Jackson board approves 2025–26 budget, multiple contracts and property sales; superintendent says school year off to strong start

The Jackson Public School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved the district's 2025–26 original budgets and a series of contracts, renewals and property sales and heard from Superintendent Dr. Green, who said the district is off to a strong start to the 2025–26 school year.

Dr. Green, the district superintendent, told the board the district paused student registration during the first week of school to reduce crowding and help staff update records. "Because of the huge difference that we saw in week 1 by pausing registration ... we will continue this practice," Dr. Green said, describing fewer long lines and smoother school starts.

Dr. Green also reported incremental improvements in transportation and said the district operates more than 200 daily bus routes and has been making adjustments to reduce travel times. On facilities, she said the district has invested “tens of millions of dollars” in HVAC projects and that most cooling issues are being addressed, though some schools still rely on classroom-level units that require extra attention.

The superintendent described a recently revised electronic-device policy as having an early positive effect. "The overwhelming majority of our scholars are following the rules," Dr. Green said, adding that some families and students have challenged the change but that the district will enforce consequences when devices are visible: "there's no opt out."

Dr. Green told trustees the administration will return at the board's Aug. 19 meeting with a districtwide improvement plan focused on accelerating scholar achievement, reallocating time and resources and strengthening daily instruction for the district's lowest-performing schools.

Votes at a glance

The board handled a long consent and action calendar and took the following recorded actions (all motions were approved or noted as approved in the meeting):

- Adopted the amended agenda (moved by Mitch; second by Miss Taylor). Outcome: approved. - Approved minutes for the July 15, 2025 regular board meeting (moved by Jean; second by Miss Taylor). Outcome: approved. - Approved the district's instructional management system for 2025–26 (information/action item a). Outcome: approved. - Awarded core curriculum contracts under RFP 2025-07 (Wilson Language Pre-K foundational skills; McGraw Hill 6–12 ELA; Curriculum Associates K–8 math; Great Minds K–5 ELA) (information/action item b). Outcome: approved. - Approved a three‑year agreement with the National Council for the Traditional Arts to host a National Folk Festival in Jackson (information/action item c). Outcome: approved. - Approved a five‑year expert-citizen license for Alicia Hartley for CTE endorsement 961 (information/action item d). Outcome: approved. - Approved the CTE local application for FY 2026, under the Carl D. Perkins program (information/action item e). Outcome: approved. - Approved the Let's Talk digital customer-service platform (K12 Insight) to expand communications and customer feedback (information/action item f). Outcome: approved. - Approved a school‑based clinic agreement with Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center at Kirksey Middle School (information/action item g). Outcome: approved. - Declared Chastain Middle School surplus and approved a purchase-and-sale agreement to Redeemer Community Development LLC for $1,500,000 (information/action item h). Outcome: approved. - Declared Marshall Elementary surplus and approved a purchase-and-sale agreement to 1 Voice (a Mississippi nonprofit) for $441,000 (information/action item i). Outcome: approved. - Awarded insurance/risk-management consulting RFQ2025-02 to Evans Agency to support the Office of Risk Management (information/action item k). Outcome: approved. - Rescinded an earlier service agreement and awarded RFP2025-08 for armed and unarmed security services to Austin Security and Crime Prevention Consulting to secure closed schools and designated properties (information/action item k). Outcome: approved. The board clarified the contract is not a replacement for officers at every active school campus and that the district will continue collaboration with the Jackson Police Department for school resource officers. - Approved the monthly financial report for period ending 06/30/2025 (information/action item l). Outcome: approved. - Approved an amendment to the staffing agreement with Kelly Education to expand substitute and staffing services (clerical, custodial, cafeteria) (information/action item). Outcome: approved. - Adopted the district's original individual fund budgets for FY 2025–26 and approved a resolution requesting the same ad valorem (property tax) effort in dollars as last year to support general operations and debt service. The board packet identified the revenue request (operational levy plus approximately $2.424 million for debt service). Outcome: approved. - Approved multiple consent-agenda items across finance, general and personnel. Outcome: approved.

What trustees and staff said

President Hilliard thanked Dr. Green for a comprehensive report. Trustee McCarthy and other board members praised new communication tools and parent‑engagement work in the district's instructional management system and encouraged broader adoption of ParentSquare and district learning-management systems to support families.

When the board discussed property repurposing, staff and trustees noted these approvals are part of a larger repurposing initiative involving surplus determinations and, in some cases, demolitions previously approved and awaiting state action.

Financial posture

Chief financial summaries presented at the meeting showed a preliminary beginning fund balance for FY 2026 of roughly $16.5 million as of June 30, 2025 — about $6.5 million lower than the prior year final balance. The monthly financial packet highlighted timing differences in federal and state draws, including pending PreK and ARTSER funds staff said are expected to arrive in August.

Why it matters

The budget and contract approvals set the district's spending and operational priorities for the coming year — covering instructional materials, student health services, facilities repurposing and safety at closed properties. Dr. Green's early-year operational notes and the promised district improvement plan signal administration priorities for instruction and student supports.

Looking ahead

Dr. Green said trustees will receive the districtwide improvement plan at the Aug. 19 board meeting. The National Folk Festival is scheduled for Nov. 7–9, 2025; the festival organizers and staff will finalize school engagement and downtown venues in the coming months.