The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District Board approved the 2026-27 school calendar and a package of personnel, policy and budget items during its regular meeting.

Board members voted to approve the calendar, a set of personnel appointments and contract extensions, a district personnel policy aligned with state law, a cybersecurity policy provided by the Arkansas Department of Education (DESE), the district's sample budget of expenditures for fiscal 2026-27 and several other consent items.

Why it matters: The approved calendar sets the district's instructional schedule and professional development days for the coming year; the personnel and policy approvals put a formal framework in place for interim administrative coverage and compliance measures the district said were needed for operations and state reporting.

The board moved several items as a group and recorded routine unanimous approvals on the consent agenda, student disciplinary recommendations and policy measures. The renaming of the former Merle Taylor building to the Titan Health and Early Childhood Center passed with one abstention.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of consent agenda (minutes, assistant superintendent reports, financial report): approved (unanimous)
- Approval of 2026-27 academic calendar as presented: approved (unanimous)
- Rename the old Merle Taylor Building to Titan Health and Early Childhood Center: approved (one abstention noted)
- Additional pay approval for interim administrative coverage at Homer Atkins Pre-K Center and related daily-rate adjustments: approved (unanimous)
- Personnel policy (revisions aligned with state law on renewal/termination): approved (unanimous)
- Cybersecurity policy (DESE-provided): approved (unanimous)
- Sample budget of expenditures for 2026-27 (tax levy and millage unchanged): approved (unanimous)
- Student disciplinary recommendations (three uncontested cases): approved (unanimous)
- Personnel approvals following executive session (assistant superintendent contract extensions and background-check waiver for classified personnel): approved (unanimous)

Board procedure and next steps

Several motions were made and seconded during the meeting; where roll-call tallies were not read aloud, the board indicated approval by voice vote. The board said the sample budget will be printed on the ballot in May as required. The district also indicated that the cybersecurity policy is available electronically to board members because of security restrictions.

The board adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel and returned to approve personnel items, including contract extensions for assistant superintendents, before adjourning the meeting.