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Jasper to host state baseball/softball tournaments

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Jasper High School will be hosting the 2025 state Class 1A baseball/softball tournaments May 15-17 via the Harrison Sports Complex managed and operated by the City of Harrison Parks and Recreation Department. It was announced by Superintendent Dr. Candra Brasel at the Jan. 20 meeting of the Jasper School District Board of Education.
Jasper was chosen over Columbia Christian by the Arkansas Activities Association Board of Directors which met Jan. 16 at the Hilton Garden Inn in North Little Rock.
Brasel said Jasper also sought hosting the Class 1A-1 regional basketball tournament, but Magazine was selected.
By declaration of the Arkansas Board of Education January is observed in Arkansas as School Board Appreciation Month. Jasper school board members are Joel Brasel, Stacy Root, Quentin Rylee, Kevin Hasty, Garrett Davidson, Jim Randy Laverty and Lisa Snow. Brasel presented those members attending Monday night's meeting with tokens of appreciation for their service on behalf of the staff and students.
The month-long observance is intended to build a stronger understanding of the role school boards play in the overall education of the communities' youth.
The Arkansas School Board Association released a statement on Jan. 3. It says, "This year’s theme, 'Local Leadership, Lasting Impact,' highlights the profound influence school board members have in shaping not just the educational landscape, but also the future of our communities. Through their leadership and advocacy, they leave a lasting legacy of opportunity, success, and growth for Arkansas students."
Assistant Superintendent Kim Liggett pulled up several videos on a classroom monitor. The recorded messages of thanks to the board were made by students from the district's three campuses. The videos can be viewed on the Jasper School District's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JasperSchoolDistrict/ .
Brasel also delivered a report of the school board members' training. The report stated each of the members have received 6 or more hours of training under Act 589 of 2017.
Last August, Newton County received a federal Drug Free Community Grant providing $125,000 a year for 5 years. The grant's goal is to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. The Jasper School District agreed to be the fiduciary agent holding the funds for the Partners in Prevention coalition.
The coalition partnered with a consulting firm, Catalyst Evaluation Group, to provide data collection and analysis that is required by the grant to show that the coalition's program is meeting its goals towards sustainability. The contract is for $10,000 annually and is paid out of the grant. The school board, as fiduciary, approved the appropriation.
The school district contracted with RootED Arkansas to serve as a bridge between parents and the school district to help parents be more involved in their children's educational development. A second quarter report on the programs impact at the Kingston High School showed that upon the conclusion of the fall semester, 100% of the Kingston senior class had attended career exposure opportunities including industry tours, college campus visits, military recruiter conversations, job shadowing or guest speakers. In addition to coordinating those opportunities for student, secret events for students and parents were held to help them navigate the FAFSA completion process.
Under the direction of Leah Villines, 100% of Kingston seniors interested in 2-year and 4-year colleges have applied to at lest one institution.
In other business the board:
• Approved renewal of the Cisco Meraki system subscriptions as several licenses and support will be expiring in February. These subscriptions are needed to provide digital information software used to secure tools and devices, everything from cameras to the internet, on a managed platform or network. The total cost of the services provided by Heartland Business Systems is $31,447.03.
• Approved an out-of-state trip request from the Jasper High School FFA to attend an event at the College of the Ozarks in Hollister, Missouri, on March 1.



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