Jackson Jambalaya

I live in NE Jackson and for the first time in my life am voting against a school bond issue for a variety of reasons. It's time JPS learned something about responsibility, fiscal and otherwise. If that's possible, and I'm not holding my breath, maybe it can jump start similar changes in other parts of the overall Jackson "system".

What was all this chatter on line last night about the ballots will be counted in secret, away from the Court House at an undisclosed location? We will be using paper ballots.

Contagion Theory Head:

Dear conservative neighbors in Wards 1 and 7: What do you think is going to happen to the crime rate if our school system collapses, and our children’s opportunities go with it? In Baldwin’s words: “People who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes floating back to them, poisoned.”

If you vote no on the JPS bond bill today, you can’t complain with any credibility about Jackson crime again—because you’ll have made yourself an accessory to it. You can’t rob young people of good choices and then complain when they pick among the ones they have left.

Jeff Good's kiddies went to St. Andrews.

Yes, yes, YES.

The dripping irony that the new JPS board is 'the best one ever' and 'has seen the light' juxtaposed against an election for $65 MILLION dollars in long term bond indebtedness conducted on hand marked pieces of paper and counted manually by ostensibly neutral third parties like hard core Democratic hack Bill Chandler.

Jeff Good is a tireless self-promoter. He will take whatever position he thinks is most expedient for himself and his public persona. He has almost no integrity when it comes to issues such as this.

I love the false choice in Head's comment. It's either the TOTAL COLLAPSE of the school system, or a mystical wonderland of learning delights. How can you hate children so much as to vote against this?

Disgusting and Perverse Head:

Talking about this with my majority-white neighbors has been a depressing experience. They see the zoo as salvageable, though they’d rather see it in LeFleur’s; they do not see most of Jackson’s children as salvageable. Shades of seeing advocates for no-kill animal shelters dismiss the Black Lives Matter movement. They find it easier to connect with other species than they do to connect with children of their own species who have a darker complexion. Social scientists are going to be picking that apart for centuries.

I don't remember you being this opposed to the RCSD bond vote. Do you just pick and choose who you like/support?

Actually, I provided the best coverage of the Rankin bond vote. You got to see the fees and everything, on both votes.

Rankin County is an A, JPS is an F, not to mention, I live in Jackson. Deal with it.

I hope Pete Perry is involved in the ballot counting oversight. Lots of nervous folks thinking the fix is in.

Dear Mr. Head: This bond issue has absolutely no bearing on the success or failure of the JPS system. It merely improves deferred maintenance items - not teachers' salaries. Your dire warning should be directed toward the administration - not the taxpayers.

NAH.

WLBT's online poll now has it 68% against, 32% for. I realize that their poll is in no way scientific, but that's a pretty lopsided number against passage. I just hope it is correct!

Does anyone know when Jackson public schools got air conditioning? The reason I ask is I am curious as to how these same schools managed to educate children (and from most reports, do so reasonably well) before AC, computers, etc. If this bond election were to buy books, computers, or other things that directly aided the students, that would be one thing, but when it is for nebulous (delayed) maintenance or similar things, how do "the children," i.e., the students, really enter into things? Yes, having better bathrooms would be nice, but to suggest that kids cannot learn unless they have really nice bathrooms is just nonsense. Children were able to learn in these schools in the past and do so without a lot of what is presumed necessary nowadays. I've yet to hear an ex-student say, "well, I would have stayed in school, gotten my diploma, and not become a dropout-thug-criminal, but those bathrooms...I just couldn't handle it..."

Most people of all races are all for educating all children (more so their own offspring, true enough), but what a lot of people, again of all races, are against is pissing away money on things that only benefit those whose mouths are firmly attached to a taxpayer-funded tit and trying to get at least a lip on another. Giving more money to those who have proven themselves incompetent to appropriately spend what they have already received will not solve the problem. You cannot stop an alcoholic from drinking by giving them more expensive booze.

I crossed over the Pearl River and voted against it. TWICE.

I had a brief conversation with the ladies working the polling station in Ward 3. Turn out is very low, they said. When I signed in, about 30 minutes ago, I was voter number 37.

I don't know if turn out is this low elsewhere -- anyone else have similar/different stories?

If you live in Jackson and actually pay taxes you are in the minority.
If this passes and you continue to live in Jackson you deserve to pay more in taxes.

I just got a text on my phone from 228-295-0479 "Vote YES in today's JPS bond issue vote! A YES vote = facilities upgrades, an investment in our children, and NO tax increase. Vote #YESforJPS! Text 9 to stop"

I am pro children and pro education, but I have never seen such contradictory information on one issue. All the pro bond people state that this will not raise your taxes, and you and others against state that property taxes will go up. What are the facts?

Coincidence? The voting place at Spann in NE Jxn was moved to the back of the school. Guess they want to make as confusing and hard as possible for NE Jxn voters. Wonder why? Hmmm and there is only a ballot box to put your ballot in...no scanning of the ballot. This smells.

If this bond issue does not pass it will not be because the people who actually vote don't care about the children although of course some don't. If it fails it is because the JPS boards of the past have by their actions and inactions used up all the trust a reasonable person can give when asked once again to "trust us". The new board in it's arrogance cannot accept this reality and understand that people will require much more information and more assurance of accountability before handing them a credit card in the future. But who knows...maybe it will pass.

I might not live in Jackson, but I do own several properties in the area. I have informed all of my tenants that if the property taxes increase as a result of this bond, then rent will also increase. It’s like I voted ‘NO’ 17 times without even going into the polls.

@11:46

In 2018, if you want the graduates to be able to get jobs, they need to know how to use computers, they need to understand how to work in 21st century science labs, and they need to have a 21st century education.

Books are really great -- but, if our goal is to drive down crime, and get kids in Jackson off the streets and into the workplace, we need these critically needed infrastructure upgrades.

In 2018 there should be modern, functioning science and computer labs in every school in the state. Period. I live in Jackson, I pay taxes in Jackson, and I don't mind investing in the schools and kids -- I would rather have them in the labs then out on the streets shooting at me.

I bet Socrates hasn't slept in a week dreaming about all of the juicy contracts headed his way!

The last time JPS asked for a bond deal I voted for it and even had a sign in my yard. I wasn't totally sold on it but thought things would be better for it to pass than not to pass. This time I voted against it. I'm sure I'll get another chance in the next ten years or so and things still won't be better.

12:25 - let me try to put it in simple comparative terms.

Imagine that you have maxed out your credit card - with $10,000 in debt, and are having to make $150/month as a payment on the card.

This September, you come into a windfall and are able to pay off your credit card and do so. Now you have no debt on the card, and therefore, no more payments. You have an extra $150/month to spend.

Next January, you go out and purchase all new carpet for your house, or appliances for your kitchen, and put the cost on your credit card. You now again have $10,000 debt on your cards and have to pay $150/month in payments.

This is the same deal as JPS's bond deal. Over the past several years, your taxes have had an additional 6 mils added to pay off an old bond issue. That issue will be totally paid off this calendar year. Therefore, when you get your real estate tax bill next January, your taxes will be lower because the additional 6 mils will no longer be added to your tax.

But, if this bond issue passes - because it was designed to borrow the amount that 6 mils would support, not for the amount that was needed by the district - your taxes will be raised by 6 mils beginning in 2019.

Your tax bill will remain the same as it was in 2018. But, because of the new bond issue, your taxes will not decrease by 6 mils as they would without passage of the bond issue.

Same as the credit card example - since the old issue has been paid off, you don't have that credit card debt anymore and don't have to make that monthly payment. But if you max out the card next month, the new debt will cause you to continue making the same payment instead of now having more cash in your pocket at the end of the month.

I voted at Spann Elementary just after lunch........low 60s on the voter count.

12:25, where do you think the money is coming from? As far as I know there isn't a money tree growing in Jackson so the money is going to come from someone?
The facts are, it is a tax. People pay their taxes with money. While you may not pay any taxes the property owners will be stuck paying it.

A thought just crossed my mind. Where are all those who were hollering that charter schools would take away from the public schools? I haven't seen anywhere that any of the bond money is designated for charters. Hmm!?

12:25

If the bond issue fails, we see a 5 mills decrease in taxes.

If the bond issue is passed, the 5 mills decrease does not happen.

@12:25 Using poor people math based around "how much are the payments each month" taxes do not go up but stay the same. Using real math the bond bill raises taxes the same amount that taxes will drop if the bond is not passed. As a homeowner you would see a tax drop if the bond does not pass, and not pay any more if it does pass.

To 12:25PM and anyone else who is confused:

Your property taxes will not "go up," they will remain the same - BUT - more of your money will be going to JPS because if the bond issue fails, your property taxes will go down. In economics, it is called "(lost) opportunity cost" in that any money spend on one thing (tax) cannot be spent on anything else.

Think of it like this: if you send your child to private school at X dollars per year, after your child graduates, the logical thing to do is to stop sending X dollars per year to the school, but if you do continue to send X dollars to the school "for the children," the tuition didn't "go up," but you are still paying X dollars, so you cannot do something else with that money.

If all parents of graduates continued to send tuition and the school used that money to admit deserving kids who couldn't afford the school, that would be one thing, but if the administration took that money and used it for hiring incompetent friends to fill unnecessary positions, personal vacations, luxury cars, etc., why would anyone keep funding such nonsense?

I wonder how many democrats from the Cedarlawn Cemetery are voting today? Asking for a friend.

Tom Head is a dumbass... hey, I thought you were for diversity Tom? JPS is one of the least diverse school districts in the state. Much less diverse than local private schools. Also, voted 20 min ago at Casey... I was number 90. If you live in Jackson or any friends or family members do please let them know to go vote and vote NO!!!!

Jeff Good has done a lot of positive things for Jackson. You ignorant have nots should give it a rest.

August 7, 2018 at 1:16 PM wrote:

"In 2018, if you want the graduates to be able to get jobs, they need to know how to use computers, they need to understand how to work in 21st century science labs, and they need to have a 21st century education."

11;46am here and your average 10 year old knows more about "computers" than a lot of adults with HS educations thanks to phones/apps, the internet/social meadia, video games, etc. The biggest roadblock is technophobia i.e., fear or unfamiliarity with tech, not "[knowing] how to use computers," and 21st century kids simply do not suffer from it. If someone knows basic math and how to read and write, the specific subject of that math, reading or writing wouldn't be an issue for them. Similarly, "knowing how to use a computer" does not require knowing how to design, build, maintain, or program computers, it simply requires the ability to understand the user-facing interface, enter information and interpret and act upon what is returned. You know, sorta like texting and being active on social media. If you don't understand what I mean, ask a 10 year old.

I think he's been great for Jackson. Need 50 more like him. He just spouts off from time to time about politics and never goes against establishment, white or black.

Here's another way to support JPS (if your budget permits): buy a new (or late model) vehicle. School tax accounts for about 45% of the tax you pay when you buy a tag. And you'll have a new ride.

We need to be teaching young people about vocations... plumbing welding concrete work electrical irrigation... etc... the past 25 years we as an entire country have let this type of education go to the wayside. Plumbers electricians landscape irrigation and lighting professionals make more than the in debt college kids. It's a no freaking breaker. Mississippi could do so much better with this

Reading Mr. Tom Head's words, exactly as written, one has to conclude that Mr. Head believes only the most racist whites, including his immediate neighbors, remain living in Jackson.

Why does Tom Head's name not appear in the Hinds County Land Roll?

What is the official reason for not scanning the ballots in this election? I can guess the conspiracy theories but was an official reason given?

I'm really on the fence about the issue but Tom Head's views honestly have swayed me to vote no. Very sad, but it's the truth. I do think he means well, but his racial stance on every issue is disheartening and polarizing.

"Hmmm and there is only a ballot box to put your ballot in...no scanning of the ballot. This smells."

Do you actually think JPS will be honest about the vote total? The only way it will fail is if they have a JPS student count the votes and another to certify the results.

FREE THE LAND!
By any means necessary.....

Yarber with a powerful message on FB. Which it had come a few days sooner.

Somebody needs to demand a freedom of information on the voting results.

Kingfish,
Any word on the voting results?

You could pass a one billion dollar school bond and it will change very little. It all starts with home and family.

I was told at my polling place (Willie Morris Library) that the ballots would be scanned downtown. That to bring the scanners to each location was expensive and required more people and since there was only one vote to be counted, they would be scanned as soon as they arrived downtown. Any news to the contrary?