Board approves manuals, positions, pay changes, calendars and personnel in unanimous votes
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Summary
At the February meeting the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District board unanimously approved the student abuse response manual, a speech‑language pathologist assistant position, dyslexia and SPED paraprofessional pay increases, a longevity pay policy change (effective 2026–27), FY‑27 calendars, disciplinary recommendations and the personnel report.
The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Board unanimously approved a series of administrative items during its February 2026 regular meeting.
Key approvals (motions and unanimous votes): the consent agenda (minutes from Jan. 5 and Jan. 13, assistant superintendent reports and financial report); the updated student abuse response manual (staff said it aligns with state law and board policy); addition of a speech‑language pathologist assistant position intended to expand service capacity across K–12; pay increases for dyslexia and special education paraprofessionals (reclassifying dyslexia paras into a higher pay lane and moving SPED paras into the top instructional para lane); a longevity pay modification to district policies 3.1 and 8.1 so employees who reach 28 years of service receive annual step increments thereafter (effective in the 2026–27 school year); and the FY 2026–27 school calendars for PreK and K–12 (first day Aug. 13, last day May 27). The board also voted to uphold superintendent recommendations on eight uncontested student disciplinary cases and approved the personnel report after returning from executive session.
Meeting minutes record that motions were moved and seconded for each action and that the votes passed unanimously. The roll call at the start of the meeting showed Carl Smith absent and six board members present (Daniel Green, Ava Coleman, Jim Moore, Ron McDaniel, Dina Toney and Lauren Martin); voting outcomes in the meeting were recorded as unanimous among present members.
Board members asked clarifying questions during presentations about the mental health grant (how therapist employment and funding would be handled) and about operational details of calendar alignment between PreK and K‑12; staff said the therapist positions will be employed by a school‑based health care association funded by the grant, and that PreK remains subject to different funding and attendance rules (DESE, ABC and DHS funding streams) which affect contact‑day requirements.
The actions taken were procedural and administrative rather than policy redefinitions beyond the stated local modifications to the ASBA model policy for longevity pay; the board did not place the hybrid public‑comment proposal discussed during public comment on the meeting’s consent actions.
Votes at a glance (as recorded during the meeting): - Consent agenda (minutes and reports): approved (yes: 6, no: 0) - Student abuse response manual: approved (yes: 6, no: 0) - Speech language pathologist assistant position: approved (yes: 6, no: 0) - Dyslexia and SPED paraprofessional pay increases: approved (yes: 6, no: 0) - Longevity pay policy modification (policy 3.1/8.1): approved (yes: 6, no: 0) - FY 2026–27 calendars (PreK and K‑12): approved (yes: 6, no: 0) - Disciplinary actions (8 uncontested cases): upheld (yes: 6, no: 0) - Personnel report (post‑executive session): approved (yes: 6, no: 0)
The board record shows these were administratively significant decisions affecting staffing, pay and the academic calendar; implementation details (for instance exact salary schedule changes and effective dates on individual contracts) will be incorporated into district personnel documents and contract updates.