Jones County Schools board adopts budget, approves vendor contracts and advances teacher and attendance policy updates

Jones County Schools board members approved a fiscal-year budget resolution and several contract and policy measures during their meeting, moving the district into the close of the school year and authorizing vendor contracts and administrative policy updates.

The board adopted a budget resolution presented by staff member S6 that reflects adjustments across multiple funds after additional state and county allotments, and included a request to increase authority for fund 5 so the child nutrition director could use some fund balance as needed to close out the year. S6 said the child nutrition program “does have a fund balance of about $300,000.” The staff presentation also referenced $7,500,000 in the context of ensuring budgets could be closed for fiscal 2026. Chair (S2) moved to adopt the resolution and members responded by voice.

The board approved several procurement items for the child nutrition program. Lisa Morton, introduced at the meeting as the district's child nutrition director, asked the board to approve rollover contracts with Sysco (winning Lot 3 for supplies) and related vendors. Morton also told the board that the state-level change to the micro-purchase threshold means “It's no longer 10,000. It is 15,000 for the micro purchasing,” a change discussed with staff and board members who asked whether local approval was required and how federal guidelines apply. After discussion, members indicated support to proceed with the procurement actions.

The board also considered a technology lease to refresh elementary school devices. Chair (S2) presented an Apple lease proposal described in the packet as totaling $192,879; board members clarified whether the contract is three or four years and asked about the annual and per-payment amounts before moving and seconding the motion.

On personnel supports and student policy, staff member S7 presented the district's beginning teacher support plan required by state statute and noted a small edit requested by the state beginning teacher coordinator; the plan was approved and the superintendent was asked to sign and submit it to the state board. S7 also reviewed proposed edits to local policy 4400 (attendance), including added attendance incentives and a provision that high-school students with 10 unexcused absences in a class will be reviewed by a principal designee for academic impact and intervention. The changes were described as aligning the district with neighboring systems and giving principals additional tools to address attendance.

Superintendent S1 proposed an amendment to policy 50-30 to allow fee waivers for facility use in cases where a student or staff member dies; board members asked for proposed language to be returned at a future meeting for formal adoption.

The meeting packet also included a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Jones County Sheriff's Office to continue the school resource officer (SRO) program. The MOU was placed on the agenda earlier in the meeting; a motion to approve the MOU was made and seconded, and the transcript records some dissenting vocalizations but does not include a complete recorded roll call in the available segments. The record does not clearly show a final tally for that item.

Board members closed the meeting with thanks to staff, recognition of a successful school year, and notice of two planned closed-session items.

Next steps: staff will finalize the budget paperwork and submit the beginning teacher support plan to the state board; the board requested language for the proposed fee-waiver policy be returned for formal review.