The Jackson Parish School Board held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, July 6th, where board members passed a Resolution to officially canvass the returns and declare the results of the special election for the Consolidated School District No. 1 held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, as valid.
Another pair of resolutions regarding the verification of the millage rate on the 2026 tax role and the sale of a certain 0.253-acre tract of immovable property belonging to the Jackson Parish School Board to the Jackson Parish Hospital Service District #1 was also adopted along with several recommendations from various committees and other items as shown below.
Minutes of the Jackson Parish School Board Meeting
July 6, 2026
The Jackson Parish School Board met in a regular scheduled meeting at 11:00 a.m. on July 6, 2026 at Jackson Parish School Board, 315 Pershing Highway, Jonesboro, Louisiana.
The following were present for roll call: Mary Saulters, Rick Barlow, Paulette Belton, Gerry Mims, Wade McBride, Dennis Clary
Absent: Calvin Waggoner
Rick Barlow gave the Invocation.
Paulette Belton led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The meeting was called to order by Mary Saulters.
A motion was made by Wade McBride seconded by Paulette Belton and carried to approve the minutes from the Regular Scheduled meetings held on June 1, 2026. Noting the following correction: Wade McBride was present for roll call.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Wade McBride and carried to approve adopting a resolution for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Jackson, State of Louisiana, on June 27, 2026, to authorize the continuation of a special tax therein.
The following resolution was offered by Dennis Clary and seconded by Wade McBride:
RESOLUTION
A resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Jackson, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, June 27, 2026, to authorize the continuation and rededication of a special tax therein.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish School Board of the Parish Jackson, State of Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of Consolidated School District No. 1 of the Parish of Jackson, State of Louisiana (the “District”), that:
SECTION 1. Canvass. This Governing Authority does now proceed in open and public session to examine the official tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in the District, on SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026, to authorize the continuation and rededication of a special tax therein, and said Governing Authority does further proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the special election.
SECTION 2. Election Results. According to the official certified tabulation of votes cast at said Election, there was a total of 1,975 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition and a total of 2,109 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition, resulting in a majority of 134 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition. The Proposition was therefore duly DEFEATED by a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors voting at the Election.
SECTION 3. Promulgation of Election Result. The results of said election shall be promulgated by publication in the manner provided by law, after receipt from the Secretary of State’s office of the actual costs of the election, as required by §18:1292 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended.
SECTION 4. Declaration, The foregoing results of the Election are hereby declared by this Governing Authority and shall be published as required by law.
SECTION 5. Proces Verbal. A Proces Verbal of the canvass of the returns of said election shall be made and a certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who shall record the same in her office; and another copy thereof shall be retained in the archives of this Governing Authority.
This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: Mary Saulters, Rick Barlow, Dennis Clary, Paulette Belton, Gerry Mims, Wade McBride
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Calvin Waggoner
And the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 6″ day of July, 2026.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Rick Barlow and carried to adopt the 2026 Millage Rates.
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2026 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by Jackson Parish School Board:
MILLAGE
General Fund 2026 Levy
- Constitutional Tax 5.45
- Parishwide Additional Support 8.42
- Parishwide Maintenance and Operation Tax 8.33
- Parishwide Additional Maintenance and Operation Tax 5.98
Total School Board Millage 28.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Jackson, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2026__, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law. The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes: YEAS: Mary Saulters, Rick Barlow, Dennis Clary, Wade McBride, Paulette Belton, Gerry Mims
NAYS: None
ABSTAINED: None
ABSENT: Calvin Waggoner
Information presented on the 2026 Summer Reading Program by Ashley Cotton and Emily Smith.
Rick Barlow reported to the Board on the meeting of the Executive Finance Committee held prior to the Board meeting.
A motion was made by Paulette Belton, seconded by Gerry Mims and carried to approve for payment the following bills: General Fund, Federal Program, School Food Service, Sales Tax, Special Education and District Maintenance bills.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried approving to name Robertson Produce as the supplier of Produce and Eggs for the 2026-2027 school year.
A motion was made by Paulette Belton, seconded by Gerry Mims and carried approving to name Smokey’s Maintenance & Repair as the supplier for equipment maintenance and repairs for the 2026-2027 school year. Cost will be $125.00 for the first hour and $95.00 per hour thereafter.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried approving payment to Arete Advisors, LLC in the amount of $10,000.00 for Malware incident response in May, 2026, to be paid from General Fund. This amount is the Cybersecurity Insurance deductible.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Rick Barlow and carried approving payment to The Charlie Edwards Company, LLC in the amount of $27,115.00 for the renewal of the MTM unlimited data with GPS for the 2026-2027 school year, to be paid from Parish Wide District funds.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Wade McBride and carried approving payment to Amplify in the amount of $12,800.00 for four (4) coaching days in the area of reading at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, to be paid from CLSD grant funds.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Rick Barlow and carried approving payment to Gallopade (Sole Source) in the amount of $24,605.40 for Social Studies materials at all schools, to be paid from General Fund (Textbook Allocation).
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Paulette Belton and carried approving payment to Amplify (Sole Source) in the amount of $68,206.22 for Science materials at all schools, to be paid from General Fund (Textbook Allocation).
A motion was made by Rick Barlow, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried approving payment to HMH Education Company (Houghton Mifflin) in the amount of $19,606.24 for renewal of Louisiana Into Math at Jonesboro Hodge High School (Grades 7-8), Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School (Grade 6) Quitman High School and Weston High School, to be paid from General Fund (Textbook Allocation).
Kristi Bass, Business Manager presented the Financial Report.
Wade McBride reported to the Board on the meeting of the Building and Grounds Committee held prior to the Board meeting.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried approving the sale of 0.253 acres of Old Chatham High School site to Jackson Parish Hospital Service District #1 in the amount of $10,000.00 and adopting the Resolution authorizing the same. The lease in favor of the Village of Chatham will be terminated as it relates to this property.
RESOLUTION
Upon motion made by Wade McBride and seconded by Dennis Clary the following resolution was offered:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Jackson Parish School Board sell to the Jackson Parish Hospital Service District #1 a certain 0.253-acre tract of immovable property belonging to the Jackson Parish School Board described as:
A 0.253 acre tract of land situated in the SW ¼ of SE ¼ , Section 3, Township 15 North, Range 1 West, Town of Chatham, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, and being more specifically described as follows, to-wit: Commence at a ¾” iron rod (found) at the South-east corner of Lot 12, Block 5, Town of Chatham and proceed North 47°12’35” West, along the South side of Block 5, 300.00 feet to the Southwest corner of Block 5; thence proceed South 42°47’25” West 80.00 feet to a point; thence proceed South 42°38’46” West, along the East right of way of Pine Street, 125.00 feet to a : ¾” iron rod (set) marking the Northwest corner and point of beginning of the 0.253 acre tract of land hereinafter described; thence, leaving the East right of way of Pine Street, proceed South 47°12’35” East 105.00 feet to a :” iron rod (set); thence proceed South 42°38’46” West 105.00 feet to a :” iron rod (set); thence proceed North 47°12’35” West 105.00 feet to a ¾” iron rod (set); thence proceed North 42°38’46” East, along the East right of way line of Pine Street, 105.00 feet to the point of beginning, containing 0.253 acres, and being subject to all servitudes of record or of use (all as per plat of survey dated January 27, 2010, by Walter Glen Kirkland, Professional Land Surveyor, Louisiana Registry No. 4759), together with all improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging, all located and situated in Jackson Parish, Louisiana.
for the sum of TEN THOUSAND AND NO/100 ($10,000.00) DOLLARS.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the lease with the Village of Chatham be terminated.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this approval is contingent upon all parties having properly authorized the purchase and sell of the property and the termination of the lease.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Superintendent William Carter be and he is hereby authorized to sign all necessary documents related to the sale including the Cash Sale Deed on behalf of the Jackson Parish School Board.
WHEREUPON said resolution was voted on and approved by the following vote:
AYES: Mary Saulters, Rick Barlow, Paulette Belton, Gerry Mims, Wade McBride, Dennis Clary
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Calvin Waggoner
CERTIFICATION
Gerry Mims reported to the Board on the meeting of the Transportation Committee held prior to the Board meeting.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Paulette Belton and carried approving payment to Ross Bus Sales in the amount of $155,079.38 for the purchase of one (1) Type C: 77 Passenger – Gasoline bus, to be paid from Parish Wide District funds.
A motion was made by Rick Barlow, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried declaring as surplus one (1) 2008 International Bus, Serial # 4DRBUSKN78B654863. Minimum selling price of $2,000.00.
A motion was made by Rick Barlow, seconded by Paulette Belton and carried to adjourn at 11:30 a.m.
