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JPS Board President H. Ann Jones addresses reporters and community members following a special Board meeting held July 13th.
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The JPS Board of Trustees announced July 13th it will seek to place a bond referendum on the November election ballot to fund school renovations and construction in every part of Jackson.
The Board's unanimous decision came after careful study of a recent facilities report by MGT of America, a nationally recognized management and research-consulting firm that specializes in facilities evaluation for schools. The MGT review of each school was shared last fall with each school's site council, which includes parents, teachers, and administrators. Their feedback aided the Board in its decision-making process.
"Although implementing all of the MGT recommendations would be ideal, in the interest of fiscal responsibility the Board focused only on those recommendations of highest priority, which include renovating some existing schools, building new schools in the high-growth areas of the city, upgrades to athletic fields, and renovations and safety upgrades for schools in every part of Jackson," said School Board President H. Ann Jones.
The total amount of the school bond request is $150 million. Voter approval of this request would help alleviate overcrowding throughout the district. The plan calls for replacement of Peeples Middle School and Blackburn Middle School as well as construction of a new middle school in south Jackson and one in northeast Jackson. Funding would also be provided for a new elementary school in south Jackson, classroom additions at five elementary schools and one high school, upgrades to athletic fields, and renovations and safety upgrades for schools in every part of Jackson.
Jackson Public Schools is the largest school district in the state with 32,000 students in 59 schools. The student population of JPS is larger than the populations of all but 7 Mississippi cities, and larger than that of 54 Mississippi counties. The last school bond referendum held in the City of Jackson was on June 4, 1991, when the community passed a $35.2 million school bond referendum.
Facilities Projects Summary
The JPS School Board announced it would consider a bond referendum to fund only high-priority projects, which include the following:
- Barr Elementary
- Casey Elementary
- Marshall Elementary
- McLeod Elementary
- North Jackson Elementary
- New South Jackson Elementary
- Wilkins Elementary
- Blackburn Middle School
- New Northeast Middle School
- Peeples Middle
- New South Jackson Middle
- Forest Hill High
- Athletic Facilities Upgrade
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| The majority of JPS school buildings were built before 1950. |
JPS facilities throughout the city need significant upgrades. |
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| Immediately following the July 13th special Board meeting, Peeples Principal Sam Kursar led reporters and community members on a tour of the school, pointing out areas in need of repair. |
Ceilings are stained with water spots which are the result of years of leaking in the roof at Peeples. |
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| Walls throughout the school are crumbling, including in this classroom. |
Another attempt to address classroom overcrowding at Peeples involves the use of this classroom located in a hallway. |
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| Walls in the auditorium are crumbling. |
Peeples, like other schools in the district, uses portable classrooms to address overcrowding. |