Jackson Public School Board adopts ParentSquare and approves emergency data cabling at Bailey APAC

Jackson Public School District trustees at a board meeting approved adoption of ParentSquare (Education Advance) as the district’s mass‑communication platform and declared an emergency purchase and installation of data cabling at Bailey APAC Middle School.

Director of Planning and Evaluation Dr. Blackshear told the board ParentSquare will replace the district’s existing SchoolStatus system and provide features the district expects will improve family outreach, including dedicated phone numbers for staff in the school area code, two‑way messages with like/comment interactions visible only to recipients, calendar sync for events, electronic permission‑slip submission, and simplified parent‑teacher conferencing. “This ParentSquare will replace our existing one, which you all really know as SchoolStatus,” Dr. Blackshear said. He told trustees the district will begin administrator training July 21 and begin transition communications in late July, with “effective use starting on July 28.”

Board members asked about app adoption and how parents who do not download the app will receive messages. Dr. Blackshear said messages will still arrive via text messages and that the app is optional for parents who want the additional calendar and form features.

Chief Operating Officer Mr. Burke presented the request to declare an emergency and approve immediate installation of new data cabling at Bailey APAC Middle School to address inconsistent Wi‑Fi coverage and to provide connectivity for newly created instructional spaces. Burke said the work is needed before the start of school and that a contractor already working on the Bailey project was selected to perform the work. The district identified existing cabling in poor condition and said immediate installation is required to support instructional technology and network reliability. The administration reported the total cost of the emergency cabling services as $239,511.64, which the district said covers removal of existing cabling, installation of new CAT‑5 cabling, patch panels and data drops, ceiling work for Wi‑Fi, fiber testing, and associated patch/paint work.

Board members asked whether the cabling work addresses Wi‑Fi signal placement as well as cabling; Burke said some issues will be validated only after cabling and testing. Burke also said the emergency declaration was prompted in part because the general contractor declined to absorb the work as a change order, creating an immediate need.

The board approved both items in a single motion moved by Mister McGuffey and seconded by Miss Hiller; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve the meeting agenda as proposed: moved by Miss Hood, seconded by Miss McGuffey; motion carried (voice vote). - Approval of ParentSquare (Education Advance) contract and emergency purchase/installation of data cabling at Bailey APAC Middle School (McGinnis Electric, $239,511.64): moved by Mister McGuffey, seconded by Miss Hiller; motion carried (voice vote). - Consent agenda — Finance (including Change Order DO02 for Rebid 3234 Package ASOR renovations related to Forest Hill boiler): board approved; administration said a $21,200 credit is being applied to the contractor’s final payment to recoup rental costs incurred when the installed boiler did not work properly. Motion carried (voice vote). - General consent agenda: approved (voice vote). - Personnel consent agenda: approved (voice vote). - Motion to adjourn: approved (voice vote).

The board did not record roll‑call tallies for the motions; approvals were announced by voice as “the motion carries.”