[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6532040,"mediaKeyId","3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002","parentId",3427661,"title","District officials cite staffing disruptions and curriculum gaps after weak math benchmarks at Wilkins, Peoples","audioSeconds",1026,"startMs",2533000,"endMs",3559000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002&start=2533&end=3559","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002/thumbnail_2533000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6532040/Mississippi/District-officials-cite-staffing-disruptions-and-curriculum-gaps-after-weak-math-benchmarks-at-Wilkins-Peoples","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532040-68458f787d56b1dd336511ec11162bc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454294&Signature=aawaBWWzO~B99VXKfk2oEA3gWC4aWs-6aRg9p0Zc4bcAXzVuhoIvMO6PeS2gEolqtTSkHZ0t1LeE8I1Inz39hwkUmJ5c0phbtnCMHMfkegQdK4OzfLEe~3eH5ofBBVXvzRo5AbarLNWpvm1SjTwcrAAGks0q5IZNp9bM9qMFAZbi1fqyKxHqeDR71g6uda0Rw4EijFczbWzcjoGdiApmUILwGo5I3cz-xAD4naZACJvimZGs2Bj-2KpHv1nibk0O8ieL-f-tQpWtbQciA3MnqIWrboDqd2pTvs9KNPY7iO8WiS3rRoYEiNNz9H0cOYMM9ojarBl8fLRzS~SDppuQQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jackson Public School District","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","Jackson Public School District staff told the board the Office of School Support and Office of Teaching and Learning are deploying targeted interventions after benchmark data showed low math proficiency at two district schools.

Wilkins Elementary: staffing disruptions cited

Doctor Leesch (Office of School Support) told trustees that only about 5 percent of Wilkins Elementary third-graders were proficient in math at the most recent benchmark. The report attributed that low result in part to the death of a third-grade teacher and an extended FMLA leave for a fourth-grade math teacher, which disrupted consistent instruction during a critical learning period. School leadership and central-office coaches have scheduled targeted intervention time, deployed instructional coaches and used Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) resources for small-group remediation.

Peoples Middle School: breadth of issues in implementation

Doctor Buchanan described Peoples’ benchmark results and said that across sixth through eighth grades a large share of students remained at proficiency level 1. He said teachers used the Ready Math curriculum but identified root causes that include incomplete lesson-session completion, insufficient plans for reteaching standards with less than 50 percent mastery, and inadequate tier‑2 supports targeted at proficiency-level‑1 students. Network coaches and OTL staff provided co-teaching, templates for 30-minute mini-lessons on low-performing standards, and guidance to principals on differentiated planning.

Longer-term responses and replication of promising practices

Administrators pointed to Powell Middle School as a model where schedule changes and broad placement in a learning strategies course have produced more consistent gains; Powell places all students in a learning strategies course tied to deficits and rotates students in/out to deliver targeted instruction. District leaders said they are exploring master-schedule changes and targeted staffing shifts at Peoples to replicate Powell’s practices and accelerate growth.

Board members asked how long-term staffing and systemic curriculum fidelity will be monitored; administrators said the district will continue benchmark monitoring, deploy coaches and revisit staffing and master schedules where needed. Officials also reiterated that some recent declines were related to unusual personnel disruptions rather than persistent programmatic failures.

Provenance: topicintro excerpt: \"Doctor Leesch? Good evening, my JPS family. The Jackson Public School District Office of School Support recommends for the board's review the school improvement data for our CSI and TSI schools for the month of April.\" (transcript block beginning at 2533.32). topicfinish excerpt: \"Are there other questions? Thank you all very much. Thank you. Great evening, missus. Partners in education.\" (transcript block ending near 3439.78).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jackson Public School District, Jackson, MS. Board Meeting for Jackson Public Schools, 5/20/25","oneSentenceSummary","Jackson Public School District staff told the board the Office of School Support and Office of Teaching and Learning are deploying targeted interventions after benchmark data showed low math proficiency at two district schools.","taxTitle","JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, Mississippi","taxId",12967,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6532035,"Jackson Public Schools reviews community partnerships and program agreements for 2025–26",653,3480000,4133000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002&start=3480&end=4133","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002/thumbnail_3480000.jpg","/articles/6532035/Mississippi/Jackson-Public-Schools-reviews-community-partnerships-and-program-agreements-for-202526","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532035-4da94727693903679992c95d4ee3fe7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454294&Signature=QsBL~L~~L72aa1F02hJQyuNNDUUD7wwb76B3EHe01gOSAlwbtttB-QHddE8Ircp8UEdGmoaNID3FeOjH7UpPmbo1to~7aYxpvgdprX-cMmRd9xkfLHzmyX-zuevcDQnnKWzQjx2AOAsU1Rsg5tlEt~s83BwXrb203IegejiJkkU7iVsWa3pX4PoSPIjgdAgfABohaB2K~QkiQCdyMpis2zH0~c2GHi9~DPLnyF~pB1LD7GdYqn8YPh2Yk-Km7ib2zwx8lJN-0yluHV1MxJXKmYI53NirW9HQQAwSEMsOs-IGJD5NAQzxdS7wLMjpJPm8zadH4hG9TL8UloAmoElGug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jackson Public School District trustees reviewed a set of community partnership agreements and program renewals the administration recommended for the 2025–26 school year.

Mississippi Food Network backpack and pantry programs

The district presented a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Food Network to continue weekend backpack meal kits and a monthly school pantry program for students identified as needing nutritional support. Administration said a definitive list of participating school sites depends on sponsorship levels and grant funding; based on current sponsorships the district expects approximately seven sites initially and would add more as sponsors are secured.

Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi

The administration recommended approval of an agreement with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi to provide after-school and summer enrichment programming — literacy, mentoring, arts, homework help and social-emotional supports — for scholars in the Jackson metro area. The board discussion included a question about aligning outcome data across after‑school providers; staff said they are open to conversations with peer organizations and noted a Kellogg Foundation effort to develop a shared data framework among local providers.

Jackson State University music camp

Office of Advanced Academics presented a grant-funded five-day music residency for rising third- through fifth-graders to be run by the Jackson State University Music Department. The residency will use an arts-integrated approach (music, movement, drama and speech) with two licensed music educators and a minimum cohort size of 50 scholars; the program is grant-funded and scheduled as a summer opportunity.

University of Mississippi Principal Corps and Belhaven University agreements

The board reviewed a memorandum supporting full-time participation for two district educators (named in the presentation as Karen Mento and Andrew Garner) in the University of Mississippi Principal Corps program from 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2026 and authorizing one-year sabbaticals to meet administrative internship requirements under Mississippi’s School Administrative Sabbatical Program. Administrators described the Principal Corps as a leadership-development pathway to produce school leaders for the district.

Separately, the district sought renewal of a field-experience and student-teaching agreement with Belhaven University covering placements through spring 2028; administrators said no Belhaven student teachers are currently placed but the renewal preserves capacity for future cohorts.

Provenance: topicintro excerpt: \"We're here tonight, in regards to our agreement with the Mississippi Food Network.\" (transcript block beginning at 3446.115). topicfinish excerpt: \"We do not currently have any student teachers from Veil Haven and in the district, but we did support a cohort of 6 students that did complete field observations...\" (transcript block around 3972.3–4013.365).","The board reviewed memoranda of understanding and renewal agreements that would extend or renew nutrition, after‑school, summer arts and leadership-development partnerships for the 2025–26 school year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6532030,"Board approves April financial report and several consent items; motions pass unanimously",685,4419000,5104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002&start=4419&end=5104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002/thumbnail_4419000.jpg","/articles/6532030/Mississippi/Board-approves-April-financial-report-and-several-consent-items-motions-pass-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532030-2aab3180d443ee95047eacdf37f488a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454294&Signature=CXPqWjMkYRzQaKzIUB9WQysXN9XFyzgUJoBxMiAsI-zyoq99wss0X5GwFr9wpQjxtlhYGl08gztYQ9F8N~tHv1QZ32sK7iFeIn5soksi-Mhz3nzkQdk8UOXA5gDK53qig9zO5k3F63oeG5Ggr0F8ztDdV7Wjs6immRPkwUl5qYX9KIgBtfFiZLT5bS0hzWckkOiKl7~q-dL0vhK8Vv3mCT0f5XKLikPvB3NdV03-0VvO8c6Tu42nX8jxkxmSBg8D28APiuPNJ7qTUPJVwmrEwF~tDq1SlpCUOHAPtrDMbdf-XlKXbCj5JkHWPp8dx3jKgueRjnpki2Tb7zkXLAVZCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jackson Public School District trustees voted to approve the district’s monthly financial report for April 30, 2025, and carried the board’s consent agendas for finance, general business and personnel during the meeting.

What the board approved

- The monthly financial report for 04/30/2025 was approved after presentation by Executive Director of Business Services Miss Purnell. The report showed a fund balance approximately $7 million greater than April of the prior year and an ending cash balance of about $19 million as of April 30. Purnell told the board that revenues exceeded expenditures by roughly $3.5 million year to date.

- The district maintenance fund budget figure cited in the presentation was roughly $231.2 million in anticipated revenue; Purnell reported year-to-date collections at about 80 percent (leaving roughly $36.7 million still to collect) and year-to-date expenditures below budget.

- The board subsequently approved the consent agenda items for finance, general business items and personnel (each motion moved, seconded and approved).

Recorded motions and outcomes

Several formal motions were recorded on the transcript and carried without recorded opposition. The meeting included a quorum of five members (three present in person and two participating by phone). The motions recorded in the transcript include adopting the meeting agenda, approving the board minutes for 05/06/2025, approving the monthly financial report for 04/30/2025, approving the consent agenda items (finance, general, personnel) and a motion to close the meeting to consider an executive session. All motions were approved, and no nays were recorded.

Provenance: topicintro excerpt: \"Good evening. Evening vice president, missus Hillard board members superintendent doctor Green colleagues and JPS family the administration recommends that the board approves the monthly financial report for 04/30/2025.\" (transcript block beginning at 4419.405). topicfinish excerpt: \"So moved. Second. K. It's been moved and second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Okay. Thank you, everyone, and have a good night.\" (transcript block ending near 5104.895).","Trustees approved the monthly financial report for April 30, 2025, several consent agendas (finance, general and personnel), and recorded motions to adopt the agenda, approve prior minutes and consider an executive session. Administrators reported a stronger fund balance year over year and higher collections to date.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6532045,"Jackson Public Schools outlines preliminary FY26 budget amid state funding uncertainty",887,676000,1563000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002&start=676&end=1563","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427661-8b07ebf3be2826a1a06a2897bb861002/thumbnail_676000.jpg","/articles/6532045/Mississippi/Jackson-Public-Schools-outlines-preliminary-FY26-budget-amid-state-funding-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532045-7c1b0ec78385e51fcd1c45dc0fef84c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454294&Signature=UQC2yFksHy2lErVtw4zypMQswWZIVG0xuWoT5IQuqaAV~F2EomL0D4O7QpOwwc18yP-Ogg3vp0FB2PZMjYRNusX32o3tRXp98MQiuDQfbbWvoIzYcoT2FT04OZ0u811pSmO6Y6iUb0i4qFD19ZenBZNWFJlFU0HzHXOkJ7RL222mmrqkvQxpAO0GgaZa-n1ofqtbafloY-J64lhnuwhYJRbXa0KqigAQ7cC9mIsNiUnE369vO38r41co0kspDzbRma7qlYISsfZETN6xOqxpnG~HJKFxTgyfyULNENHp82Mtd-x-yi5n3gcIgMaCMuOzLmh5B92xjD4n8191QqTegA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jackson Public School District officials presented their preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget assumptions and timeline, warning the board that state and federal funding uncertainties could require program adjustments.

The district’s chief operating officer and finance officer, Earl Burke, told trustees the state legislature closed its regular session without an approved FY26 appropriations bill and that the Mississippi Department of Education has issued guidance the district is using to form assumptions. Burke said the legislature had proposed an increase in the base student cost of about $147 per pupil and proposed total education funding (including pre-K) of roughly $2.9 billion, but the lack of a signed appropriations bill leaves those figures uncertain.

Why it matters: The district’s planning assumptions affect staffing, insurance budgets, facility maintenance and students’ services. Officials said health insurance rates and employer retirement contributions will add materially to district costs, and the potential loss of federal indirect-cost recoveries tied to expiring ESSER/ARP dollars could shift more operational expense onto local funds.

Details of the presentation: Burke said the district appropriated $231 million for FY25 and had collected about $194 million (roughly 84 percent) through April, leaving about $36 million uncollected at that point. He reported FY25 budgeted salaries of about $109 million and fringe benefits budgeted at about $48 million. For FY26 planning the district is using a projected enrollment of 17,621 students (months 2–3 count reported earlier) and said it will budget conservatively without pre-K, estimating roughly 16,700 students and budgeting at about 96 percent of that figure (16,713).

Burke listed other inflationary pressures the draft budget accounts for: an employer health-insurance increase described in the presentation as rising from about $482 to $513 per employee in January 2026 (a roughly $31 increase), a continued 0.5 percent employer PERS contribution increase, utility cost increases (an average forecast cited at 13.3 percent), rising workers’ compensation and liability insurance, and higher diesel and fuel estimates for transportation.

Officials also highlighted planned investments: three additional professional-development days for teachers, continued multi-year commitments to deferred maintenance, a second year of teacher and staff device refreshes, an ERP accounting and human-capital system rollout (accounting tools scheduled for July 1, payroll/HR tools in January), a $2 million data center modernization placeholder and continued spending on digital textbooks. The district said it has set aside liquidation funds to cover potential shortfalls if federal reimbursements do not materialize.

On indirect-cost recoveries: Burke and Superintendent Green told trustees the district benefited from drawing indirect costs from large federal grants (ARP/ESSER), which supported some operational items. As those federal streams phase down, the district expects a reduction in indirect-cost recoveries and said some services or professional development may need to be covered by local funds or reduced.

Board questions and next steps: Board members asked for more detail on the extent to which school closures and consolidations had already offset indirect-cost losses, and whether the district can sustain pre-K if state funding is changed. Burke said closures produced one-time savings and ongoing cost avoidance but that some indirect-cost reductions remain possible if federal funding declines. He said the administration is not anticipating losing the district’s pre-K program and will use other available funds if necessary, but is monitoring legislative action closely.

The district plans a public hearing on the proposed FY26 budget at the June board meeting (first presentation) with final approval to follow at the subsequent June meeting, pending clarification from the legislature and the Department of Education.

Quote: “There’s a lot of uncertainty out there in the educational universe,” Earl Burke said during his presentation, summarizing the fiscal landscape officials used to form the draft budget.

Provenance: topicintro excerpt: \"Mister Earl Burke, our chief operating officer and finance officer, to join us and discuss our budgeting process for the 2526 school year.\" (transcript block beginning at 676.515). topicfinish excerpt: \"So board members, this was, given the fact that we've not had the legislative, decisions on the appropriations bill...\" (transcript block ending near 1443.2001).","District officials presented preliminary assumptions for the 2025–26 budget, citing legislative delay on a state appropriations bill, projected enrollment of about 17,600 students, rising insurance costs and potential loss of federal indirect-cost support tied to ESSER funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District officials cite staffing disruptions and curriculum gaps after weak math benchmarks at Wilkins, Peoples

Jackson Public Schools reviews community partnerships and program agreements for 2025–26

Board approves April financial report and several consent items; motions pass unanimously

Jackson Public Schools outlines preliminary FY26 budget amid state funding uncertainty