvin Adams, who refiled for his seat Tuesday morning, questioned the school district's fund-raising policy at Tuesday's board meeting.

At December's board meeting, he asked Superintendent Wayne Maupin to look into the school's policy on fund raising, which primarily covers non-school organizations using the school to raise money. Maupin reported that school fund-raisers were used to purchase items not included in the annual budget.

Adams said a survey of Jackson merchants revealed most don't mind donating to school groups, although a few wanted to see returns in those students and their families spending money in Jackson instead of neighboring communities. However, the board member questioned the propriety of just a few students soliciting money for activities that aren't school sponsored.

He cited four cheerleaders who wore uniforms and solicited money to attend a special event outside Missouri. The problem would arise, Adams said, when basketball players or groups of other students tried to raise money for exclusive camps.

The board, with member Vicki McDowell dissenting, decided to have Maupin draft a more specific fund-raising policy to be reviewed at a future meeting.

In other business, the group studied bids from three agencies for the purchase of five new school buses. While Ponder Equipment Co. offered the lowest bid, school staff members said the company didn't stick with bid specifications, sometimes substituting cheaper equipment on the buses.

The board accepted Central States' bid of $199,950 and will receive four 66-passenger buses and one 78-passenger bus by July 31.

Finishing the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Fred Jones delivered a report about Monday's planned Professional Development Day. While students will be out of school for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jackson teachers will have the opportunity to attend three educational sessions in the morning and then spend the afternoon working on individual projects.

Among the topics to be covered at the workshop are "Stress Management for Teachers" by Dr. K.P.S. Kamath, "Dealing with Violent Students" by Sgt. Alan Foust and "Surviving a Career in Teaching...and Loving It!" by Dr. Robert Herring.

Teachers will be allowed to select the three classes they want to attend.

Jones said last year's event was canceled due to inclement weather, but he is hoping for better conditions Monday.