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JPS officials say ARP ESSER reinstated but Title II/IV revenues likely to drop $1.8 million for FY26
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Green and Margaret Purnell, executive director of finance, told the Jackson Public School District Board the U.S. Department of Education has reinstated access to roughly $6.8 million in ARP/ESSER funds but that the district expects an estimated $1.8 million reduction in Title II and Title IV revenues for FY26.
Superintendent Dr. Green and Margaret Purnell, executive director of finance, updated the Jackson Public School District Board of Trustees on late federal funding changes and how the district is adjusting its FY26 budget.
Purnell said the U.S. Department of Education has "reinstated the district's access to the $6,800,000 for ARP ESSER" and that the district had roughly $6.8 million in encumbrances against those funds. She added that because the ARP/ESSER funds are again available, the district "will not have to" use district maintenance funds that it had planned to redeploy for those expenses.
At the same time, Purnell told the board that the district now expects estimated federal revenues from Title II and Title IV to be reduced by approximately $1,800,000 in the FY25-26 budget. "We are reviewing the full financial impact of these adjustments and reconciling any discrepancies between previous anticipated and current federal funding levels," she said.
Purnell said the district's new enterprise resource planning system is live and being integrated into budget processes. "The Tyler Beam system is now live, and we are actively finalizing the integration of the system to ensure accurate financial reporting and budget tracking," she said, noting that budget entries for FY26 are being processed through the new system.
Dr. Green told the board the administration is watching developments at the federal level closely and coordinating with the Mississippi Department of Education. He said the reinstatement of ARP/ESSER funds will help "mitigate the impact of the estimated $1.8 million loss in Title funding." The administration said it plans to present a balanced FY26 budget for board adoption at the Aug. 5, 2025 meeting that incorporates the federal funding adjustments.
The update included practical assurances: Purnell and staff said previously-encumbered projects (such as HVAC repairs funded as allowable ARP/ESSER expenditures) continued and that the district did not have to breach contracts when funding was paused.
Board members asked whether the temporary loss of funding had caused vendors or projects to be paused or contracts to be breached. Purnell said the district had continued project work and did not have to breach contracts; it had planned contingency funding but will not need to use it now that ARP/ESSER access is restored.
The administration emphasized that detailed reconciliations will be incorporated into the FY26 budget document and presented to the board at the August meeting.
Less-critical background and next steps: the district will finalize FY26 budget line items and provide a report outlining key changes. The board will consider the balanced budget at its Aug. 5 meeting.
