South Tama Schools Business Manager Mary Boege (left) takes the oath of office as School Board Secretary and Treasurer administered by Board President Penny Tyynismaa. Her reappointment was approved by the school board on Monday night, July 16. Photo/Ron Houghton

“It’s a pretty good risk to take,” Laurie Phelan, iJAG representative told South Tama School Board members Monday night, July 16. She outlined the program available in schools across Iowa which she characterized as having an outstanding success rate in assisting students toward their futures and careers.

The four-hour course was adopted by the South Tama School Board on a 5-0 voice vote for a one-year trial. Placement of an iJAG specialist at the high school will result in the offering of three-four elective classes along with an extensive support program and follow-up.

It is expected up to 35 students will be served in the start-up year Phelan said.

The program is designed to help students by aiding in esteem building and career focus. Local, area and state industry and other workplace representatives are involved meeting with the students. Both summer jobs and placement or future higher education and training after high school is all part of the offering.

The cost to South Tama: $20,000 annually – iJAG which is partially state-funded picks up the salary, benefits and training costs. STC provides classroom and office space. The program will be funded by STC At-Risk Funds. Both South Tama and iJAG staff will take part in job interviews.

Superintendent Jared Smith endorsed the program as the result of his positive experience with the iJAG program in his previous assignments in Muscatine and Waterloo schools he said.

While iJAG may provide some of the counseling and at-risk coordinator duties, an outline provided by Smith showed its focus on “developing skill sets needed to be successful after high school in areas of career and post-secondary education, coordinate work experience program, added support for student needs, the elective credits earned and the year-around follow up support.”

JAG – Jobs for America’s Graduates has a 38-year history and has been in operation in Iowa for the past 19 years.

In other business Monday the school board:

approved reappointment of STC Business Manager Mary Boege as board secretary and treasurer.

named The State Bank of Toledo and Lincoln Savings Bank, Tama, as depositories with a $10 million deposit limits in each.

approved 2nd reading of a travel expense policy.

approved the 2018-19 Staff Handbook with coaching positions to be corrected to reflect changes and to add the Student code of conduct to the handbook.

approved purchase of a 67-passenger school bus from Hogland, Marshalltown at a bid price of $89,999. Other bidders were Thomas Built $95,780 and Blue Bird $99,019.