Distraught parents and Jackson School Board Members say they'll fight a state takeover of their school district in court.
During it's monthly meeting, Mississippi State Board of Education announced it believes there's an extreme state of emergency in Jackson Public Schools. Rosemary Aultman is the chair.
"Almost 2,000 pages of documentation both from the school district and from the department of accreditation bear out a large number of defiencies and lack of institutional control," said Aultman
The board of education presented the results of an 18-month audit that found violations in 24 of 32 standards. They include: poor class instruction, lack of discipline, lax testing security, and incomplete graduation records. The interim superintendent said they have implemented a corrective action plan that's working. Frederick Murray says it includes: more teacher, counselor and school resource officer training, a new compliance department and they hired 14 new principals. He says they were being audited while implementing the plan and asked for more time. Jackson Board of Education President, Camille Simms.
"I'm totally frustrated actually I want to cry. It's so unfair to be judged on a requirement as you are also developing the correction," said Simms.
JPS parent and Attorney Dorsey Carson says they're taking this issue to court.
"We will do what any parent would do to protect their children," said Carson.
Kristian Woodruff has three kids in Jackson Public Schools.
"A takeover means that they want to kick me out. They don't want me to be there. They don't want the parent involvement. They don't want the community involvement. They don't believe in our kids. They don't believe we're capable of educating our own children," said Woodruff.
The governor must approve the state board of education's decision.
