In case you missed it, here’s a look at news highlights from this past week from NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM & WNWS.COM.
Jackson-Madison County Schools – Distance learning replaces traditional option in new normal initiative
From Dr. Marlon King, superintendent, Jackson-Madison County School System –
JACKSON, Tenn. – Our mission to educate students is important. Paramount, however, is student safety and the safety of our teachers. The continuing rise of positive COVID19 cases in Madison County is beginning to cast a shadow of doubt among our employees and their families.
Despite early requests from teachers and parents for schools to reopen with traditional learning, the rising apprehension among teachers cannot be ignored.
“Our conversations with faculty members during the Superintendent’s Road Show this week has only confirmed many of the issues our Senior Leadership Team (i.e., District principals) brought to my attention during our meeting last week,” Superintendent Dr. Marlon King said.
Positive cases today at Liberty Technology Magnet High School and Pope School, along with the subsequent protocol measures that have forced more than 10 teachers to quarantine, have forced JMCSS leadership to modify our re-entry plan for the 2020-20201 school year.
“In an effort to keep students and teachers safe, our traditional – in-person – learning option is being replaced with a distance learning option where learning will continue at home with books and weekly learning packets,” King said.
This modification may require further adjustment to our staggered schedule for back to school week – which is set to begin on Monday, August 24th. “Learning will start again in the Jackson-Madison County School System; and with distance, virtual, and CyberSchool options in place, learning will continue with rigor and success thanks to the dedication of our talented educators and school administrators,” Dr. King said.
Based on district survey results in June and July, in-person instruction was a desire for many parents and teachers in our district. Adjusting the New Normal Initiative, however, will keep more students and teachers safe and also protect the continuous learning process.
“I will gladly pivot on the recommendation of our local health officials. Many of our teachers will sleep better and educate with a greater level of confidence with these latest adjustments,” Dr. King said. “I am thankful to the leadership and support of our school board members during this challenging time. Together we will win. For the District.”
‘Dancing with the STARs’ postponed
For the first time in the organization’s history, The STAR Center, Inc. has postponed ‘Dancing
with the STARs’ presented by Leaders Credit Union until May 6, 2021.
According to a press release from Cassidy Sheppard | Marketing and Events Manager – the event, originally scheduled for October 8, 2020, will be held at the Jackson Fairgrounds. After consulting with medical professionals, board members, the committee, and members of our community,
The STAR Center arrived at a decision we felt was best for all involved.
In preparation for our original date, a four-page document that met the requirements of the
“Tennessee Pledge” was compiled to ensure the event could happen safely while maintaining
the same high-level experience that is expected.
Our dancers have been working with their choreographers to put together amazing routines. While all the preparations have been made for another sold out and record-breaking event, we want to know, “Will you dance with us … later on May 6, 2021?”
Throughout this global pandemic, our STAR Center team has continued to serve those with
disabilities across West and Middle Tennessee.
We served over 3,500 individuals in the last twelve months. Nine of our clients have gone from unemployed to employed amid the global pandemic. This was only possible because of the support of our community.
We look forward to putting our dancing shoes back on for Dancing with the STARs presented by
Leaders Credit Union on May 6, 2021, at the Jackson Fairgrounds.
The STAR Center mission is to help any person with any disability realize their potential. For
more information, visit http://dwtsjackson.org.
WTH System celebrating 7 decades of serving patients
Jackson, Tennessee – West Tennessee Healthcare, the region’s largest healthcare provider and employer in the region, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month.
The need for a new, modern hospital in Jackson, TN became critical during World War II, as the population in the area grew. Three small community hospitals, operating at the time, were combined to form a 123-bed hospital with 166 employees due to the persistence of civic clubs, local leaders, and the Tennessee General Assembly. The Tennessee legislature created the private act in 1949 to form Jackson-Madison County General Hospital District (“the District”) to provide a full range of healthcare with due regard for the needs of low income and indigent patients. Jackson-Madison County General Hospital opened the door to treat its first patient on August 11, 1950.
The District, known as West Tennessee Healthcare, has now grown into a comprehensive health system operating hospitals and clinics, as well as providing other healthcare services, and now employs over 7,000 people throughout the region.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees Curtis Mansfield, said, “I am proud of the longstanding service that West Tennessee Healthcare has provided to this community, and I am confident that the system will continue to be the premier leader in healthcare here for years to come.”
“There has never been a time when our mission of ‘improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve’ has been more critical than during this pandemic,” said James Ross, President and CEO. “For seventy years, we have been serving Jackson and Madison County, and we have had the opportunity to grow and serve all of West Tennessee during this time. Our success is due to the dedication of our medical staff members, our employees, and the Board of Trustees. We thank our patients and our communities for your support over these seven decades, and we look forward to fulfilling our mission for decades to come.”
JMC Library, JHA, JEA announce free WiFi in 3 public housing communities
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Jackson-Madison County Library together with the Jackson Housing Authority and Jackson Energy Authority will announce a new partnership that will bring free WiFi to three public housing communities at an event at the office building at 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 13, at Lincoln Courts located at 217A Lincoln Circle.
According to a press release from Jenci Spradlin – Adult Services Librarian, Jackson Madison County Library – free public WiFi has been installed in the community rooms at Lincoln Courts, Washington-Douglas and Kingfield apartments. Networking equipment was purchased by the Library through a technology grant made possible by the Tennessee State Library and Archives. JHA purchased several desktop computers for each space and JEA is providing the Internet service. The Internet will be filtered through the Library’s servers, making the access compliant with the Children’s Internet Protection Act, an important factor when serving children and youth.
“We have been working on this project for over a year, so we are excited to see it finally come together,” said Dinah Harris, Library Director. “This project allows us to open our digital doors to a wider population and serves as an example of how the library can truly exist beyond our physical walls. We greatly appreciate the partnership with JHA and JEA to make this possible.”
The computers in these community rooms can be used for school-aged kids for tutoring and homework. JHA plans to have staff in the room to assist these students during certain hours.
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