JACKSON, Miss.- One last chance, that is what the State Board of Education is giving Jackson schools. They must fix their accreditation problems but don’t have much time to do it.
The board was told by Paula Vanderford, MDE accrediting chief, that the state found bad conditions at schools. After a recent check in with the district high school they found unsatisfactory classrooms, students on cellphones instead of in class, and when students set off metal detectors they were not searched.
The board voted 4-1 on Thursday to approve a corrective action plan after the second largest district in the state was put on probation in August.
“We just have to warn that there could potentially be additional sanctions of immediate actions to address these concerns are not taken,” Vanderford said to the board on Thursday, according to local media.
More sanctions could be made to the plan if immediate action is not taken to address the physical concerns of the state.
Johnny Franklin of Bolton was the one individual that voted against the plan on Thursday.
“This is an abject failure on behalf of the adult population in that district who get paid good money every day that’s killing kids, big time,” he said.
While any type of takeover could not happen until approved by Gov. Phil Bryant, he has said he will be “thoroughly reviewing” the requests.
State Superintendent Carey Wright said she will be speaking to the districts in a few days and plans to address the Jackson school board specifically over these issues.
