Bryan Lay of Quitman High School and Lisa Linton, who is employed by the Jackson Parish School District were honored for outstanding achievement by the Jackson Parish School Board during their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday. 

Lay was recognized for winning the LHSAA 2024 Class B Track and Field Indoor State championship in the Pole Vault while Linton received special mention for being named the PCAL Bus Driver of the Year.

In other action board members Dennis Clary, Gerry Mims, Paulette Belton, Rick Barlow, Calvin Waggoner, Wade McBride and Mary Saulters approved the revised 2023-2024 Reopening Plan for Jackson Parish Schools and the revised Jackson Parish Ready to Achieve K-12 Operational Guidance. Ashley Cotten also presented information on the Jackson Parish Strategic Plan.

The panel then agreed to adopt the following recommendations made by the Executive / Finance Committee, which met prior to the meeting that was held at 11:00 am in the Conference Room of the Jackson Parish School District Central Office. 

1. Pay General Fund, Federal Program, School Food Service, Sales Tax, Special Education, and District Maintenance bills.

2. Accept low quote of $17,810.10 from Eduporium for the purchase of ten (10) Discover Drones for Jonesboro Hodge High School Ninth Grade Academy, to be paid from ESSER III Incentive funds (pending LDOE approval).

3. Allow Challenge Island to present a STEM program at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, Quitman High School and Weston High School (Grades PK-5), Jonesboro Hodge Middle School (Grades 6-8) at a total cost of $10,923.00, to be paid out of ESSER III EB – $7856.00 and ESSER III Incentive- $3,067.00.

4. Accept low quote of $12,984.24 from CDW to purchase six (6) Maker Bot printers and filament for Jonesboro Hodge High School Ninth Grade Academy, to be paid out of ESSER III Incentive funds, pending LDOE approval.

5. Approve monthly payments to Sharon’s Lil Angels Daycare for the 23-24 CCAP – B-3 Seat program based on the number of student found eligible for the slots allocated by the LDOE, to be paid out of the CCAP B-3 state allocation. (Not to exceed the allocation amount of $247,140.00).

6. Approve payment of $32,081.12 to La. Delta Community College for Dual Enrollment Spring Courses, to be paid from 2023-2024 SCA, Education Excellence, ESSER II Incentive and/or ESSER III EB funds.

7. Approve the purchase of robotic components and supplies from Vex Robotics (sole source) for Jonesboro Hodge High School 9th Grade Academy at a cost of $24,298.00, to be paid from ESSER III Incentive funds, pending LDOE approval.A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Calvin Waggoner and carried approving the purchase of five (5) LCD display boards from Howard Technology Solutions at a cost of $15,131.00 for Jonesboro Hodge High School 9th Grade Academy, to be paid out of ESSER III Incentive funds, pending LDOE approval.

8. Approve the purchase of twenty-one (21) LCD display boards from Howard Technology Solutions at a cost of $59,827.00 for Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, to be paid from ESSER III Incentive funds, pending LDOE approval.

9. Accept low quote of $34,483.00 from Hotel and Restaurant Supply to furnish and install nine (9) insulated proofing cabinets – two (2) cabinets each at Jonesboro Hodge High School, Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, Quitman High School and Weston High School – one (1) at Jonesboro Hodge Middle School, to be paid from School Food Service funds.

10. Accept low quote of $12,420.00 from StageRight to purchase a Fold and Roll Stage to include stairs and skirt for Weston High School, to be paid from Weston District funds.

11. Approve the purchase of the Barton Reading System at a cost of $12,719.60 from Bright Solutions for use district wide to address specific reading disabilities, to be paid from ESSER III EB funds.

The following recommendations of the Building / Grounds Committee which also met before the general meeting were then acted on. 

1. Accept low quote of $39,852.96 from Susie’s Floors by Design Weston High School front foyer halls and computer lab, to be paid from Weston District funds.

2. Accept low quote of $108,651.00 from Victory Tracks for Track Re-Surface and Re-Stripe at Quitman High School, to be paid from Quitman District funds.

Transportation Committee recommendations followed including:

Approve out of state travel for one (1) teacher, one (1) administrator, and eleven 11) cheerleaders from Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School to travel to Dallas on July 23-26, 2024 to participate in UCA Cheer Camp. Expenses will be paid by parents.

Approve out of state travel for Elsie Flynn, Emma Otwell and Paisley Hainey from Weston High School to attend the Jr. Beta National Convention in Savannah, Georgia, June 9-13, 2024. The Jackson Parish School Board will reimburse for expenses according to policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions.

Approve out of state travel for Morgan Cheatwood, Addison Bouges, Katy Cumpton and Bonnie Goss, Advisor from Quitman High School to attend the FBLA nationals in Orlando, Florida, June 25 – July 3, 2024. The Jackson Parish School Board will reimburse for expenses according to policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions.

Approve out of state travel for Ma’Riyah Jones, Ethan Johnson, Sa’Tavia Qualls and Chevonda Leonard from Jonesboro Hodge High School to attend the FBLA nationals in Orlando, Florida, June 25 – July 3, 2024. The Jackson Parish School Board will reimburse for expenses according to policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions.

Following comments by JPSD Superintendent David Claxton the meeting was adjourned.