Student Services Department
Hearing Office
The Student Services Department is a resource center for the students of the Jasper County School District. These include various health, wellness and behavioral services, truancy prevention, education for the homebound and homeless, and assistance to those seeking alternative educational programs that further their education.
Curtis Dixon, Director of Student Services
(843) 717-1671
The Hearing Officer and his/her review panel assemble for expulsion hearing(s). Hearings will be held according to the schedule set by the Jasper County School District Hearing Officer. The Jasper County School District Hearing Officer will conduct the hearings. All parties involved in the case will be introduced. A "Hearing Rule of Order" will be distributed before each hearing. After the hearing has concluded, the panel will recess for deliberation. The panel will reconvene to render their decision.
The Hearing Officer will convey that decision to the parent in writing by certified mail; return receipt within five (5) days. The written decision must inform the parents of their right to appeal the decision to the Jasper County School District Board of Education. The School Principal or his/her designee is responsible for contacting the Student Services Department to schedule a date for the expulsion hearing. The parent/guardian will be notified in writing as to the date and time of the expulsion. The letter should be mailed to the parent by certified mail within ten days of the incident. No documentation of the incident needs to be sent to the parent. The principal or his/her designee must submit a complete packet (as outlined in the disciplinary hearing checklist) to the Hearing Officer.
MAPPS Program
The Students Service Department plays an important role in cultivating the student psychologically as well.
The Medicaid Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (MAPPS) is designed to educate in-school adolescents (and their families) about the consequences of teen parenting. The program is intended to help participants become self sufficient upon completion of their schooling. MAPPS focuses upon youth ages 10 - 18 whose families are Medicaid eligible. Participants must be in school. The program concentrates on self-esteem, sexually transmitted diseases, decision making, peer/social pressures, risk of early sexual involvement, good communication, goal setting and human sexuality.
Education and preventive endeavors must gravitate toward the expansion of life options and the development of character, values and self-esteem for students. Contact person is Ericka Gordon at 717-1677.
Youth Counselors
Youth Counselors provide assistance to school age students 10 to 18 years old. Their primary goal is to help students understand the importance of practicing healthy lifestyles with emphasis on pregnancy prevention. Contact person Curtis Dixon at 717-1671.
CAPP (Community Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program) is another similar program. Its goal is to reduce teen pregnancy and decrease rates of recidivism among the entire adolescent school population. CAPP is a collaborative network between the following agencies: Beaufort-Jasper Comprehensive Health Services, Inc., Jasper County Council for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Jasper County School District, the Department of Health & Environmental Control, and Jasper County Department of Social Services and Glasscho Hope Wellness Center. Contact 717-1675.
Student Attendance
The South Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law is designed to increase attendance, decrease the dropout rate and ultimately assist in the production of self-sufficient, mature young adults.
"The South Carolina State Law Section 59-65-10 requires that a student must attend school 170 days out of 180 school year. Ten or more absences during the school year will endanger a child from being promoted to the next grade level.
The South Carolina State Law Section 20-7-490 states the parent is responsible to make sure the child(ren) attends school regularly. Failure to comply will result in filing a petition for Educational Neglect on the parent.
The Office of Student Services in conjunction with Attendance Officials has developed strong school attendance procedures. These procedures focus on home visits, attendance contracts, and petitions to Family Court. This plan includes utilizing all available county and school-based human resource personnel whenever necessary. Contact person - Kathy Brown at 717-1673.
Homebound Program - Students who cannot attend school because of illness, accident, or pregnancy are eligible for homebound or hospitalized instruction. A physician must certify that the student is unable to attend school but may profit from instruction given in the home or hospital. The district superintendent must approve any student participating in a program of homebound instruction or hospitalized instruction or his/her designee on standardized forms provided by the State Department of Education. The district for documentation must maintain all approved forms. Once approved, the student is eligible to homebound instruction.
Homeless Program - providing the necessary resource for the children to attend school. Contact person Kathy Brown at 717-1673.
Salkehatchie Youth Challenge Academy - a voluntary alternative program designed to assist at-risk youth, ages 16-18, in attaining their GED. Participants must be free of illegal drugs and an official high school dropout. They must be mentally and physically capable of participating in all activities and not under indictment before the courts or on probation from other than status offenses. Contact person - Kathy Brown at 717-1673.
Safe and Drug Free School & Communities Program - provide programs/activities that prevent violence and the illegal use of control substance to ensure safe learning environment for students and staff. Some of the campaigns consist of Red Ribbon Week, drug testing for bus drivers, cameras on school campuses and training for school district staff. Contact person - Curtis Dixon at 717-1671.
New Model Me Club - The State Department of Education approved this curriculum that primarily addresses human behavior. This club provides group support counseling, individual counseling, parenting/teacher conferences, mentoring, teacher consultation/referral services, educational field trips and rewards. Currently this club is active at both primary and middle schools. Contact person - Curtis Dixon at 717-1671.
I.A.M.R. (I Am Responsible, Reliable and Respectful) - The I.A.M.R. focuses primarily on Middle School males and females grade 6th-8th. Students are recruited to become proctors and serve as mentors to primary school students who are enrolled in our New Model Me Clubs. These recruits must have participated in the program for two years. Students graduating to high school will be eligible until graduation. Contact person - Curtis Dixon at 717-1671
