Blog Bits

Welcome back! We hope you had a relaxing spring break.

Health Savings Accounts
Some employees have asked if we have a Health Savings Account (HAS) program. We do not have an HSA program at this time. MASE has an insurance option that qualifies for a HAS program.

The district is exploring the possibility of an HAS with PEA. The following link: Health Savings Account Answers , has information regarding the concept.


Special Education Pre-School Payments
We were informed this week, by the Department of Education, that the pre-school program costs for distribution are $15,768,551 for the entire State of Indiana. The State of Indiana has only appropriated $11,315,435 resulting in a deficiency of $4,453,120. The Pre-Special Education payment to each school district will be reduced by $325.59 per pre-school student. The JESSE Board faces the challenge of providing services with reduced resources. It seems to us that discussions at the state level might be better focused on the neediest of our children rather than some of the topics that were in the spotlight.

New High School Course and Credit Requirements
The Indiana State Board of Education has adopted new course and credit requirements for earning a high school diploma. These new requirements go into effect for students entering high school in the fall of 2006. The State Department of Education has prepared a FAQ regarding this topic. The Frequently Asked Questions link is a valuable resource for parents.