Board approves ethics resolution and personnel pay changes; public comment raises academic and ethics concerns

The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Board of Directors unanimously approved two resolutions Oct. 13 dealing with vendor disclosure and a potential conflict of interest, expanded middle-school coaching stipends to include baseball, softball and soccer, and increased substitute pay rates.

Public comment: Theresa Cook, who identified herself as a Jacksonville Ward 5 resident and a grandmother of a third-grade student in the district, used the district’s public-comment period to urge the board to reject Board President Daniel Gray’s reported appointment to the First Arkansas Bank and Trust board. Cook cited district academic concerns — saying district reading proficiency is about 60 percent and that Jackson Elementary has not improved from an "F" grade — and asked whether the district attorney or legal counsel had provided guidance on Gray’s bank-board service or the appearance of conflict. Those comments were recorded as public comment and were not acted on immediately.

Vendor disclosure resolution: Board staff said a Lester Elementary teacher is married to a co-owner of Innovative Direct Marketing LLC, the company selected to produce high school graduation programs. Staff said the teacher did not participate on the high-school graduation committee and that the district consulted legal counsel (Scott Richardson). The board approved a resolution acknowledging the relationship and that, per counsel’s advice, the arrangement would be handled by disclosure and the teacher would not participate in related committee work.

Board president bank-board resolution: The board then considered a second resolution that would permit Board President Daniel Gray to serve on the First Arkansas Bank and Trust board of directors while continuing as a JNPSD director, with the restriction that Gray must recuse himself from any JNPSD matters involving the bank. The resolution, which staff said was prepared after review by Scott Richardson (legal counsel), will be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education for its review. Per the minutes and staff statement, Gray left the meeting room during discussion of that item and did not participate in the vote. The board approved the resolution by unanimous voice vote.

Athletic stipends: The board approved adding paid stipends for middle-school baseball, softball and soccer coaches. Staff said the district currently pays stipends for football, basketball, volleyball and track and that soccer, baseball and softball were being coached by volunteers. Board members discussed stipend percentages and volunteer recruitment; the motion to add the positions passed unanimously.

Substitute pay increase: The board approved a multi-category increase to substitute pay after the district’s substitute provider, Kelly Services, reported a declining fill rate compared with neighboring districts. The approved changes raised the daily certified-teacher substitute rate from $95 to $105, paraprofessionals from $11 to $14 per hour, and clerical from $11 to $14 per hour. Board staff said the increases are intended to make the district competitive and improve coverage.

Votes at a glance: All listed items passed by unanimous voice vote. Staff and legal counsel will follow up as directed and return with any required paperwork or additional cost estimates at the next meeting.

No financial detail beyond the substitute pay amounts and the earlier CTE renovation estimate was approved at this meeting; board members asked staff to return with cost breakdowns where needed.