001Our vision is to be the model school district where every learner is valued and empowered to become a successful contributing member of society. It's our mission to foster a culture of ownership and accountability through partnerships that create multiple pathways for success. Uh Mr. Moore, would you please call the role? >> Yes, sir. Colonel Smith, >> present. >> Daniel Gray, >> here. >> Ava Coleman, >> here. >> Jim Moore, present. Ron McDaniel >> present. >> Dana Tony >> here. >> Lauren Martin >> here. >> Laura Walker >> here. >> Everybody's here. >> All right. If you'll join me as we stand for a moment of silence followed by the pledge to lead us. >> Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
002republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. First item on our agenda this evening, we have a special presentation for data trends from the district. >> Yes, sir. >> Smith, Mr. Jacob Smith, is coming forward. Good evening. >> Hey sir. >> Um want to want to share some of our data trends for those of you who your mic testing? >> No sir. >> Can you hear me now? Susette, there check. >> There you go. >> Good evening again. Um, want to share this and everything. [Music] Carry on sir. want to show our discipline trend data and and our discipline improved um since our our beginning and continued to improve into CO and then um following CO we were still doing doing pretty well and
003then uh several scholars who who really didn't attend anywhere I think uh many schools experienced the same thing came back and and some of those have have struggled and that and so we've seen some trends trends increased statewide and and nationwide and we've been working to get those back down. Um all actions this year we we were steady down slightly from our height in 2023. 2023 was um is is when many scholars who uh didn't engage during during COVID when many of them really began to settle and we saw some high numbers across the state. our suspensions were down slightly which is a very good thing. Um even in school suspension is not ideal but um at least if if uh it's an inschool suspension they are in our building they are they're getting fed
004and we know where they are in school suspension was slightly up um last year and um going to dig a little bit more on that. I think one of the the things that um we're going to focus on this year at uh training last week. I provided all of the principles with individual administrator data which shows are we following the handbook or not because as you know in the handbook it has prescriptive responses for first level one first second level um one first level two second level two based on age and so that we can monitor that very closely and and make sure that we're not jumping to when when really we should be having a parent guardian conference for that first level one offense. Um expulsions very pleased to um say that they're trending
005downward and we want to continue to trend those downward. Um your your commitment to the alternative education I I believe is a very big reason for that. Um often student when students are recommended for expulsion when it's uh some repeated level three offenses um if it's two or three level three offenses if we can we'll try to give them another chance in the alternative education environment and um as we've looked at that that data many of those have been successful and so that is that is a success and that is we contribute that to your commitment to giving them a good space, good, you know, equip him with with a personnel so that they can have an environment and continue to to learn. Um, but the the thing I want to celebrate is this and
006this these trends the la last two slides I'm going to show you will look pretty similar from one year to the next. Um, last year 3,917 scholars had zero or one level three infractions. >> That's that's 94%. >> Um, and 252 had two or more level three infractions. Most of our scholars are coming to school and trying to have school. Most of our scholars are coming to school and trying to learn and and um and and not inter interfering with others learning for the for the most part. And so that's something to be celebrated. The next slide is our level four offenses. Our level four offenses, um it's 99% with zero level four offenses. And so, um, sometimes when we have to make difficult decisions at board meetings, um, and and I I listen to
007to what you uh communicate with scholars and the emphasis on everyone else's right to learn that the data supports that that most of our scholars are trying to learn and and certainly we never want to throw throw someone aside. Uh, we we are regretful anytime expulsion is the But um we also see that most of our scholars are coming to school every day and trying to learn. I'd love to hear any questions. >> That's for the that's districtwide. That's K through 12, right? >> Yes, sir. Correct. And that's this is last year's data for that. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> Just keep it trended down. >> Yes, sir. We're going to do our very best. Thank y'all. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. >> All right, >> Mr. Gray, we have one
008more presentation. Um, Principal Mims and Miss Butler, our coral director, are going to come forward forward with some three outstanding scholars. Um, and they have a special presentation for you all. So I guess this came about um since we started Jacksonville North School District. The Jacksonville High School has not had an alma moater. So we kind of looked back at uh 2020. We kind of worked on this and I do have to give credit to uh Matthew Farre, Dr. Farre, who was with us back then. uh he did a lot of work on this and so I have gotten back into the file where we started it and I would like to present to you a high school alma mater for Jacksonville High School and a fight song and I have three choir members and
009Miss Butler and they are going to sing it for you because Dr. girl asked me said, "Well, do you can you sing it?" And I said, "Absolutely not, but I can get somebody that will." So, I'm going to have them introduce theirelves so you will know them. They'll give you their first and their last name and what grade they're in. >> Hello, I'm Ariana Curry and I'm in 12th grade. >> Hello, I'm Kylie and I'm in 12th grade. >> Hello, I'm Deon Picket and I am in 11th grade. Good evening. I'm Felicia Hollis Butler and I teach choir and piano at Jacksonville High School. We do hope that you are pleased with our presentation of the alma mater and then the lights on. >> Have music too. >> Yeah, we got music. >> All right.
010Dear school, oh well you the friends that we made the joys that we share. for Jacksonville Northwest. The gold wise and all the history will victory and be the home is forever. Titus will ride and soar sear [Music] [Applause] with the high school Jacksonville High School alma mater from the past. It has a blend of some of it from the past and built in some of the new. So that's our presentation. Yes. >> Question. >> Yes. >> So we we It's Jacksonville High School. >> Yes. >> Jacksonville High School. >> Okay. >> I heard Jacksonville North Palaski. Jacksonville High School. >> So >> is that was that something? I mean obviously that was added. >> We Yeah, we put that in because it was a school district type and >> and I didn't graduate from
011Dexville High School. I went to North Palaski. >> So is that the old alma m alma mater? >> It's based out off the old old alma mater, but the words are rewritten. >> Don't we specific >> and and it's kind of the I mean I could show you the old alma mater. So it's it's similar, but it's not the same. >> I I would uh prefer it to match the name of the high school, okay, that they go to. Uh, I know the district's name is that, but I mean it's Jacksonville High School, >> and I don't want to I think this is personally I think we tried to be politically correct too much in 2016 and you know, those kids went to Nils >> and uh so, you know, I appreciate the history and
012the effort and but I think it's I mean, we we specifically wanted it to be Jacksonville High School in the town and I think that's what the community would prefer. Uh, so I don't know if that's a something we could >> I think it could be just a little tweaked because it just says Jacksonville North Palasky. >> Yeah. And we have public comments now. So I mean we could invite the public to come >> talk about that if that was a big deal that they didn't if they wanted the North Palaski in there, they could come and talk about it. But I'll any other anybody else have any comments on that? >> I just need the words so I can learn it. Not that I'm going to sing it out loud. singer, but I just
013need the words whenever we get the final version. >> At the appropriate place, >> I mean, >> I I have the the version from the 2016 graduation when it was the last graduating class of Jacksonville. And they do sway, they do kick, and then they Oh, Jacksonville. So, yes, we are working on that part, but >> I got to get one step at a time. >> And and I mean, I've had people approach me about why why why aren't we just the Jacksonville school district? Why don't we just be the Jacksonville school district? And at this point, I'm you know, I don't want to uh create too much trouble or uh whatever. But, I mean, that if that ever happened in the future, >> I just assume >> I'm sure that's >> it'd be Jacksonville
014High School. >> Yeah, it would be easy to change. >> Y'all did a great job. All right. [Applause] >> Ready for a fight song? >> Yeah. >> All right. >> You need to change any words on the fight song real quick. >> I didn't know we had a fight song with words. >> Thank goodness. When I sent it to him, I'm like, I don't have any words to this. And then we found words. So, they appear. So, we've got words. All right. I think we're ready. [Music] the rain and heart the titans [Music] [Applause] never sway. Just a real loyal one and the red and white [Music] just [Applause] will [Music] never sway. Very [Applause] [Music] [Applause] good. >> Good. >> All right. Thank y'all. >> Outstanding. Thank y'all. >> I think we set in
015on interviews and I know coach Swinton was like with his whole team will learn the alma mater. Our plan is that uh during our win time our scholars will learn the alma mater. the first or the second week of school. >> Okay, good. Okay, awesome. You have a question, sir? >> No, sorry. I have a comment. It's in a different key. The band will be playing it in a different key. So, it'll be lower. >> Hi, guys. >> I can't sing. >> Y'all sounded good. So, >> thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. I like these kind of res. >> Me, too. >> All right. Next item we have is public comment. Are there anybody? Is there anyone signed up for public comment? >> All right. Uh, next item we have our our
016facilities report. >> Just a reminder, and Mr. Lester may uh want to add just a reminder of the ribbon cutting tomorrow for the Titan Health Center uh in partnership with Arare at 10:00 a.m. at the Titan Health Center next to the new Merl Taylor Elementary School. So, we invite all of our uh board members of course, but all of our public officials and community members to come out and share with us with the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony tomorrow morning. >> All right. Um all right so there's our facilities report legacy wall >> we are in production um with the final recognition I do need I think we need to follow up with one or two individuals for some last score some remaining scores for the last two uh but the other honores their plaques
017are in production now and so we're just waiting to receive them so and then we've had some uh purchases for legacy uh bricks uh so that we continue to sell those legacy bricks and so we encourage our community if you would like to purchase actually it was a big uh purchase uh from a class a group of >> 1965 uh graduates to purchase just recently. So uh we are still selling the legacy bricks and so we encourage everyone to join us as we uh continue to move forward with that and honor our honores uh hopefully in the next month or so. >> Very good. Why don't you go ahead and do a district report? >> Yes, sir. So, the superintendent report, I'll keep it short. Uh just legal transfer approvals. Uh we had three in,
01817 out. Um we also have before you at your seat the um fiscal year end for uh fiscal report. Um I just want to make sure I provide uh recognition to Mr. Kyle Hunt, our director of finance, uh our HR director, Mrs. Logan, and Mr. Lester and Dr. Walker, our entire team continue to work and be uh creative in how we uh how we um employ and how we fill positions uh so that we are in good uh fiscal standing and then we utilize we're good stewards for the public uh funds as well. So you see before you how we ended the FY25 school year. Uh the ending balance in our fund 2000 is 5 million. We were able to transfer uh almost 1.4 million to the building fund which put us at a little
019over 9.4 million in the building fund. Um and of course you see we did receive this past year partnership funding a little over 1.6 6 million food service fund. Of course, um the how we provide uh meals has changed, but you see we did end uh even and not in the red. And then with a uh total cash balance of $16.4 million um in the bank. So I definitely want to make sure we u show recognition to Mr. Hunt and Mrs. Logan for a job well done and ending the year uh in the black. So, the next item is just uh it's in your packet um your electronic packet. Just update on the graduation uh guidelines. It uh there's been some questions about uh if we had a policy on the graduation attire. Uh there's
020not a policy just a set of guidelines that the graduation attire committee at the high school came together uh to draft so that um it's a honored ceremony uh and everyone's looking nice. So that's in your packet. Uh just briefly girls, young ladies are expected to dress have a dress or skirt and blouse no longer than a gown. Dress shoes black, navy, white or beige. darker khaki pants with a shirt or blouse and dark shoes. Gentlemen are expected to wear white and button-down white button-d down collared shirt, dark tie, darker khaki slacks, and dress shoes, black or brown. Uh items that are prohibited are athletic shoes, flip-flops, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, athletic apparel, sunglasses, and blinking shoes. Uh anything that be that would be distracting. Uh so just again uh these are guidelines and not an
021actual policy uh that the school has set forth. Um and the last thing um any questions about that guidelines? Uh the last thing um we have the September board meeting scheduled for September 1st. I um went in and sent everyone a um a new calendar invite for September 8th, but I realized that September 8th um one it needs to be voted on today, but then that day may not work for you all as well. So, we'll need to discuss you all need to discuss it. >> We were talking about that and I think we have I'm going to be out of town. Lauren's going to be out of town. We figured Jim would have planning commission. So, we were going to suggest maybe having it on Tuesday night, the second, if we were all available,
022>> the day after Labor Day, >> Tuesday, >> so the second. Does that work for everybody? feedback from the lake. >> Yes. >> So, we will send a new uh calendar invite to everyone and also inform the public of that change as well. That concludes the superintendent report and I will also say I don't believe we have a PPC report for this month either. >> Okay. All right. So, next item on our agenda is the consent agenda. We got the minutes from the July 14th uh regular meeting, assistant superintendent reports uh and the financial report. Is there anything that needs to be pulled down for discussion? If not, I'd entertain a motion to approve as presented. >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion in a second. All those in favor say I. >> Any opposed?
023That passes unanimously. Uh next item we've got the 2526 curriculum. >> Yes. Before you you have an action item for the FY26 curriculum approval. Each year, uh, the school district board of directors shall annually adopt and implement a REN curriculum aligned to the Arkansas academic standards for the operation of the school district in accordance with the laws of the state of Arkansas and the rules of the division. Before you, you have the reading, writing, and speaking personal success skills uh that will be incorporated in the curriculum areas as well. And so the recommendation is to approve the 2526 curriculum. All right, we've got a recommendation from Dr. Oba. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Any other questions or discussion? >> All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed?
024>> All right, that passes unanimously. We've got before us an addendum uh to add to the personnel uh item on the agenda. Is there any objection to that? >> If not, >> so move. >> Second. >> Motion a second. All those in favor of adding that. >> I Any opposed? All right. So, those are added as well. So, we've got the personnel that was already included plus this addendum. Is there any questions? If there is, we would need to move in executive session. If not, I'd entertain a motion to accept as presented. >> So, move second. >> Motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? That passes unanimously. Before I get to the next item, uh we've got some upcoming events. August the 11th, we've got our district convocation.
025August 15th is prek, first day of school. August the 18th, first day of school, K through 12, and then September 1st is Labor Day. Anything else we need to add or talk about? Teachers came back today. >> Teachers came back today full steam ahead. Looking forward to a an awesome 25 26 year and appreciate y'all very much. >> Anything else? Mr. McDaniel, >> I make a motion we adjourn. >> Second. >> All right, we're journ. Y'all have a good night.