Procurement & Purchasing

Ethics Statement

As a governing agency, the Jackson Public School District adheres to strict laws, rules, and ethical practices when purchasing goods and services. Jackson Public School District employees do not accept personal gifts from suppliers, nor do they conduct purchasing transactions for personal benefit. Our District's goal is to obtain the maximum value for each dollar spent.

Pledge to Prioritize Jackson Businesses

Jackson Public Schools (JPS) is dedicated to supporting businesses within the City of Jackson. These local businesses are crucial to the success of our students and schools. JPS will endeavor, whenever possible, to procure goods and professional services from qualified companies within the City of Jackson. However, in our commitment to supporting Jackson businesses, we will not compromise on quality or agree to noncompetitive terms or inflated pricing. While we strive to support our local economy, we pledge to prioritize Jackson businesses when acquiring goods and professional services, ensuring excellence and fairness in our procurement processes.

Procurement Overview

The JPS Purchasing Office helps students succeed by providing the necessary tools for success in the classroom. The office has two primary responsibilities:

Responsibility to all students, schools, and administrative departments: Procuring necessary supplies, furniture, equipment, and services in the required quality and quantity when needed.
Responsibility to the taxpayers: Purchasing all approved items at the best possible value while maintaining adequate records to demonstrate that this was completed legally according to prevailing laws and board policy.

Guidelines and Procedures

As a governing authority, the JPSD Purchasing Office operates under the following procedures and guidelines:

JPSD School Board of Trustees Policy Handbook, Section D – Fiscal Management
Public Purchasing Statutes as contained in Section 31-7-13 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Amended
State Auditor’s Office Handbook and Department of Finance Administration (DFA)
Federally Funded Standards and Guidelines
House Bill 1109, effective January 1, 2018
Senate Bill 2024, effective July 1, 2021
Senate Bill 2371