Jacksonville Parents Push for School District Transparency

New parent advisory group aims to strengthen connection between schools and families

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Parents in the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (JNPSD) are advocating for greater transparency and oversight in the district. The JNPSD Parent Action Coalition sent a letter to the school board with 19 demands, including the creation of an independent oversight committee made up of parents. The district responded by agreeing to form a new Parent Advisory Group to give parents a stronger voice and increase transparency. Parents are also pushing for quarterly safety updates and better communication from the district.

Why it matters

The push for transparency comes after the district failed to notify parents about the arrest of a former school custodian accused of sexually assaulting students. Parents say the relationship between the district and parents has been strained, and they hope the new advisory group can help rebuild trust and improve communication.

The details

The JNPSD Parent Action Coalition sent a letter to the school board with 19 demands, including the creation of an independent oversight committee made up of parents. The district responded by agreeing to form a new Parent Advisory Group, which will meet quarterly to give parents a platform to share ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback. Parents are also pushing for the district to issue quarterly updates on safety procedures and incidents.

  • The JNPSD Parent Action Coalition sent its demand letter in December 2025.
  • The district plans to hold the first Parent Advisory Group meeting sometime before March 2026.
  • The Parent Action Coalition is hosting a community outreach meeting on February 28, 2026.

The players

JNPSD Parent Action Coalition

A group of parents in the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District advocating for greater transparency and oversight in the district.

Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (JNPSD)

The school district that has agreed to form a new Parent Advisory Group in response to the demands from the JNPSD Parent Action Coalition.

Kristian St. Clair

A member of the JNPSD Parent Action Coalition.

Camille Vollmar

A member of the JNPSD Parent Action Coalition.

Harold Butchart

A former Bayou Meto Elementary School custodian accused of sexually assaulting several young female students.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're hoping to see them match that as closely as possible. We just, we're just really looking for the oversight component of that, and we're not interested in advisory.”

— Kristian St. Clair, Member, JNPSD Parent Action Coalition

“It would be nice for all of the parents to know exactly what's going on and have something in a format that's a quick read and you're able to digest it without spending your entire evening on it.”

— Kristian St. Clair, Member, JNPSD Parent Action Coalition

“We're interested in working with the community as a whole. We want to work with anyone who is interested in keeping our kids safe and moving the school district forward in a more positive manner, to where there's a more positive relationship between parents and the school board.”

— Camille Vollmar, Member, JNPSD Parent Action Coalition

What’s next

The JNPSD Parent Action Coalition is hosting a community outreach meeting on February 28, 2026, where they will provide resources for parents. The district plans to hold the first Parent Advisory Group meeting sometime before March 2026, with the goal of the committee meeting once each quarter.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of transparency and communication between school districts and parents. The new Parent Advisory Group in JNPSD aims to rebuild trust and strengthen the relationship between the district and families, ensuring parents have a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their children's education.