After announcing he was resigning his position with the Jackson-Madison County School Board, Morris Merriweather has done an about face.

Merriweather will maintain his seat on the board it was announced Friday.

Elected to the Jackson-Madison County School Board in August, Merriweather did not return telephone calls Friday.

In a statement he gave to WNWS.COM, Thursday, regarding his resignation, Merriweather said

“The powers that be wanted incarceration (new county jail) over education, and I wanted education over incarceration. Elected officials – black and white – fought me, so I gave them what they wanted.”

Morriweather served as an administrator in the Jackson-Madison County School System for 23 years before retiring in 2007.

According to the Jackson-Madison County School Board, Merriweather returned to serve as a substitute teacher for five years.

A lifelong resident of Jackson, Merriweather was among the first 12 students to integrate the Jackson-Madison County School System.

Active in community affairs, Merriweather has served on numerous boards and commissions for the State of Tennessee. He is the recipient of numerous awards and citations recognizing his many accomplishments as an educator and community leader.

(PHOTO: Morris Merriweather)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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