BOE looking to create a 6th Grade school

In a bid to make better use of its facilities, the Jackson County School System is considering a plan that would convert Kings Bridge Middle School into a 6th Grade academy designed to appeal to 6th Grade students from all over Jackson County.
Although that idea is still in the planning stage, the Jackson County Board of Education will host two meetings next month to discuss the idea with system patrons. The first meeting will be held at KBMS at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 following the BOE’s regular meeting at 6 p.m. The second public meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 at East Jackson Comprehensive High School, again following a regular BOE meeting at 6 p.m.
School leaders are looking at a proposed 6th Grade school because of an imbalance in classrooms in the county. There are too many empty classrooms on the East side of the school district and overflowing classrooms on the West side of the county. Most of the system’s growth has been in the West Jackson Area in recent years.
For the full story, see the Jan. 16 issue of The Jackson Herald.

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#1 Andy on 01/16/13 at 11:10 AM [Reply]

This is a terrible idea! I live north of Braselton on the Hall/Jackson county line and it would take me 45 minutes to get to KBMS. What about the people that live in Maysville and Hoschton and Braselton??? Kings Bridge is a LONG ways away. I like how the article says nothing about the 7th & 8th graders being moved into the high schools. This is nothing but a waste of time.

#1.1 Southside parent on 01/16/13 at 02:19 PM [Reply]

What about the kids on the Jackson/Clarke county line? It would take 45 minutes for them to get to school also. Oh wait a minute... those kids will have to make that ride anyway whether or not there is a 6th grade academy. Everyone should just stop all the whining and consider themselves fortunate that they might only have to make the trip for 6th grade. A lot of parents already have to do it for 9th-12th grade and now maybe even 7th & 8th.

#1.1.1 nope... on 01/16/13 at 03:46 PM [Reply]

There WERE to be (2) 6th grade academies, but the parents in the West Jackson Middle School/Gum Springs Elementary School area were not happy about this plan. The decision was made to NOT have a west-side 6th grade academy because of the opposition. It would apply to everyone else though unless the community and parents speak up and voice their concerns and opinions.

#1.1.2 Andy on 01/17/13 at 06:23 PM [Reply]

Southside parent, very mature of you to take a cheep shot/mock me. This is a terrible idea and you know it. That is why you don't like driving long distances to the high schools.

But what about parents who pick up their children from school? Is the school going to start charging after school fees because a parent is driving from Hoschton to Athens and will be late? Probably so because government workers will always find a way to stick it to the people.

#1.1.2.1 Southside parent on 01/22/13 at 11:11 AM [Reply]

I wasn't taking a cheap shot at you. All I was trying to do was point out that kids are already being transported from all corners of the county while driving past a school that is much closer to their home. I think it is a terrible idea too. But... what's good enough for half of our county's children should be good enough for all of the county's children. Face it, none of us want to drive across the county to drop off/ pick up our kids or have them on the bus all morning and afternoon. But we live in a rural county with few schools. We can't all live down the street from the school, so all of us need to shoulder the burden of educating our children. Either we all should sacrifice or none of us should. Unless, of course, anyone has several million dollars they would like to donate to JCSS to build new schools in each community so we the parents aren't inconvenienced?

#2 Parent of 4 on 01/16/13 at 06:40 PM [Reply]

That is a terrible idea. Seriously, is this what our BOE sits around meeting about? My, oh my....last year belaboring over a dress code and now this. Next year, maybe the BOE should waste time deciding what color to paint the ceilings in the bathrooms.

#3 Bagley on 01/16/13 at 11:28 PM [Reply]

Unfortunately this is life in the big city when it comes to public education. Either deal with a bunch of portable classrooms or re-district to deal with these issues. This concept is pretty ridiculous to deal with the problem though. It would make far more sense to re-align the way these schools feed into the high schools than create this 6th grade academy nightmare. However, considering this BOE approved the hire of college football coach that appears to have zero education experience(outside of what he may or may not have had for his undergraduate degree in health, physical education and recreation) to be the principal at EJCHS I can't say I'm surprised this scheme is under consideration.

#4 taxpayer on 01/17/13 at 07:43 AM [Reply]

The alternative is we build a new school somewhere and acquire more debt.
This leads to a higher millage rate and more taxes.

Stop crying every time the BOE makes a decision.

Frankly if you have better plans come to a BOE meeting and tell it because not once have I attended one where anyone came forward with any rational thought.

Oh and yes I am a parent and yes I pay taxes. Tired of all the whining by people that really don't have a better idea.

#4.1 Andy on 01/17/13 at 06:16 PM [Reply]

Taxpayer, there are plenty of people who pay their taxes (myself included) but this is a terrible idea. Also, THEY ARE BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL! But hey, you are at the meetings and you already know that, that they bought land for a West Jackson high school and chose to mislead the people that actually read the comments.

#4.2 From what I've heard... on 01/17/13 at 06:19 PM [Reply]

The whole reason this is being done is so that they CAN build another high school...on the west side/Braselton area. They can't get the grant for the a new school if there are other schools in the county that aren't full. So, they want to more evenly distribute the students so all schools are at capacity....then they can build because 'Look! All the schools are full now!'

#4.3 Mad mom on 01/21/13 at 05:29 PM [Reply]

I guess you wouldn't be driving from WJMS to Athens two times a day for a year. Not whining...just realistic....if we need another school....build it. Increase the tax rate. Better idea....build a new school....another idea...portable classrooms. It buys time until the building is constructed. I agree with parent of 4....what next?

#4.4 Taxes paid in full on 01/25/13 at 09:32 PM [Reply]

Wow, H.S. coaches (I mean Principal), athletic directors for Director of Security, cats and dogs... total histaria. But now we are housing these two men in Jackson County School systems owned buildings (two houses, a lodge by the East Jackson HS and a house over by the Jackson County HS). What is the world comming to? I would like to hear if housing is offered to all BOE employees. Wait ..wait. These two men may not be official BOE employees after all.. Not sure, but should the meeting these two found employement with JCBOE have been advertised as a voting meeting and not a work session?

What could be next.....

#5 Clarissa on 01/17/13 at 01:13 PM [Reply]

Kudos to the BOE. What a thankless job - I'm glad you care for our children and are good stewards of our money.

Clarissa

#5.1 if only on 01/17/13 at 05:17 PM [Reply]

You obviously don't know what really goes on.

#6 TAMMY on 01/17/13 at 08:08 PM [Reply]

"There are too many empty classrooms on the East side of the school district and overflowing classrooms on the West side of the county. Most of the system’s growth has been in the West Jackson Area in recent years."
WOW! Didn't take a rocket scientist to see this coming. Now as tax payers once again will pay for BAD choices of the BOE. This is what happens when you build where you should not have built. ALL I CAN SAY IS THE COMMUNITY BETTER SHOW UP IN NUMBERS……You need to be e-mailing your local BOE representative. If you are not sure who that is than go to school website
http://www.jackson.k12.ga.us/jcss-administration/boe
You will not get any where with the state BOE as your local BOE answer's to them selves.
SO GET YOUR COMMUNITY INVOLVED!!!!! IT'S TIME TO STAND UP AS A TAXPAYER…...

#7 Get informed !! on 01/17/13 at 10:07 PM [Reply]

Not one person has the right to criticize what the BOE does during their meetings if you have not taken the time out of your precious evening to attend one as a "concerned parent/tax payer". Everyone wants to complain about how much of an inconvenience this is for them, when the fact of the matter is there is NO MONEY left!! If you can come up with a better idea to fill these empty classrooms, than do it or shut your mouth. Now as far as hiring this unqualified high school principal, you can thank the lovely superintendent for that. I'm sure his buddy appreciates him hooking him up with that position. There are a dozen qualified employees already in our county, from our community (probably some who will be without a position next year) who could have had that position. That situation is a joke!

#7.1 Really on 01/21/13 at 05:34 PM [Reply]

Do you work for the BOE...or is it your husband?

#8 KB rat problem on 01/18/13 at 09:45 AM [Reply]

KBMS is infested with rats!! Students and teachers see them running everywhere, daily! Taking food from the teachers desk, leaving their signature marks on the student desk as well, this IS NOT HEALTHY FOR OUR KIDS!
Before the BOE discusses empty classrooms on the eastside - got some news for them - those rooms aren't so empty! Plenty of rodents at KBMS. Fix it please! I bet the BOE doesn't have them in their homes or their offices!

#9 on a side note... on 01/18/13 at 02:42 PM [Reply]

Remember folks, this idea is coming from the man that hired a football coach to be a high school principal. Yep, way to go Dr. Greene. Just another stupid decision you've made.

#9.1 Agree... on 01/23/13 at 11:55 PM [Reply]

I agree this is not the BOE.... this is our WONDERFUL.... GOING TO SAVE THE COUNTY... SUPER GREENE...Problem is he knows we are divided as East and West... and is getting both sides upset.. I think we should come together and show him we are Jackson County.. at the meeting you have to be approved to speak even though they are saying it is open "dialog meeting" it is not.

#10 jeffcitizen on 01/22/13 at 12:51 PM [Reply]

I am feeling really lucky to be 5 minutes from all 4 of our schools.

I can't believe a Braselton or Hoschton family would be expected to drive 25+ miles to Kings Bridge? What if they have children at West Middle as well? Surely I am misunderstanding this?

#11 The real problem on 01/23/13 at 05:38 AM [Reply]

The real problem is the previous superintendent over built the East side of the County with Kings Bridge and EJCHS. While those schools sit over half empty, JCCHS, WJMS, and Gum Springs are FULL. The problem is you need ALL the MS's, all the HS's, or all the Elem schools full before you get the money from the State. So, convert KBMS to a 6th grade academy and send ALL 7th and 8th graders to EJMS, helping to fill it up. This gives the county 2 FULL middle schools and gets money to build a new school(whatever kind of school they want to). NOBODY on the west side has to drive to Kings Bridge, unless they choose to. It's not the current admins fault that the last admin messed up. They are stuck trying to fix the problem. And, they are hardpressed to do it NOW because the threat of State money drying up for building new schools. If you don't do it this way, you'll have to re-district the entire county...remember how stupid the triangle plan was a few years ago.

#12 Jonathan Sartain on 02/05/13 at 07:52 PM [Reply]

There are a lot of issues here. What are you trying to do? Why dont you just simply redraw the county attendance lines to accommodate what you want to do? Why don't you go ahead and just be open about the situation.
I have been talking to the folks on the west side. They have told me how Dr Green has an office setup at Benton Elementary. Why is he doing away with the Ag barn at the high school? Why do you address all of this stuff at your work session of the Board this Thursday? I was at the county BOE office today and wanted to talk to Dr Green. But instead I get told he does not talk to anyone without any appointment. I said "I'll wait" They said well you will be waiting a long time. I might have a better chance of talking to the Queen of England. So what does that leave us with? It leaves us with him ignoring everyone. Please consider before you consolidate your schools. I think you also know you made the wrong choice at SJES as well as EJHS. How can someone be the principal when they are not even certified to be in a classroom?

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BOE looking to create a 6th Grade school

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