Ruston Daily Leader (Jackson Parish Notices)
April 17, 2026
The Jackson Parish School Board met in a regular scheduled meeting at 11:00 a.m. on April 13, 2026 at Jackson Parish School Board, 315 Pershing Highway, Jonesboro, Louisiana.
The following were present for roll call: Mary Saulters, Rick Barlow, Paulette Belton, Gerry Mims, Wade McBride and Dennis Clary
Absent: Calvin Waggoner
Rick Barlo A school should select, and display at its discretion, the four displays attached to this guidance letter—provided that the displays themselves or funding for w gave the Invocation.
Paulette Belton led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The meeting was called to order by Mary Saulters.
A motion was made by Rick Barlow seconded by Gerry Mims and carried to approve the minutes from the Regular Scheduled meetings held on March 2, 2026.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Paulette Belton and carried to the approve the resolution to adopt the Attorney General’s guidance as its own and direct all schools within its jurisdiction to implement H.B. 71- displaying of the Ten Commandments in each classroom.
Jackson Parish School Board
April 13, 2026
Resolution
BE IT FOREVER KNOWN, that by official action taken at its meeting of April 13, 2026, the Jackson Parish School Board (sometimes referred to as the “Board”) adopted the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature enacted, and the Governor signed into law, H.B. 71 (also known as Act No. 676);
WHEREAS, H.B. 71 reflects the Legislature’s observation that “the Supreme Court of the United States [has] recognized that the Ten Commandments ‘have historical significance as one of the foundations of our legal system’”;
WHEREAS, H.B. 71 reflects the Legislature’s “intent to ... ensure that the students in our public schools may understand and appreciate the foundational documents of our state and national government”;
WHEREAS, to effectuate that intent, H.B. 71 directs “each public school governing authority [to] display the Ten Commandments in each classroom in each school under its jurisdiction,” in accordance with specific minimum requirements;
WHEREAS, H.B. 71 provides that “[t]he nature of the display shall be determined by each governing authority”;
WHEREAS, the Attorney General promulgated a guidance letter on January 3, 2025, containing the following recommendation:
Louisiana schools should implement H.B. 71 pursuant to the following parameters:
1. the displays are donated—such that any given display may appear in any given classroom.
2. To ensure readability, each display should be between the statutory minimum size, 11 inches by 14 inches, and 18 inches by 24 inches.
3. To avoid any possibility of confusion regarding whether displays are attributable to individual teachers, a school should place its displays on any classroom wall other than behind a teacher’s desk, podium, or location from which a teacher ordinarily delivers instruction.
4. A school should seek to place its displays among others reflecting educational content, such as those displaying the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance, see La. R.S. 25:1282.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that by the vote reflected herein below, the Jackson Parish School Board does hereby elect to (a) adopt the Attorney General’s guidance as its own and (b) direct all schools within its jurisdiction to immediately implement H.B. 71 in accordance with that guidance, provided that the specified displays or funding are donated:
ON THE MOTION OF Wade McBride and seconded by Paulette Belton, the following votes were cast:
YEAS: Mary Saulters, Rick Barlow, Paulette Belton, Gerry Mims, Wade McBride, Dennis Clary
NEAS: None
Absent: Calvin Waggoner
w/signature
President
w/signature
Secretary
Item No. 6 was tabled.
The Board recognized Danielle Copeland, Principal at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School and Chris Cavin, Principal at Quitman High School who presented information concerning NIET (National Institute for Excellence in Teaching).
Rick Barlow reported to the Board on the meeting of the Executive Finance Committee held prior to the Board meeting.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Paulette Belton and carried to approve for payment the following bills: General Fund, Federal Program, School Food Service, Sales Tax, Special Education and District Maintenance bills.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried to approve payment to Uniti Fiber in the amount of $27,949.75 to purchase E-Rate Cat 2 equipment for E-Rate Year 2026-2027, to be paid from General Fund.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Rick Barlow and
carried accepting low quote of $29,500.00 from VCC Janitorial Supply to purchase three (5) Triple S Scrubbers, to be paid from Parish Wide Maintenance funds. The scrubbers will be used by all five (5) schools.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Rick Barlow and carried approving to hire a Literacy/Numeracy Mentor for grades 6-8 (targeted for CIR schools) to be paid out of the 2026-2027 CLSD 3.0 and Redesign funds. This is a one-year position with the option to be renewed for an additional year dependent on grant funding.
Kristi Bass, Business Manager presented the Financial Report.
Wade McBride reported to the Board on the meeting of the Building and Grounds Committee.
A motion was made by Rick Barlow, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried accepting low quote of $93,702.00 from Fuqua Flooring to refinish the gym floor at Jonesboro Hodge High School, Quitman High School and Weston High School, to be paid as follows: Jonesboro Hodge District funds $32,630.00, Quitman District funds $29,610.00 and Weston District funds $31,462.00.
Gerry Mims reported to the Board on the meeting of the Transportation Committee.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Rick Barlow and carried approving out of state travel for Quitman High School Beta members: Evie Hasley, Jana Potts, Will St. Clair, Bethany Webb and Niki St. Clair, Advisor to attend the National BETA Convention, June 16-20, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. Expenses will be reimbursed according to Policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions.
A motion was made by Paulette Belton, seconded by Wade McBride and carried approving approving out of state travel for Weston High School Beta members: Molly Beaubouef, Elsie Flynn, Addisyn Garrett, Rainey Gregory, Brianna Moffitt, Allison Morgan, Anna Shows, Abram Toms, Braedyn Turner, Madison Turner and Advisors, Kim Shows and Cyndi Beaubouef to attend the National Beta Convention, June 16-20, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Expenses will be reimbursed according to policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Paulette Beltonand carried approving out of state travel for Quitman High School FBLA members: Emmalynn Foster,Brylee Hasley,Amelia Staggs,Klea Blalock,Sunni Altheimer,Emma Toms,Raegan Bell,Audrina Martin,Katy Cumpton,Charleigh Newton,Lexie Tippen,Colton Powell,Averi Hasley,Addi Faber,Elizabeth Lemken and Advisor/Chaperone Jessica Staggs and Brandie Hasley, to attend the FBLA National Leadership Conference, June 27-July 3, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. Expenses will be reimbursed according to policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Paulette Belton and carried to adjourn at 11:35 a.m..
President
Secretary
Published in the Ruston Daily Leader; $72.00 on Apr 17, 2026.