Congratulations were abound at the the Jackson Parish School Board meeting that was held this past Monday. During the session that was conducted at the JP School District Central Office,  board members and JPSD Superintendent David Claxton recognized Trey Porchay of JHHS as New Teacher of the Year and Brent Carpenter of J-H Middle School as Principal of the Year. 

In addition the board recognized Paulette Belton and Dennis Clary as Certified Board Members for the 2022 calendar year. These are Board Members that have earned twenty (20) or more LSBA approved training hours during a calendar year.

The pair led the School Board in CLU’s earned during the year as shown in the breakdown of points below. 

• Rick Barlow 12.5
• Paulette Belton 27.5
• Dennis Clary 22.5
• Wade McBride 17.5
• Gerry Mims 19
• Mary Saulters 17.5
• Calvin Waggoner 13

The board then approved  the 2024-25 School Calendar before moving on to approving recommendations made by the various committees that met before the general meeting. 

Executive / Finance Committee recommendations that were approved were:

1. Payment of General Fund, Federal Program, School Food Service, Sales Tax, Special Education, and District Maintenance bills.
2. New Directions to provide twenty (20) days of coaching (10 days for Math and 10 days for ELA) at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School at a cost of $30,000.00, to be paid out of ESSER III Incentive funds. (Pending LDOE approval)
3. Name Pelican Benefit Advisors as consultant and sole Employee Benefit provider for Jackson Parish School Board, effective June 1, 2024.
4. Declare oven from Jonesboro Hodge High School cafeteria as surplus. The oven is not usable and will be disposed of.
5. Payment to Computer Comforts, Inc. in the amount of $25,054.82 to purchase testing carrels for Jonesboro Hodge High School 9th Grade Academy, to be paid from ESSER III Incentive funds, pending LDOE approval.

Transportation Committee recommendations that were approved were:

1. Purchase of a Type C 53-54 Passenger, Blue Bird Vision school bus from Ross Buss & Equipment Sales at a cost of $140,864.32, to be paid from General Fund.
2. Out of state travel for five (5) teachers, two (2) administrators from Jonesboro Hodge High School to travel to Dallas, Texas – June 16-19, 2024 to participate in the AVID Summer Institute Training as part of their 9th Grade Academy Program, to be paid from ESSER III Incentive funds, not to exceed $30,000.00.

An additional item added to the agenda and approved was out of state travel to El Dorado, Ark for Quitman High School Golf Team on April 3, 2024. Transportation will be provided by parents and school personnel.