JPS welcomes students to four new schools - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

JPS welcomes students to four new schools

By Monica Hernandez - bio | email | twitter

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - The Jackson Public School district has been in session for a month, but for many students, Tuesday felt like the first day.

That's the day JPS welcomed students into four new schools.

Originally slated to open the first day of school, officials blame bad weather for the construction delay.

In the meantime, hundreds of students had been temporarily relocated to other schools.

"I'm on the football team and we had to wait for awhile before we go out there and practice. The rest of the schools already started, we got to start late," said Damyen Boyd, an 8th grader at Cardozo Middle School.

But for the most part, parents and teachers believe the transition will be a smooth one.

"It really hasn't been a challenge. They've been excited since day one," said Pamela Thomas, the parent of two Bates Elementary School children.

"I'm very excited, but it's also a sense of relief in knowing that all of our students will be here, all of our staff will be here, and that we can now start Cardozo Middle School," said Dr. Josephine Kelly, Cardozo Middle School principal.

Cardozo Middle is part of the largest construction project in JPS history. It shares a building with Bates Elementary. Both were built to accommodate a growing South Jackson population.

"This will bring new opportunities for students, this will bring new opportunities for students, and new opportunities, perhaps, for businesses to relocate and come to this area," said Bates Elementary School Principal Mitchell Shears.

The other new schools are Peeples Middle in South Jackson and Kirksey Middle in North Jackson.

The schools were built using a 2006 bond referendum.

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