The Jackson Public School District board on Dec. 16 approved a package of contract renewals, partnership agreements and financing parameters aimed at supporting student services, safety and facilities upgrades.

Board members approved renewed service agreements with Heinz Behavioral Health Services for behavioral and therapeutic services, Mississippi Smiles Dentistry for mobile and on-site dental services, Marion Counseling LLC for student mental-health support, and Slate XP (branded as Learn Safe) to continue student online-activity monitoring used to identify potential threats and risks. Interim executive director of child nutrition Alvin Edney also presented a recommended increase in the adult meal price from $4 to $5, which was included among the information items the board approved as a group.

The administration recommended extending a one-year agreement with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office to continue school-based law‑enforcement partnership services and renewing a memorandum with Medcor to provide 24/7 nurse triage for employees who experience on-the-job injuries. The board also authorized an engagement letter with Dorian E. Turner PLLC to provide legal services related to energy-efficient services financing.

The board accepted a no-cost agreement with WestEd to evaluate the district’s outcomes-based tutoring initiative using de-identified district data and interviews, and approved a data-sharing agreement change for a high-school social-emotional learning pilot, confirming that no student data had yet been transferred to the new evaluation partner.

Other approved partnerships include a fully Amazon‑funded STEAM program (WBF Global, "All Aboard the STEAM Express") that will bring hands-on STEAM days to four elementary schools at no cost to families; a collaborative placement agreement with Nova Southeastern University for supervised fieldwork placements; and a continuation of the Project SEARCH transition program at Saint Dominic’s Hospital for up to 12 seniors with IDEA-identified disabilities.

The board also approved a proposed 40-year lease for a district parcel with Fuelmax (annual rent noted in the presentation as $31,500) and passed a sales-parameters resolution authorizing the district to finance Bridgeway and Path energy-efficiency projects through lease-purchase agreements, with final documents to return for approval.

Most motions were moved and seconded during the meeting and carried by voice votes recorded as "aye" with no nays.

What happens next: several of the financing documents related to the Bridgeway and Path projects will return to the board for final approval once terms and exhibits are completed.