JMCSS School Board meets for new budget approval, charter school reconsideration
JACKSON, Tenn. — The Jackson-Madison County School System held their special called meeting Wednesday evening.
During this work session, school board leaders discussed the 2025-26 fiscal year budget and the approval request from the proposed charter school.
“We value them, we value the hard work that they put forward everyday in educating our kids and providing services for our children,” said Dianne Hicks-Watkins.
Staff and faculty of the Jackson-Madison County School Board can look forward to a new incentive called “Give Me a Break.”
This day is designed to provide a break without using personal or sick time. Along with that, the budget approved funds for new arts, athletics and academic programs for all students.
“We’ve decided to do a lot of work in our phonics and we are implementing magnetic reading in schools in K-8,” said Hicks-Watkins.
This upcoming school year will be the first time the budget will not use funds from allotted COVID funds.
“Some of those funds we kept in our budgets so it did not impact us greatly when those ESSER funds we no longer available,” said Hicks-Watkins.
The board provided three minute comments from community members to hear their stance on the new charter school — the Jackson Museum Charter School,
“I’m asking you board members to not give up on our children, don’t hand them over to someone else,” said one community member.
“We ask for your support, the community is hungry for a new option and we would love to be your choice,” said another community member.
The final decision from the board is to reconsider the Jackson Museum Charter School. There were concerns of transportation, location and care for students that are at risk along with some curriculum concerns.
“If the state raises the rubric we can not change that and in saying that, hopefully by us doing this tonight, she will see how strong we are for education with the Jackson-Madison County School System and we want what’s best for our students. We’re not gonna let someone come in here and do less than what we are doing,” said Harvey Walden, chair of school board for JMCSS.
The CEO of the potential charter school, Dr. Jean Little, and her potential board, have listened to feedback and concerns and will go from there.
“It’s valuable feedback, so we will take that and we will make sure that we address their concerns and improve the application in the areas that they asked us to improve it. And we will be right back in front of them and asking again for their partnership,” said Dr. Little.
In the budget, beginner teacher pay received an increase along with hourly workers.
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