It took a couple of tries, but Marcia Moss was officially appointed to the Jackson-Madison County School Board on Sept. 18.
She’s set to be involved in her first meeting as a board member on Oct. 19 unless Superintendent Marlon King calls a special called meeting to address the recent charter school commission approval of American Classical Education’s charter school in East Jackson.
A career educator, Moss spent most of her time teaching science and biology in seventh grade at University School of Jackson.
She did teach for a few years in JMCSS and Alamo Schools before that.
In the past five years, she taught remedial English and language arts at Jackson State Community College.
It was her experience during that time that made her think of possible running for a spot on the school board.
“There were a number of students coming into Jackson State that needed remedial help in reading and comprehension,” Moss said. “Now I don’t know where the students came from, but if public education is giving students that lack that kind of basic knowledge and ability a diploma, something needs to change.”
Moss didn’t cite any specific instances of such diplomas being awarded in JMCSS schools, but she felt her desire to help was geared toward ensuring that students are getting the proper education before they enter college, a post-high school technical school or the working world.
She said she actually considered running for school board in 2022, but Scott Gatlin was running for the seat she would’ve pulled a petition for.
“I talked with Scott and found that he had a lot of the same ideas and objectives I would if I were on the school board,” Moss said. “So I didn’t run against him.
“But when I found out he was resigning his seat, I decided I would try to get it this time.”
The County Commission was set to appoint someone for Gatlin’s vacant seat in August and failed to get a required 13 votes for any of the four who applied for the seat.
Moss was one of two who were nominated again in September, and she was the one who got the 13 required votes.
She will serve for a year, and her seat will be put on the ballot for local elections next year with the winner of that election to serve for two years until the seat would be automatically up for election in 2026.
Moss told the county commissioners she plans to run for re-election when she appeared before the Republican caucus in August.
Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news
