Congressman Bennie G. Thompson Pledges Federal Help for Jackson Schools Being Considered for Closure

[Washington, D.C.] – Today, Representative Bennie G. Thompson (MS02) offered Federal help to the Jackson Public Schools District Board of Trustees to help with repurposing school buildings considered for closure.

The concern is that buildings left vacant will overtime become eye sores.  If the current buildings considered for closure are in good shape, then I believe they can be repurposed with a coordinated strategy by the Jackson Public Schools District Board of Trustees.

Communities in other parts of the country have turned closed school buildings into community centers, health and wellness centers, senior living facilities, and anything else that has given community people a place to go. There are too many examples in Mississippi of school buildings being closed or abandoned that are eye sores.

I urge the Jackson Public Schools District Board of Trustees to take this opportunity to repurpose the use of the proposed school buildings that will close. This is a chance for the Jackson Public Schools District Board of Trustees to set a new example for school boards that may consider closing school buildings.

With a little imagination and coordination with the Jackson community, I am sure we can identify federal, state, and local resources to accomplish this opportunity.