SACS team visits Jackson

Principal Donna Jackson grabbed the hand of the last kindergarten student sitting on the library floor Thursday, led her down the halls of Jackson Elementary School and out to her dad’s waiting car.

She then walked back into her Jonesboro school and breathed a sigh of relief.

Seven investigators from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools spent Thursday interviewing school staff, board members and board candidates.

But Jackson said she made it through the first day of the school system’s accreditation visit without taking a minute to stop and think about what could happen.

“It’s a regular school day,” said Jackson, who is in her 12th year as a principal. “I try to run a school so we’re focused on the kids and their needs.

“When we keep that focus, our day flies by.”

SACS gave the school system until Sept. 1 to meet nine mandates or lose accreditation.

The investigators, who include educators from across the country, will talk with more personnel, parents and community leaders today, said Jennifer Oliver, a spokeswoman for SACS.

In addition to the interviews, SACS is reviewing 2,300 pages of board minutes, audits and other records the school system turned over to document the work they’ve done.

“Our focus is on the evidence for those nine recommendations,” Oliver said Thursday.

The national Accreditation Commission will review the investigators’ report and vote during the last week of August.

Around Clayton County, some people didn’t know the investigators were in town. The only date that stays in their mind is Sept. 1.

“Everyone is talking about what college they want to go to,” said 17-year-old Jessica Washington, a senior at Mundy’s Mill High School, as she cleaned tables at the Dwarf House in Jonesboro.

“Nobody talks about it because if you talk about it, it brings it back into existence.”

Hiren Patel, 19, waited outside Jonesboro High School for his 15-year-old brother, Niki.

“I heard they’re [SACS] coming today,” said Hiren Patel, who graduated from Jonesboro in 2007 and studies finance at Georgia State University. “I hope they get those nine requirements changed.

“People perceive this as a bad county. They don’t know that Jonesboro is a good school.”

About 20 minutes later, board member Lois Baines-Hunter walked past the television news trucks parked outside the school board headquarters and went in for her interview with SACS.

Newly elected board member Alieka Anderson, presumptive board members Jessie Goree and Mary Baker and candidate Diana Nicholson said they talked with the investigators. Goree and Baker are unopposed on the November ballot.

New board members Trinia Garrett and Michael King as well as candidate Della Ashley signed a sign-in sheet that indicated they also talked with investigators.

Baker said she spent about 15 minutes with investigators, talking about board training and answering questions about changes on the board.

Goree, who brought a Bible with her to the 30-minute interview, said she not only answered questions but asked some of her own.

Tamera Miller, a teacher of English as a Second Language at Jackson Elementary, said she heard teachers whispering about accreditation. But in the classroom, things were quiet.

“You hear a little bit of chatter throughout the building. Everybody has their ears open and is standing on their toes,” said Miller, who is in her 11th year as a Clayton teacher. “We have to show the kids we’re going to do what’s right for you.”

Miller keeps a smile on in front of the classroom but worries when she takes off her name badge, she said.

Her children are in the first and third grade at Jackson.

“I’m really nervous because at some point, my babies will be in high school,” said Miller, who lives in Morrow. “A lot of people packed up and left, but I said everybody can’t leave.

“I paid attention to who I voted for. That’s it. At this point, we have no control.”