OPINION: An Open Letter for JPD

As a former trustee for the Jackson Public School District (JPSD), a parent and grandparent of scholars in the district, tax-payer and long-time citizen of Jackson, but most of all as a lifetime educator, I am making this special request on behalf of myself and a multi-generational group of fellow citizens sharing these sentiments on the matter. 

As you are aware, since I have appeared before the Board of Trustees, we want to see the facility, currently named Northwest Jackson Middle School and houses the Obama Magnet Elementary program, re-named Barack Obama Elementary and Middle School. 

The reasons for the request are straight-forward and simple. 

First, before closure of the Congress Street facility, the scholars there proposed and the administration and the board approved naming that school Barack Obama Magnet Elementary School. Approving the present request would be consistent with this plan.

Second, considering the national, state, and local notoriety the school acquired due to its academic success, granting this request would be like lighting a candle and putting it on a hill rather than hiding it behind a bush. While it may be true that the elementary magnet program continues to exist, a great deal of the public is not aware and would be hard-pressed to learn of its existence and availability. 

Third, changing the name of the current facility from Northwest would not diminish the name, the heroics, nor the importance of anyone. Instead, it would preserve the name of an individual of whom many are proud and who many had a historical hand in elevating to such a lofty status. 

Fourth, changing the name to Obama would logically align geographically. It would be the only public school located in the Presidential Hills subdivision. With all of the area’s streets being named after presidents, having a school named after one would be most logical and in order. 

Fifth, having an elementary and middle school linked as one would not be unprecedented. We already have within this same county, Bolton – Edwards Elementary and Middle School in the same facility, and within this district proper, Bates Elementary School and Cardozo Middle School joined on one campus. 

Sixth, from a sociological standpoint, it is important to break away from the historical pattern wherein facilities honoring African American personalities are lost or left behind due to closures or other systemic changes.

There are undoubtably other good and noble reasons why the schools on Medgar Evers Boulevard should be named in honor of former President Obama. 

The Board of Trustees has the power to approve this request to re-name the facility to Barack Obama Elementary and Middle School. It should immediately take steps to bring this idea to fruition.