JONES ATTENDS FIRST BOARD MEETING

JACKSON -- With only four days of employment with the Jackson Public Schools behind him, Dr. Howard Jones, the district's new superintendent, participated in a meeting with the school board Tuesday night.

Jones, hired in January, replaced retired superintendent Wayne Maupin. The new administrator moved to Jackson from Stillwater, Okla., where he was superintendent of the public school system.

He jumped right into his new position, requesting a late-July meeting with board members to brainstorm about the challenges facing Jackson's schools.

"We need to prioritize some issues, making sure the board, administrators and teachers are all moving in the same direction," he said.

Jones expressed gratitude toward Maupin, his predecessor, for answering questions about the district and for his willingness to help at any time of day.

He said Maupin's help was vital because of Jackson's quick growth.

"We don't have time to mess around, and we don't want to hesitate even one step," Jones said.

He thinks that, while rules and people may change from state to state, the challenges facing education today are much the same across the nation. While people want their schools to be based on traditional values, they want new and updated programs.

Jones, 51, is a Missouri native, first working as a superintendent in the Sedalia School District. He later took a position with the Missouri School Boards Association, then became superintendent in Stillwater in 1993.

He beat out 28 other applicants for the position at Jackson.

Jones and his wife, Dona, have two grown children and a 16-year-old son who will be a junior at Jackson High School.

JACKSON BOARD OF EDUCATION

Tuesday, July 11

7:30 p.m.

A. Set Tuesday, Aug. 22, as the date for a public hearing for the 1995-96 tax rate. The levy is currently $2.97.

B. Continued student accident insurance coverage with the MASA-endorsed plan.

C. Continued employee health and dental care coverage with the Mutual of Omaha Company for the 1995-96 school year.

D. Contracted special education services from the Easter Seal Society Early Learning Center.

E. Specified bid requirements for milk, tires and motor oil.

F. Authorized superintendent to negotiate purchase and installation of traffic signals at Jackson Middle School on Highway D.

G. Changed the July 25 regular board meeting to a study session to discuss district goals and objectives.