OPINION: Contextual clarification on ownership of the Central Office

I had a person connected with the Jackson-Madison County School System ask me the other day really good question: If Madison County is the funding body of the school system and technically owns JMCSS buildings, why would they be open to paying the school system $2 million for the building currently known as the Central Office (CO)?

That’s a really good question. And I feel like some of my reporting on this issue has lacked some background and context for readers who forgot about all this or are just jumping in this car.

So let’s go back a couple years, shall we?

Before Marlon King officially started his tenure as Superintendent of JMCSS on July 1, 2020, he was present for groundbreaking ceremonies at both current locations of Jackson Central-Merry and Madison Academic schools.

At some point after that, the conversation began about what to do with the old Madison/Jackson High building once the school had moved out.

Senior citizen center for the City, some kind of Jackson historical museum and a vintage hotel were all thrown out as ideas.

But by mid- to late-2022, King had landed on moving the JMCSS administration there because there would be more room there for wrap-around services he felt the COVID-19 pandemic had revealed to him the district should supply for families.

King had discussions about possible needs for the CO once JMCSS had vacated it, and nothing necessary for the schools would be needed in the building except for the bus garage in the back.

King reached out to the County and said they would probably be giving the building back to the County once they got out.

This is a good place to stop a minute and mention that any facility in the school system that existed before consolidation automatically goes back to the entity that owned it before consolidation. So if JMCSS vacated Jackson High/Madison building with no plans for it, that building would’ve gone back to the City of Jackson ownership (which is where the idea of a senior citizen center came up). Since the CO was at first the county school system’s voc/tech building, that building goes back to the County. But the County (or City) can do nothing with a school building until JMCSS vacates it and has no plans for it.

So, King reached out to the County and let them know his plans. In the weeks and months after that, a couple of departments that could use that building came to mind for those in leadership for the county commission.

The Election Commission could use the space for better storage of its voting machines. There was even talk about the Sheriff’s Department needing to return to a more central location within the county. (At this point in present time, the sheriff’s department moving there is highly unlikely.)

The County began liking the idea of getting the CO building, so they began to subtly try to find out when JMCSS would vacate.

By early 2023, County Mayor A.J. Massey was asking King what he needs to vacate the building. King asked about getting the money to finish renovating old Madison/Jackson High. By earlier this year, the Republicans on the County Commission had become more OK with giving the school system $2 million to cover the projected approximate $1.5 million for the renovation at the older building and any other costs to move in.

So by April of this year, JMCSS Attorney Dale Thomas and County Attorney Jay Bush had come to an agreement - a memorandum of understanding (MOU) - where both entities voted to approve entering into the agreement in which the County put into writing they’d give JMCSS the $2 million and the County would eventually get the CO.

Fast forward to this month when it came time to solidify the agreement of the MOU and actually put deadlines in place, and Debbie Gaugh, who voted against the MOU in April with now-board chair Harvey Walden, still has reservations about letting go of the building.

She wants a school building for students coming into JMCSS because the growth is happening for the district.

She has also says she thinks the District could sell the building and get a substantial big paycheck out of it.

The only problem with that thinking is the a sale on a school facility isn’t final without approval from the county commission.

So Thomas and Bush have gotten together again to tighten up the language of the agreement. It has a deadline on it now, JMCSS needs the $2 million from the County by June 30, 2025. That’s because the $2 million promised by the County is a part of the current year’s budget, so they either need to prepare to dip into their fund balance or get their money.

The Board approved the new agreement last week. The County will probably vote on it next month during their next meeting.

Brandon Shields is the managing editor of The Jackson Post. Reach him through e-mail at brandon@jacksonpost.news. Follow him on X.com @JSEditorBrandon. Follow him on Instagram @EditorBrandon.