Jackson Free Press

During the first week of the school year, JPS sees more activity than a dog corpse lying on an anthill. Incredibly, though, JPS Superintendent Dr. Earl Watkins still managed to find time amid the furor to speak with the JFP about challenges facing JPS this year.

What's the biggest obstacle facing JPS this year?

We are deeply concerned … that the physical condition of our facilities threatens our continued progress. All but 10 of our 59 schools were built before 1970. Many of our schools are also severely overcrowded. Because of limited funds for capital improvements, we've been forced to take a band-aid approach to maintenance over the years. Where real renovations were needed, we've only been able to make temporary repairs. Our operations staff has done well to stretch maintenance dollars as far as they have, but the needs are great. That is why our school board voted unanimously recently to place a bond referendum on the November election ballot to fund renovation and construction in every part of Jackson.

Do you think the Jackson public is ready to commit to a $150 million bond? That's not small change.

The Jackson community is ready to invest in its children. The community has stated over and over that it wants great schools and that the community wants to be involved. Having great facilities is a part of having great schools. … School renovation and construction will be funded in every part of Jackson. Jobs will be generated in the city as well as interest in where families may choose to live in the city. Good schools are also good recruiting tools for families.

Can you deflect criticism from tax-leery people who think money can be found by making the system more efficient?

Financial accountability is extremely important at JPS. We are constantly looking at our operations to see how we can function more efficiently. For example, we conducted an energy audit, found where we could save money, and are now saving more than a million a year in energy costs. We also are saving $2.1 million a year as a result of recommendations we have implemented from a performance audit done several years ago. … In the past two years we have received commendations from the Mississippi Department of Audit for how well we manage our property. As for the proposed bond issue and its effect on the taxpayer, we deliberately timed it so that any new increases would only go into effect as the increases from our previous bond roll off. Through smart management, we're going to be able to retire our 1992 bond in 2007. That means the new bond will have less of an impact on the taxpayer than it otherwise would. …

Teacher pay keeps popping up as a thorn in the Legislature. Do you think we are seeing any negative effects from comparatively smaller salaries versus higher national salaries?

The lower salaries that teachers are paid in Mississippi always impact us. Sometimes it manifests itself in fewer people going into the teaching profession. Sometimes it manifests itself in people leaving the profession.

Tell me about Jackson Public Schools' battle with perception. How are you fighting the perception of failing schools?

Our schools are well on their way not simply to meeting, but to exceeding the goals set by the federal government's "No Child Left Behind" legislation. The percentage of our schools meeting federal goals is rising each year. In the Mississippi Department of Education's rating of schools, 80 percent of JPS schools were rated as "successful," "exemplary," or "superior." Not a single school in the district was rated as "low-performing." Our high school students' enrollment in Advanced Placement courses has increased more than 400 percent in just three years. Students are now taking AP courses at all eight JPS high schools. The number of dropouts has been reduced dramatically, from 992 students back in 2001, down to 215 in 2004-2005. And those rates are still coming down. Our graduation rates are steadily climbing year by year, and the value of a JPS degree is being recognized. Last year our graduates were offered more than $12 million in scholarships to college and universities.

Have gas prices impacted the district?

We've been impacted by higher fuel costs in all of our vehicles and in our food costs in food service. … We're looking at a system to improve fuel economy by 15 to 20 percent in buses and to improve air emissions. Read a longer version at jacksonfreepress.com.