JMCSS will spend $1.8 million on Union University building for cyber students

The Jackson-Madison County school board voted to spend $1.8 million on a Union University building that cyber school students have been using for in-person activities since August.

Around 500 students enrolled in virtual learning have activities such as testing held on Union's campus rather than the formerly closed Malesus Elementary that’s being renovated for them.

Oct. 2021: JMCSS cyber students have used Union for in-person activities as Malesus remodel continues

Reopening Malesus as that cyber school hub is “a long way” from completion, Superintendent Marlon King told the board on Jan. 10 as he discussed “a special purchase” of the Union University building the students are using.

“We will still be opening Malesus, but right now we have a long way to go in terms of getting that building ready for cyber,” King said.

Although King discussed the purchase with each board member individually, neither he nor the board discussed details like the price during the board’s monthly work session and board meeting.

The $1.8 million price was a part of an ESSER (Elementary and Secondary Elementary Relief) spending plan for school projects. School districts have received millions in pandemic-related grant funds, including JMCSS getting $37 million in ESSER 3.0, $16.7 million in ESSER 2.0 and $3 million-plus in CARES Act funding.

The district already plans to use $3 million of those ESSER dollars for the renovations at Malesus.

The school closed in 2016 with four other schools under Vision 2020.

Short-term lease v. long-term costs

In August, JMCSS reallocated $25,000 to cover a temporary operating lease to use the Union building, which is the former Adult Education and Professional Studies Building that was originally where Circuit City was located just off Vann Drive on Emporium .

King said leadership would evaluate continuing that short-term partnership or having long-term costs after the Malesus remodel.

The building purchase solidified the decision to have long-term costs instead of a short-term partnership.

King wanted a partnership with Union just as Jackson Central-Merry Early College High students can get up to their associate’s degrees from Jackson State Community College and as Madison Academic is dual enrollment high school on the University of Memphis-Lambuth campus.

Deputy superintendent Ricky Catlett said in October that the delays at Malesus were caused by the pandemic.

The renovation has been going on for almost a year, during which time the project evolved, King said last year when discussing it not being complete.

The remodel - most of which is being done by the JMCSS maintenance team - will provide socialization, support and resources for students and families of Jackson Academic STEAM Academy (JASA), King has said.

The renovation is a two-part conversion as a cyber school hub and as a centralized teacher learning center but will also include pre-k classrooms being paid for with ESSER funds and ideas from the principal.

Read more: CommUNITY initiative to bring new K-8, Malesus remodel, stadium to north, south, east Jackson

2019 Malesus tour: JMCSS Board tours Malesus Elementary as possibility to house Pre-K

Lasherica Thornton is The Jackson Sun's education reporter. Reach her at 731-343-9133 or by email at lthornton@jacksonsun.com. Follow her on Twitter: @LashericaT

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: JMCSS buy Union building virtual students Malesus remodel continues