Dr. Tracy Lorey Returns to Superintendent Position at GJCS

The low bid was accepted for an E-Rate purchase of replacement switches and ports for internet connectivity. The low bid for the replacement purchase of onboarding computers was also accepted. 

Several approved field trip requests include the annual trip to New York City, a trip to Orlando for the Educators Rising National Event, and a team camp at Indiana University for the Cross- Country team. The board discussed Changes to IREAD-3 and the implications that it will have on summer school and retention. Summer school teachers for Jasper Elementary were approved, and contracts for some non-corporation drivers were amended. In addition to a number of staffing changes, the board also ended its search for a new superintendent, filling the position with a surprise candidate. 

Monday night’s meeting of the Great Jasper Consolidated School board saw a familiar face back in the fold. A contract was approved for Dr. Tracy Lorey to resume her position as Superintendent. In February, Dr. Lorey had retired from her position with the district so that she could serve as Indiana's Deputy Secretary of Education. Of the return, Dr. Lorey told the board, “I would like to say that my time in Indianapolis was a great learning experience, and I had the opportunity to meet and work with some really amazing people who are doing great things for education across the state of Indiana. But it really became very apparent pretty quickly that my heart is in Jasper, and my heart is with the students, and the staff, and the schools that we serve here in our community.” 

Board President Greg Eckerle said that when the opportunity presented itself, the decision to rehire Dr. Lorey was an easy one. “Having known Dr. Lorey for seventeen years, when I came on the board, she came to the central office as the curriculum director. Before that, she had been a teacher and a principal. So, for seventeen years, I’ve known obviously that she can do the job as well as anybody I’ve ever been around and seen. So it was easy for me to say yes, I would be totally behind you returning, and then talked individually with the other board members and they had much the same reaction. So it became very apparent that that was something we wanted to do.” 

Dr. Lorey praised many of the people she worked with in Indianapolis, but she also said that GJCS students and staff, along with her family, took precedence. Speaking afterward with WITZ, the veteran educator showed that she plans to pick up exactly where she left off. “I feel like we will continue to make a literacy a focus. I think you’re going to see us moving in the same direction with mathematics education. I feel like as we implement, and these new diploma requirements become required for our current eighth graders who will roll in as freshmen next year, it’s going to be imperative that we have the resources and the tools to be able to communicate to them how they can take advantage of those flexibilities. Because, again, ultimately, we want them to be able to have an opportunity, whatever it is. If it’s going to be enrollment, employment, enlistment – we want to help them get to that goal.” 

In other business, a hearing was held regarding a proposed lease agreement and some upcoming construction projects for the district. Some projects to be funded by the bond will include the addition of ten new classrooms and several new early childhood education rooms, classroom upgrades, a cafeteria addition, HVAC replacement, and parking. Three bond-related resolutions were introduced. The board adopted a resolution authorizing the execution of the lease and another assigning construction bids to the building corporation, once received. The resolution approving the Supplement to Master Continuing Disclosure Undertaking and Issuance of Bonds was also adopted. 

For more information on these and other updates, visit gjcs.k12.in.us.