001By having our prayer and pledge Yes ma'am. So, today we are very glad to have two perfect white hands with us. Let me just tell you a little about him. He's baseball, football, golf, dual enrollment, FFA, B, flag, he is FFA lighthouse everything that's going on at the high school. He is involved with. He's been with us. I think what I've learned just sitting here next to him is I think he's running a high >> [clears throat] >> But anyway, he is going to lead our pledge after we do the prayers. Thank you. How is everybody doing today? Nice to see you. Let us the healer. I would like to ask you to draw near with us. I'll forgive us anything that I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
002to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Hooper. At this time, the meeting is officially called to order. Roll call. Ms. Hall. Here. Ms. Morrison. Here. Mr. Kennedy. Present. Mr. Gossett. Here. Ms. Watson. Here. This time, can I get a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. Second. It has been moved and properly seconded that we approve the agenda as written. All in favor, let it be known by I. I. Approved of the agenda. Election of board officers. I move that we nominate um Mrs. Phyllis Morrison as president. Second. Any more nominations? Any more nominations? Any more nominations? It has been moved and properly second that we nominate Mrs. Phyllis Morrison as our board president. And I'm going to relinquish all
003in favor let it be known by I. I. I. Motion [clears throat] approved. At this time we need a vice president. I move Jeff Gossage vice president. Make a motion. Second. It has moved been moved and properly second that we accept Mr. Gossage as our vice president. All in favor let it be known known by I. >> I. I. I will relinquish my seat. Thank you. So soon? So soon? >> [laughter] [clears throat] >> Oh, y'all are literally switching. We literally switching, huh? Oh my. Okay. >> Wow. >> [laughter] >> Thank you Cooper again. All right. Thank you for this. Um recognition. Oh, sorry. Oh, sorry. Board compensation. Do we have a discussion? Well, in the past it was it has been 600 per month. So, I guess we need to discuss whether we want
004to keep that at 600 or change that. I would like to see it stay at 600. This my suggestion. Okay. The what? All right. It has been We need a motion. Made a motion to look at board compensation. >> It just said it at 600. Yeah. And to stay at 600. >> 600. Set it at $600 per month. All those Is there any more discussion? Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? I. I. All right. So, it has been motioned and approved that the board compensation stay at $600 per month. >> [laughter] >> All right. Recognitions. Thank you. At this time I'm going to ask Mr. Carlson to come around and introduce some of the the talent that we have tonight. Miss White is with him, so our music director. So, if y'all
005would If you'll introduce Miss White and You know Miss White and she is probably the best at this of anybody that I've ever seen in my life. I would have taught music to elementary school students. And I'm going to introduce the students and talk about what you did. These these students were selected to sing in a nationally recognized choir in Chicago in the the great with all over the world. So, I I cannot do justice to the experience. I'm going to let Miss White talk through that, but so very proud of of her and for all these kids and all that they do, but I'm going to let you introduce them. Okay. All right. So, the Organization of American Kodály Educators or OAKE um are are music teachers all over the country from um that
006teach based on the the teaching They have a national conference every year. March and they have proven that has nine kids that sing stayed after school in the fall to work on their auditions. I only spent a week got to sing their concerts in Chicago. Oh, wow. Awesome. Hopefully not once in a lifetime experience, but they represented Keystone Yeah, would you introduce each one and let us get a picture and so come on up. You are Jonathan. And then we have Laura. And then we have Sophie. three of my sixth graders were the ones who got to sing. And I've left for the board to come around. >> Yes, plenty. I'm going to get pictures as well. Yes. Always wonderful to have our newspaper with us as well, so. So, while we have you here,
007ladies, um what do you think about the trip? Did you enjoy it? So, you got to see things that you What did you take away from it? What's your favorite memory from going? Everything you did. United Super Choir. I was surprised We're so glad to see you all sit here as well, so. Hamilton opened like the day before we got there. Wow. Okay. We are so proud of all of you. Make sure that you're all right. Thank you for representing our school well. So, any other thoughts about what you did? Is that all right? Did you enjoy meeting all the other students? What did y'all sing? What What songs did you sing? We were in two different choirs. >> Okay. The sixth graders were in the junior choir. So, what stuck out as far as
008the trip? I mean, is there something you thought, "Wow, I will never forget this."? The director? Okay. What else? Anyone else? The what? Textbooks. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Yeah. Oh, Shake Shack. All right. All right. Sounds good. >> [laughter] >> Sounds good. Okay. So, I assume you you flew on an airplane? No, you drove? Yes. So, had you ever flown before? You had? Okay, so I'm heading south. That's an experience, wasn't it? There was fine. The trip back was an experience. for all three, right? All the flying I can Oh my goodness. Sounds like it's it's something you will never forget. We are so proud of each other. We're very proud of you. Uh thank you again for for being here tonight. We love to uh to hear about all the adventures that our
009students are getting to take, especially with talent that you have. And so, this why I'm telling you and now just everything Mr. Colsey said, he could he's spot on. When you walk in this classroom, you see and hear things that you would just can't believe and uh you do such a wonderful job and tying in all the curriculum into your music program, but thank you for all that you do. I I mean, this is the result. Thank you, ladies. Congratulations. Yes, congratulations. Can't wait to see what you continue to do. Glad to have the Anacortes with us tonight. All right. Is that Are there any more recognitions, Dr. Barbara? Thank you so much. So proud of all of you. And thank you, parents, for supporting you. >> Yes. your Thank you. Thank you, too. Good
010night. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. That's so awesome. That's the best part. Wow. All right. So, um seven is to approve the minutes of the April 20, 2026 Jacksonville City Schools Board meeting. Approved. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? All right. Item eight, public comments on agenda items. No one's signed in. All right. Item nine, finance reports. You have in your package the finance report for the month of March, which includes the monthly financial statements exhibits F1A through F3C. You also have the combined bank reconciliation at March 31, which is a combined reconciled balance of all the operating accounts of Jacksonville City Schools, including the two local schools and the child nutrition program. This combined reconciled balance was 8,509,803.21. You also have the accounts payable check register
011accountability report for March with total expenditures of 421,252.84. On the report, each check is listed. You have a check number, vendor name, and a description based upon the object code from the state accounting manual. From this 421,000, you have state fund sources that paid for 154 758 01. Federal fund sources paid for 106 542 64. And local fund sources paid for 159 952 19. Again, that was a total of 421,252 84. And those are the three required [clears throat] reports for the month of March. Um Recommend the board approve Jacksonville City Schools accounts payable and payroll for March 2026. And accept the March 2026 financial statements. Do I have a motion? Second. All those in any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? All right. Item 10, superintendent's report and new
012business. I'm going to share a few things before we get into the new business. Some very important dates that are coming up. On the 13th, we have the senior awards. I don't know. I you're out and about and you can come to that, you will just be amazed at the investments that other people are putting into our senior class. We had the Eagles Rising program the other day and had kids going everywhere. And uh we have kids who have already enlisted. I couldn't call I shouldn't call them kids or young people. Um but they're kids to me. But uh so proud we have students that are already enlisted into the different branches of the military. We have uh students going from Princeton to JSU to you name it and uh I thank Dr. Killingsworth the
013other day at Town and Gown for investing in our students because JSU uh continues to invest in the future of our community and and really all around the world because JSU students, uh, they travel everywhere. But, uh, we have kids going everywhere. We also, uh, have some that are going directly into work and I was talking to one young man, um, at the etiquette luncheon and he was at my table and uh, so what are you going to do when you finish up? And he said, "Well, I'm already part of a lawn business." And he said, "I'm already a certified mechanic for steel, uh, machinery." And, uh, I'm just I mean, our kids are amazing. Um, they will If you stop and have a conversation with them, uh, you just walk away going, "Oh my
014word." I mean, to have their life just ahead of them and, uh, the thought that they put into. So, that's on the 13th and that is the morning of, uh, and so on the 19th and that's 13th >> [clears throat] >> and I need to look. It's on my calendar. Uh, hang on just a second. It's at 9:00, 9:00 a.m. >> 13th, 9:00 a.m. >> Senior awards. Uh, then the 19th, we have the baccalaureate service, uh, at the Methodist Church at 7:00 p.m. and that is one of the most beautiful ceremonies that, uh, you can attend and so I encourage you if you have an opportunity to come to that. And then we have this small event on the 21st, um, called graduation. And, uh, again, that is at 8:00 p.m. It's a little bit
015later, but it's nice if the sun goes down and you get that beautiful view at sunset and, uh, it cools off a little bit. So, we're praying for wonderful weather. Um, but, uh, we have about 130 graduates. It's one of the largest classes that we have had. And I was talking to Ms. Wilson about that and she said, you know, that's the largest one that she can remember and, uh, they are very, very impressive group of young people. And so, again, uh, I'm just looking forward to that and that is at 8:00. Uh, we have sent out the We will send out invitations. We've already, uh, spoken to the mayor and the council and of course uh, they will be invited to be there and the board obviously you'll be set up like we we
016always do there on the field and so Dr. Harper, will there be parking at the We will have you parking right there at the >> at the gate and at Baccalaureate we will have something there for you as well so Will you have seating? We will [clears throat] have seating at Baccalaureate where we had last year off to the left unless they decide to do something different but we will have that for you Okay, thank you. Yeah, we'll have you taken care of. email reminder We will definitely do that. Well and and something wonderful so I thought it was a great idea at Town and Gown the other day we're talking about putting all the calendars the city calendar JSU's calendar and the school systems calendar together so as a quick reference you can kind
017of see what's going on but yes sir we will send you everything out to that. um couple of wonderful events that have gone on recently we had the Special Olympics and so we had 26 schools represented over a couple of counties we had over athletes and I've sent out something to to just brag on our folks on Friday. um we had a state school board member here Miss Manning who came by just to say hello and and tour the schools and go through with us and uh she was at the high school and so one of our Special Olympic athletes one of our star athletes met up with his Gen Ed buddy and so they had Gen Ed buddies that were there as well and uh it was just the day before that we had
018Special Olympics and whenever they bumped into each other we were walking through the hallway the classes were changing and you would have thought they had not seen each other in in years and so the tardy bell rang the hallway cleared up and they're still talking and um I looked at Miss Manning and she said really that's what it's about it and I said it truly truly is and so um you know you always wonder you know, will a state school board member see everything that you want them to see because they have limited time and they're coming through and I thought there's absolutely nothing better that she could have seen is how much our kids care for each other and take time for each other. And so I was just very very pleased with that.
019I mean, you'll notice that we have this room set up differently tonight. Uh, we have had AP exams going on and uh, let me tell you a little bit about that. Uh, we've had 129 students taking AP exams. Uh, 217 exams over uh, 14 different subjects. Our kids again, they are just doing some remarkable work and so very very proud of that. This past week, um, weekend, had an opportunity to see Frozen at the Stone Center. We again appreciate the partnership that we have with JSU and uh, I had an opportunity to watch that with a group of high school students and elementary students. And I got to sit between them. And you talking about a lively audience because they know about the Frozen story. They they know the movie. They know all that and
020so they cheered in all the right places and uh, it was wonderful and she was just doing a just unbelievable job with that group of kids. I could brag all day long. I'm I'm very proud that when you walked in, you'll notice >> [clears throat] >> the central office has been put back together. Um, the painting is done and so uh, we're just so thrilled to have that uh, that completed and taken care of and so again, I could just tell you again about the concerts that are going on and the spring band concert. We have concert uh, tomorrow. Uh, the choir and the band will be putting on a concert at Kitty Stone. Two programs. Uh, 9:00 and 1:30. Uh, and then one for parents. So, it's a great things going on all throughout
021the system and so uh, just very very proud. And so I'll get into the business now but I just wanted to share those things with you. Uh >> Again, just talk to our kids and I guarantee you'll be impressed. Franklin Field won section of boys and girls. They did. Thank you. Uh down at the Gulf. And so, uh very, very proud of them. They took the podium. And so, and as fast as things are going, I know that was just last week. It seems like a lifetime ago. So, I apologize. Thank you for catching me on that. >> time. Wow. Both boys and girls, I think. Yeah. Wow. That's so sweet. >> So, and uh again, whether it's on the field of competition or in the classroom, our kids are just doing uh remarkable work.
022And and just talking to um Cooper before he left, he said, "I'm so glad that that my parents [clears throat] brought me here." And and you find your people. And you truly find your people. And I mean, he's excelling in everything. But if you want to be involved, there's something to be involved in here. And so, I'm very proud of that. Um at this time, uh the action items that I have, I recommend the board approve personnel items A through S. And this is our large uh personnel meeting. Can't tell you that we won't have more later, but this is the big one. And that is uh personnel items A through S. I move. Second. It has been motioned and seconded that we um vote on personnel A through S. All those in favor? I.
023I. Any opposed? Motion carried. Um confirm date of next board meeting. I'm sad June June 11th. June 11th. 11th. What time? of the night can we do We can do it the 9th. I just have It would have to be afternoonish evening because I'm summer school. Let's say 5:00. Is that a group? Um what time does summer school over? Wouldn't want you to rush. Oh, no. It's over by 12:30. I can leave at 1:30 or so. So, it's fine. Yeah. I'm still on duty. I'm 12 months. So. So, I'm going to have to call the board. We'll do it at 1:30. I'm just kidding. >> [laughter] >> What time do you want? 4:00? 4:00? Yeah. Sounds good for you, Jeff? Yes. Oh, yeah. Well, the 9th is that a Is that okay, Jeff? Thanks. Miss
024Curl, I mean, will there be any business or personal issues? I'm good. Vacations or whatever. I should be back by then. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think so. Going to that. I should be back. Are you sure? Well, that would uh involve me calling my wife in the middle of a board meeting. So, I know but I'm I'm pretty [laughter] sure I'm pretty sure that uh that'll be fine. If not, I will uh definitely um figure something out on that. So. >> Did you say 4:00? 4:00 on the June 9th. Okay. Tuesday. Is that okay for you, sir? Yeah. Um I >> better for us to move it? We can move it. >> I'll tell you what. Let's do the Let's put down the 9th and have the 12th as a backup if that's okay. Yeah.
025Let's go with the 12th. I'll know something >> We'll go with the 12th. Is it a Friday? I don't know. No, the 12th is not a I'm sorry. No. No. No. No. That's the I'm sorry. No. No. Not a Friday. I was looking incorrectly. So, June 11th? Uh early on. I think we're good. Let me Yeah, I'll I'll double check. Okay. Yeah, let's stick with the 9th and then we'll we'll kind of pull out and see kind of where we're at on that. >> want you in the dog house. >> no, no. No, I I promise you I think I've counted right. I you know He may be still wearing his hula skirt when he Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think I think I'll be fine, but I'll double check everything. >> June the 9th is
026someone's birthday as well. Turn 61 that day. Oh, yeah. >> [laughter] >> Fine. He is fine. >> we have cake? No, I don't need cake. No. I do. Okay. That'll get me an excuse. I want to >> [laughter] >> All right, do we need >> We got to have Do we need to approve that? No. Okay. Board member comment. I would Go ahead. >> No, I was just going to say the teachers, of course obviously we appreciate them and we appreciate our staff. But I want to give a shout-out to our parents. Because we have so many activities that our children belong in. I know since we we have been on the board, we have added fishing, we've added swimming, we have all these extra sports and extra curriculums that the parents are being drug
027or the children have having to be transported and taken from one place to another. And I just appreciate the parents and their involvement with the children and their support of the children and the school. Couldn't do it without the parents and the community's support. Well said. I agree. Anyone else? I know it's afterwards, but once again we'd like to take time to thank our staff, Dr. Barber, all the staff members. Last week was teacher appreciation week and uh we do appreciate you all. I wish we could have had a meeting during that week, but we didn't uh but we just want to let you all know that we do appreciate you. Uh we just don't sit here and just uh be still and everything. We appreciate everything that you're doing. But the donuts Amen. Uh
028the donuts were a wonderful addition to that, and uh again, all of the the donuts were fabulous. We we shared them out, but uh and thank you for taking those out to the schools and the central office and remembering us. But again, uh to the community because so much love was shared to the teachers, faculty, and staff. Um again, uh just walking through, and there's still cookies and everything at the high school. And you know me, I'm a Baptist preacher, I'll sniff out everything, but um but I just appreciate that because it was just every time I turned around, I was getting an email that so-and-so had dropped this off, and they'd dropped this off. And and it's wonderful. It is wonderful. Also, um not to cut y'all off, you can please keep going, but
029Sunny Bites, um we will have that. Uh Miss McCombs will have that at the Methodist Church there, uh the community. I never remember just the title for the place. It's right next to the Methodist JCOC, Jacksonville Christian Outreach. It's there in the parking lot between the JCOC and the Methodist Church. Second and fourth Tuesdays, um we'll get you the time on that. Second and fourth Tuesdays, June, July, and August. And so, uh the uh student government at JSU is going to help out with that as well. Uh so, that's another thing that comes up at Town and Gown where we get to share our resources. So, and I didn't mean to cut y'all's comment >> No, it's fine. That's good. Thank you. Anyone else? I would just like to say thank you to our teachers
030and staff as well. Um they sacrifice their own families' time, and and I know that, and we see it every day and we are so appreciative to all of our staff that go above and beyond every single day. Also nurses appreciation week was this week as well and we appreciate those. I'd like to say I'm very honored to serve in this position and I'll need all of your help all of you. Thank you. >> you serve. Yes and glad to have Jeff Gaston along with me. Yeah. So and all of you each and every day. We're very special board I think. We We work well together and I appreciate that. All right. Do I make a motion? >> I make a motion we adjourn. So moved. Oh we didn't vote. Thank you.