Jackson Jambalaya

Me thinks that Jackson Academy doth protest too much!

Arbitration is all well and good until it fails. Then it goes to the courts. Discovery will be interesting.

JA is terrified of under oath depositions. Terrified.

Yikes.
I bet the Yates-Voyles fam are not happy today.

Ouch!

Form of pleadings seem not to matter anymore. Rule 10 (b).

The Voyles are probably regretting their vindictive behavior right now. Surely their attorney that decided to take this case told them that their embarrassing texts, emails, and behavior were going to come out for the world to see.

So this Voyles lady is apparently a terrible human being. Her comments are disgusting.

Certainly this makes the Voyles look bad, and rightfully so. However, I believe JA recruited, and you won't convince me otherwise. I don't believe those players just "showed up to enroll". I find that impossible to believe.

Mandatory binding arbitration should be illegal. Hopefully the legislature will take up this issue sometime.

That's a pretty slimy move to air that email. But these are the same guys that represent Phil Bryant, so it comes as no surprise.

I can't conceive of any way that email would be admissible in evidence. The only reason to attach it to the motion is to poison the well and punish the plaintiffs, and their kid by extension, again.

She's not wrong in her fears of loosening standards

Oh Boy!

You missed one of the most telling parts. Carolyn's email said that Wettach had a "fiduciary duty and obligation to lead the school in the direction it was created for." We all know the reason Prep and JA were created... Carolyn would clearly like JA to be an all white institution. Can't believe she put all that in an email. No wonder the school parted ways with them. Yikes.

Proof that money can buy you appreciation, but not class! Well deserved explusion.

JA may have recruited, but if a private donor paid the tuition, everyone can kick rocks on that aspect of it. Seems that is possibly the case here?

She sounds like every old white lady I know including my own mother.

Honestly, JA and the Voyles seem to deserve each other. The fact that the family place such value upon success in athletics, removes any sympathy I have for them.

Ditto for JA. Shouldn't they be more worried about directing their young charges toward amassing personal wealth (my kids started as preteens) and moving into lucrative careers?

As a young thing, I was taken under the wing of a clique, at our first college, who'd graduated Greenville's Washington School (arguably, the Delta's premier private school). They, like me, had just accidentally become Economics majors - an accident which saved us all. At that expensive private day school, none of them had received ANY career guidance.

"Our Valedictorian went into Interior Design. Maybe she INHERITED or MARRIED some money, and that might've saved her. She could do math! She was beautiful! She could've been anything. But all the school cared about, was having a good football team. So, not knowing how little she'd make, she ended-up in that poverty profession, because there was zero discussion of career trajectories and how they'd impact life expectations. And she's only the most glaring example. A glance at the moneybegging poo publications they send us - who's doing what, among the alums, is like a who's-who of LOSERS. Lots of Education majors - not many docs or attorneys or even bank presidents - despite our high ACT scores and family resources." (not one from my group, has bothered to even RESPOND to homecoming/reunion invites - ever. "Let their precious football people do that. They can DIE, for all I care.")

But I have to ask: is there not pressure for private schools to maintain a certain percentage of minorities? Is athletics an EXCUSE for recruiting minorities? Is that why they do it: in response to pressures they're not allowed to talk about? Personally, I'd be looking for the poor-but-studious minority kids - the ones in danger of being bullied-to-death, rather than recruiting the bullying athletes. Mais à chacun son goût ...

OK, somebody tell me what the mother said that was inaccurate . Every one of yall know she is right unless you've been living under a rock. Bunch of fake ass hypocrites.

@11:22 AM - "Carolyn would clearly like JA to be an all white institution" - I missed that part of the email because there are plenty of affluent black families and they send their kids to private school. Assuming otherwise is actually pretty racist. In fact, 13.4% of the enrollment is black. She was stating a fact about what happened during her senior year, and sometimes the truth is uncomfortable, but sticking your head in the sand isn't the answer.

I don't think either party will win in the court of public opinion - but that definitely makes for great viewing on our part!!

Voyles Family, don't be bringing this messiness anywhere down Lakeland Drive.

Why wouldn’t JA share Carolyn’s letter? You fault them for sharing it while apparently excusing the racism and bigotry rampant within in. That says a lot about you.

In this situation, both parties can be both right & wrong at the same time.

JA can say no one gets tuition discounts or assistance because technically, the tuition for these recruits are paid in full. The question is, who is paying it? That is what the Yates are getting at.

Not a lawyer, but pro tip. Don't put anything in writing that you don't want aired out in public and that can hurt your standing.

Of course it is admissible.

JA's response with the email has nothing to do with the case at bar, and I'm sure JA's attorney knows that. Ain't going to help their defense other than try to smear the Voyles personally. Their claim that these 'students' (scholars in JPS speak) aren't receiving financial support FROM THE SCHOOL may be true, kinda like OM's collective isn't the one paying Chambliss $6M. There has been little question that a (or maybe more than one) JA 'friend' is paying each of these 'students' tuition, as well as paying for mama's apartment in NE Jackson and I'm sure a few other asset appreciation items. And, the supporter is doing this with JA's permission and at JA's coaching staff's direction,

While JA is wanting to smear Carolyn Voyles as best they can with their "look over here, don't look over there" approach, the end result is still that they (1) broke all MSAIA rules in their recruiting (and just as with the Trump administration lovlies that say "well, what about xxx and they did it defense) the fact that other schools are doing it doesn't matter. Nobody has brought those cases forward as has been done here and those schools didn't brag about it ahead of time; and (2) they expelled the kid for something that doesn't fit their rules. Like it or not, they screwed up and some of their important board members know it. I imagine Ed ain't going to be around long once this school year is over, among other fallout from this exercise.

"...the top 50% of JA’s 2025 graduating class had an average ACT score of 31.3" is a well-crafted statistic

Carolyn’s letter speaks for itself. Neither JA nor its attorneys need to work real hard to “smear” her. She’s handled that alone.

11:54 AM hit the nail on the head! Very well written and laid out. Don't fool yourself, a JA friendly is footing the bill for these players. MAIS is almost as big a joke as NCAA!

The CoatTails/Montrose crew is working overtime today. Just you wait until those new Teacher Assistants clock out.

Is that taxable?

What's the average ACT score of the bottom half?

In all of this bullcrap and allegations made against JA's possible recruitment of top athletes I don't see any credible allegations or proof that the "recruits" are not academically able. No would say a damn thing if JA recruited the top academically gifted students from surrounding schools and they raised JA's academic rating. Of course such recruits would presumably be white and that would be alright. JA raised it's athletic standards while maintaining it's academics? Impossible! Especially since the "recruits" are black. Jeeez.

The Voyles email is pretty terrible. Racist! Sounds like someone wasn’t use to getting their way and is now having a temper tantrum. It’s astonishing to me that anyone for take up for the Voyles seeing this email!

@10:41 Discovery will be interesting. I would love to know what the rest of that 4 page single space typed email said. I am sure there are a few more salacious details JA chose not to publish. That was just a teaser.

11:54 said it well. This is a clear smear campaign against the Voyles as a distraction to the schools shady practices.

@10:47 Terrified of what exactly? The only people terrified at this point are the Voyles and that hapless attorney that chose to take this case. Now he is realizing why he was probably their 10th choice. Everyone else had the good sense to pass on it.

Money goes into family account. They not dumb enough to go up to the school. NIL kid has an agent

1154AM, exactly right.
Looks like a "tu quoque" argument to distract from the case at hand. (I'm not an attorney)
Her views on public schools have nothing to do with this case.

Plaintiff’s counsel quickly associating adequate co-counsel in 3, 2, 1……..

To quote our illustrious second in command: “I was told there would be no fact checking.”

@12:27 Clearly you’re not an attorney, because this whole suite is about whether or not JA had cause to expel this family, and it is pretty evident they did. Good riddance. We are glad they are gone.

If a donor or rich relative pays your tuition whose business is that? What rule is being bent? The question of recruitment is relative. I have seen Prep advertise on TV. Isn't that recruiting? As a private school you want to maintain your enrollment while bringing in the best students you can get. And yes, those students tuition must be paid, by someone. If some students we invite to our school happen to be great athletes HooRay! If your kid can't cut the mustard go somewhere else!

Makes one wonder why JA does not recruit those smart kids. Clinton has multiple 36 ACT's every year. So do other schools in the metro. Seems like locking up all of the local 36 ACT students would be more elite than winning an MAIS football playoff.

Straight to Hartfield.

I suspect JA’s enrollment is about to go up big time. They just gave a master class on how to deal with entitled narcissistic bullies. Winning in the classroom, winning on the field, and about to win big time in court. Everybody loves a winner, unless it’s your but they’re kicking

12:42, you must not be one either, or you could spell "suit".
And "we", huh? Well, WE are going to be pretty sad in a few years when JA looks like a ghost town. WE have already caused a mass exodus that is only getting worse. Hope WE have deep pockets to make up the difference.

Based upon a careful review of Carolyn Yates Voyles' email, it is my humble opinion that she is WILDLY racist.

Prep probably advertises, in order to preclude discrimination suits. The ONLY reason for "inclusiveness" is to head-off accusations of discrimination. As a minority-with-money, I can assure you that we already know which institutions we want to gate-crash. We don't need any stinkin' ads. And frankly, I resent ads and initiatives inviting minorities less worthy than ourselves. If we'd wanted to be around THEM, we wouldn't have worked and studied so hard.

What he meant to say was, “Don’t you know who my father in law is? Wait till I tell him you hurt my feelings and then you will see. You’re gonna be real sorry.”

"Of course it is admissible."

How so? I think it's irrelevant, and in any even would not pass the Rule 403 test.

Now whether is could be used in arbitration is a different question. But attaching it to a motion to compel arbitration is PR and politics, not legitimate litigation.

Anybody else see that scene in Pretty Woman playing out in CoatTails?

Is it lost on everyone who Carolyn Voyles is? She is a Yates as in Yates Construction. I graduated law school with her at Ole Miss. She is also an attorney.

@1:03 got me on the spelling. Everybody loves a Grammar Nazi. But don’t worry, WE will cover it.

@1:13 That’s a pretty poor endorsement of Ole Miss Law School.

It is not lost on anyone who Carolyn Yates Voyles is. I graduated law school with people that I consider to be profoundly stupid. Seems like you graduated with someone like that as well.

@1:03 and BTW, the money I donate to the school is to be used at its discretion, not to make improvements to the baseball facilities. I’m not trying to buy influence only to turn around and make demands.

@1:13 An “attorney” who has practiced how many hours? An “attorney” who wrote a 4-page singled spaced letter in a situation where she should have expected future potential litigation. There are plenty of dumbass/incompetent attorneys out there. She may just be another one.

The BIG QUESTION is: Does it matter who pays the tuition as long it is not JA? If Mr. Big Bucks pays the tuition for a student that he is not related to is that considered recruiting? In that example, JA didn’t pay the tuition for the student or give them a discount. The tuition was paid in full by Mr. Big Bucks.

It's moments like these when Mississippi must wallow in it's own racist character. That's the elephant in the room. In other states private schools have been known for athletic recruitment for decades and many are among the academic elite institutions but they don't have the history of being established FOR the purpose of segregation like our Mississippi schools. We don't give up easy. It's our redneck legacy.

There seems to be an underground transfer portal, where kids put their name out there like college. The coaches didn't overtly recruit but they knew the kids wanted to transfer.

Totally agree. Water seeks its own level and what she said rings totally true.

Agree. There is the law and the letter of the law.

Disagree. She is wildly HONEST and you know it.

Butt, Einstein.

Clearly JA's response was written specifically for the media - they knew what they were doing when they cherry picked Mrs. Voyles's email to fit their narrative and create this little smear campaign. I look forward to the Voyles's response and I have a feeling the full email will be forthcoming to put it all into context. I guess we know why people don't speak up over on Sheffield and JA's hamster wheel of a Board continues to let things fly - you might end up like the Voyles - kicked out of school and all confidential matters blasted out for all the world to see. JA looks weak and is grasping at straws to turn the case in their favor. Discovery will be interesting. At the end of the day, JA made a big mistake by kicking out a good kid who's parents just wanted to help make positive change. It's unfortunate for all involved.

Correct. Amen. Thank you. Absolutely. 1:52 you are RIGHT ON.

@1:52 Of course it was written for the media. The media was the entire purpose of the Voyles' lawsuit. They, and certainly Grafton Bragg, knew there was an arbitration agreement, but the filed in state court anyways so that the media could report all the salacious allegations. JA wanted to respond before it gets sent to private arbitration, and good for them.

I think we all want to see the full email, though I cannot fathom how it could vindicate Mrs. Voyles.

Usually, such emails are also attached as exhibits. At least that's what I've seen in most cases where they are cited in a filing.

@1:52 Ending up like the Voyles will never be a concern of mine because 1. I’m not going to waste my time creating a PDF about a bunch of kids, 2. I’m not going to send a racially charged email to the school, and 3. I’m not going to file a frivolous lawsuit against them. I’m sure I speak for most people “on Sheffield.” But we can agree on one thing - I also look forward to the Voyles’s response. I’m curious to see how they attempt to recover from that devastating right hook JA just landed!

Are we happy the NCAA flushed the black market on down to high school.

We can send our kids to any private school we so choose. With this temper tantrum by the school, I can assure you JA won't even be considered.
You can dislike this family and what they believe all you want. The fact remains that they paid good money to the school for several years just to have the school drag their names through the mud like this. I don't know this family or anything about them. However, if a school like JA will stoop to this level over this lawsuit, they'll do it again in the future to me or someone else when things don't go their way.
I hope anyone considering where to spend their money for education takes a long look at this fiasco and who these people are.

Right hook? LMAO. JA is getting killed in the court of public opinion. Don’t kid yourself. The whole private school community is laughing at the clown show.

The Voyles definitely took a vicious right hook. 2:34 must be one of the Voyles. I am indeed LMAO -- at your silly comment and the "clown show" the Voyles brought upon themselves.

Clearly the over-70 crowd on here is taking her side. Everybody else is appalled by her email. Depends on perspective I suppose.

Unless the Voyles conveniently forgot to tell their attorney about their itty bitty teeny weeny 4 page racist rant …

who among us hasn’t lodged a massive smear campaign against a school, and then suffered the most devastating public clap back !!! JA really said ok Carolyn let’s play ball

Huh? Rule 10(b) doesn’t apply to JA’s response. It’s a motion, not a pleading.

JA = State Champs!!!! All you jealous people.

Yes, how DARE JA turn this woman’s own written words against her! Make her racist admission public for the community to see? You’re right, I’d much rather send my kid to a school that protects its racist parents. Keeps their remarks hush hush.

Meet the board: https://jacksonacademy.org/about-ja/board-of-trustees/

The only people terrified is the racist ass Voyles family. Entitlement loses to what’s right. Go JA!!!
Oh by the way, kids been transferring from public to private for years.
I feel bad for the kid because now the kid is Blackballed. Another example of Adults ruining kids life.

@2:31 So JA just randomly chose a family out of a hat to publicly humiliate? Is that what you’re implying? If you’re a decent person not hell bent on destroying the school I don’t think you will have much to worry about. That’s not really a high bar to clear.

Look out everybody!!! This guy can send his kids to any private school he so chooses!

Careful buddy, don’t go full Jason Voyles on us. Cue “don’t you know who I am?”

Family and kids are sponsored at all Private schools not just JA. A sponsoring a kid or family is not Illegal.

And WILDLY correct, @1:05 PM

Truth be racis' and shi'

Racist vs Non-Racist people.

No doubt these people have had one hell of a Monday. I am sure they, along with others in their entitled little circle, will spend hours upon hours rage typing away on this blog and other forums trying to convince everyone that they’ve been victimized and wronged. They’ll go to sleep at night and rise in the morning consumed by anger which most likely won’t subside for years, if ever. It’s really sad. Entitlement and narcissism at this level is a sickness for which there is no cure.

Well done, JA. I am glad you hit back. I just pray these people don’t end up on Lakeland Drive.

Wow. It’s 2026 and we still have people that think so backwards. Basically saying we paid tuition for 10 years and it’s our son’s turn to play. He shouldn’t have to compete with Black kids. Our culture is for white kids with money. The truth that no one wants to talk about is that JA got Black baseball players now. Her son didn’t play football, it was never about the football recruits. He can’t get on the field in baseball and the guy that is starting at shortstop is a Black Saint Andrews transfer.

2:49 pm
Waaay under 70 here and not "appalled". I guess you're in a corner , clutching your pearls at the nerve of someone telling the truth. I live in the real world.

It wouldn't be the first.

Brought to you by Triple K bed sheets.

JA loses regardless of the outcome.
They’ve cheapened their brand. Let’s be honest - the trajectory is not good. Sadly, they should’ve put their efforts and finances into obtaining acreage for a new campus. They’ve got the alumni to make that happen if properly motivated. Allowing this issue to get to this point, indicates poor leadership. If paid student athletes are going to be the norm, plan for it, including dealing with legitimate concerns of your customer. Due to ham fisted handling, JA loses.

Voyles: I have a secret recording of our meeting where my husband says “Don’t you know who I am?”

JA: Well, we do have several emails that you sent that lets us know exactly who you are. But we won’t share if you don’t.

Clearly?

ALL of the local private schools have Booster Clubs that they use to raise money used for “scholarships” and other things, such as facilities. That way the schools can say they don’t provide them.

I understand where the lady is coming from, after all JA was founded so the white wealthy families didn't have to go to school with blacks.

@3:10 why did C James leave the board. Heard they packed up and left JA

So let me get this straight.

This seg academy tries for years to market itself as not a seg academy. Then, at the slightest provocation, they voluntarily publish emails conclusively showing that, yes, in fact the best connected, wealthiest parents at our school do have total contempt for your child if they are "from the wrong side of town"? All in a case where the relevant legal answer is just "this is covered by an arbitration clause"?

I'd assume we're just looking at bad lawyers here, but maybe not: in my experience it's not uncommon for NE Jackson moneyed types force their lawyers to include gratuitous sniping in filings, even when it results in collateral self-harm.

She didn't post anything racist. She simply stated what she experienced in high school and said wants her kids to have a better experience than she had. Isn't that we all want for our kids? And since when did stating facts become racist? Some of you softies can call it racist all you want but that doesn't make it racist.

And don't ignore the fact that public schools don't like the private schools recruiting their best players just like 98% of private school parents don't like it.