Weston High School will receive two double classroom modular buildings. Jonesboro-Hodge High School will sport a new Bus Canopy and Breezeway as well. The additions and improvements are result of the action taken by the Jackson Parish School Board, who in their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, May 1st, gave their approval to move forward with each.
Palomar Modular Buildings will supply the classrooms after submitting a low bid of $202,880.00 while Dodson Enterprises’s low bid of $23,985.25 won the contract to remove and replace the existing Bus Canopy and Breezeway.
The session opened with Mallorie Ashcraft, representing the 4-H Club at JHHS, leading the national anthem. Director Kristina Bourgeois and fellow club members Houston Cox and Ethan Bradford were also in attendance.
Board members Gerry Mims, Rick Barlow, Paulette Belton, Dennis Clary, Mary Saulters, Calvin Waggoner (President) and Wade McBride then heard from Carmecia Kimble. The parent of a student at Weston High, who has a background in optometry, had spoken to the board several months ago about the eyesight problems that “blue light” from the tablets the schools were using was causing.
In her return Kimble reported that the screens that the school board purchased to be added to the tablets had helped tremendously with “blue light” problems as evidenced by her daughter’s last Optometrist report.
My child just had a six month checkup and it was found that her eyesight has not worsened,” said Kimble. “I want to thank you for adding the screens to the tablets and adjusting the blue light levels. It has made a positive difference.”
In additional action, Superintendent David Claxton and the Board recognized Jackson Parish School District Business Manager, 
Kristi Bass, for meeting the requirements to become a Certified Louisiana School Business Administrator.
“This certification is a mark of distinction reflecting the highest honor of professional achievement in school business management and we congratulate Kristi for earning this,” said Claxton.
Superintendent Claxton also was granted permission to sign the Cooperative Agreement between the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service and Jackson Parish School Board.
Per the recommendation of the Transportation Committee, out-of-state travel for several JPSD students was approved as follows:
(1) Bryan McMillan, Ben Ramsey and Dillon Pardue to attend the National Senior Beta Convention to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, June 17-20, 2023
(2) Sebastian Goss, Omari Calahan and Houston Cox to attend the 2023 FBLA National Leadership Conference to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, June 25-July 1.
(3) Addison Faulkner and Abram Toms to attend the National Junior Beta Convention to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, June 23-26,2023.
The Jackson Parish School Board will reimburse for expenses according to policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions (National Convention Expenses)
Additional considerations and financial agreements were also undertaken including:
1. Payment of General Fund bills in the amount of $5,398,547.06
2. Payment of Federal Program bills in the amount of $828,213.21.
3. Payment of Food Service bills in the amount of $148,299.46
4. Payment of Sales Tax bills in the amount of $185,064.92
5. Payment of Special Education Fund bills in the amount of $192,123.90
6. Payment of District Maintenance bills in the amount of $131,782.29.
7. Authorized Superintendent Claxton to purchase Textbooks/Curriculum teaching resources and consumables for the 2023-2024 school year. Not to exceed $350,000.00.
8. Pay Employer’s Share of Office of Group Benefits insurance premiums from General Fund for the June 2023 sales tax distribution.
9. Grant permission for ten (10) people to travel to New Orleans for the Teacher Leader Summit at a cost not to exceed $20,000.00, to be paid by ESSER II/III funds.
10. Pay $12,075.00 to La. Delta Community College and $10,200.00 to University of Louisiana at Monroe for Spring Dual Enrollment Tuition, to be paid from 2022-2023 SCA funds.
11. Pay $12,680.00 to Global Vending Group, LLC to purchase two (2) Inchy book vending machines to be used at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, to be paid from ESSER III Incentive funds.
12. Approve stipend payments not to exceed $23,000.00 total for the teachers participating in the New Teacher Pilot Experience, to be paid from ESSER II Incentive (Reimagine Grant) funds. Final stipend amounts are based on the number of sessions in three training areas.
13. Accept low quote of $37,320.00 from Howard Technology Solutions for 120 Touchscreen Chromebooks and licenses to be used Districtwide, to be paid from IDEA 611 ARP.
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