JMCSS unveils 5-year capital project plan

JACKSON, Tenn — Jackson-Madison County Schools System Superintendent, Verna Ruffin, revealed the school system’s five-year plan for capital projects Monday night at the School Board’s work session.

The plan includes everything from replacing roofs and heating systems to when schools will be painted again.

The five-year plan also came with a priority system as requested by the Madison County Commission’s budget committee, to help rank projects in relations to the “Vision 2020” restructuring plan.

Projects that need immediate attention, like replacing the boiler that has been at North Side High School since 1946, or getting a new roof on schools like Pope, got a 1 rating.

While projects like gutters and replacing old windows got a 3 rating.

The total projected price for this year is $5.9 million, well below what the county commission has budgeted in the past at $2.8 million.

District officials said they think this is the time to invest in the area’s education.

“We know that this is not just wishful thinking. These are absolute needs for our district,” Dr. Ruffin explained after the work session ended. “We recognize the dire need to replace roofs that have been neglected for multiple years, HVACs and systems that are no longer being built any longer. What we’re seeing is really in writing than things that we are need to do to get the district to where it needs to be.”

Since Monday night was a work session, there was no immediate action taken on the five-year plan.

To see the plan for yourself, click here.