During a school board meeting, parents in the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District confronted leaders over concerns with a custodian accused of sexual assault.

JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — Tempers flared on Monday night at the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District board meeting as parents demanded answers months after a former elementary school custodian was arrested on sexual assault charges in October. 

Those Bayou Meto Elementary School parents explained that the district’s lack of transparency has eroded their trust.

They also shared that they’ve waited weeks for a response to their 19-point reform plan that was sent to the board in Mid-December. 

That plan is focused on safety, transparency, and oversight, but after getting little response beyond the superintendent, they took those demands and their frustration directly to the board.

Emotions were high as parents confronted the board, frustrated by what they called a lack of transparency after former custodian 39-year-old Harold Butchart was accused of inappropriately touching three girls at Bayou Meto Elementary. 

Now, some parents say it’s time for new leadership.

“It’s too late. We need a new board. The fact alone that [it was] from October to December, before parents found out, through a parent requesting a FOIA, they didn’t do anything. They weren’t going to protect our kids behind closed doors ever. They were never going to tell us they were going to continue doing what they were doing, and that’s because they have too much politics and pocket money,” described Kristian St. Clair, who is a member of the JNPSD Parent Action Coalition.

The 19-point reform plan showcases points from the parents that included reforms to restore trust in the district, protect students, and ensure the ethical governance of the district.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable and frustrating that we as parents have to try to do their job. We’re trying to come up with ways that they can afford cameras. We’re trying to come up with ways. To have someone there for lunch duty. We’re trying to submit some ideas for new policies. At this point, what are we paying our superintendent and assistant superintendent, $300,000 or greater, for if we’re doing the work? New year, new board. We need some people sitting in those seats that care about kids and put them first,” said Theresa Cook, who is another member of the JNPSD Parent Action Coalition.  

The mom of one of the alleged victims, Jessika Cox, said that the district’s actions have only deepened the wounds.

“The reason that we’re all here is because children were put in danger. And you know, at the end of the day, that’s what the importance is, is that we as parents can send our children to school every single day with people that we trust, you know, and not have to be scared or nervous, you know, like this is within our district,” she described.

Cox said her family continues to heal, but she fears other students will remain at risk if major policy changes aren’t made.

“We haven’t even processed October 16 yet, you know, and so yeah. We’ve had emotions from all directions, you know, not just upset with the school board. But, you know, I can’t even go to the park without, you know, memorizing the shirt colors of people around us and what vehicles are there. Because for us, this wasn’t just a school district that let its district down. This is a man who assaulted our child,” she explained.

Beyond implementing policy changes, parents expressed that the district’s background check system needs a serious overhaul to better screen anyone who works with kids. 

Parents in attendance at the meeting said they’ll keep pressing for answers and for action to make sure every student in the district is protected.