EDUCATORS ARE DEALING WITH THEM. WATER PRESSURE IS, YOU KNOW, FROM TIME TO TIME AN ISSUE AS WELL. BUT WE’RE WORKING THROUGH IT. OUR TEAM IS CONTINUING TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP AND CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY AS WE HAVE THOSE ISSUES. SUPERINTENDENT DR. ERIC GREEN AND HIS TEAM WORK TO MAKE THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF SCHOOL GOOD ONES FOR RETURNING STUDENTS. THEY WERE HIT WITH A PROBLEM THAT’S PLAGUING EVERYONE IN THE CAPITAL CITY. ANOTHER WATER CRISIS. ON TOP OF THAT, THE NEWS OF LOW WATER PRESSURE IMPACTING SOME JACKSON SCHOOLS CAME DURING OUR ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW. IT’S THE BOIL WATER. THOSE ALERTS, IT’S ALSO WATER PRESSURE THAT AS WE COME BACK INTO THESE LARGER BUILDINGS, IT’S NOT LIKE OUR HOMES WHERE THERE’S FAR LESS WATER PRESSURE NEEDED TO FLUSH TOILETS TO WASH DISHES, ALL THOSE THINGS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, MANY JP’S BUILDINGS ARE AGING WITH SOME MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY OLD. WE’RE AT A PLACE NOW WHERE MANY OF OUR BUILDINGS ARE FAILING US HVAC SYSTEMS, PLUMBING SYSTEMS, ELECTRICITY. YOU KNOW, WE’RE JUST CONSTANT. LEA PATCHING, FIXING, RUNNING BEHIND. SO MANY ISSUES THAT GREEN SAYS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF THE CONTINUED PANDEMIC AND THE ONGOING WATER PROBLEMS. NO EASY ANSWERS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE’RE CERTAINLY UP FOR THE CHALLENGE AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN’T CONTINUE STEADY STATE. WE CAN’T JUST CONTINUE TO PATCH THE SUPERINTEND THAT SAYS THE DISTRICT IS THANKFUL FOR THE STIMULUS DOLLARS THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE SOME REPAIRS AND FIXES. HOWEVER, HE ADMITS, IS NOT JUST A MONEY ISSUE. LABOR SHORTAGES, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES. AND EVEN IF THERE ARE SUPPLY, THEY ARE LIMITED. WITH ALL OF THIS WEIGHING ON STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, DR. GREEN KNOWS SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. THE STORY IS NOT ALL BLEAK, RIGHT? THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENTS. AND WHAT OUR SCHOLARS ARE DOING AND WHAT OUR EDUCATORS ARE DOING WITH OUR SCHOLARS. AND SO IT’S CERTAINLY WORTH THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE. IN JACKSON, ER
JPS dealing with Jackson water issues as students settle in for new school year
![WAPT logo]()
Updated: 8:18 PM CDT Aug 9, 2022
As Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Errick Greene and his team work to make the first few days of school good ones for returning students, they were hit with a problem that's plaguing everyone in the capital city: another water crisis."Water pressure, from time to time, is an issue as well, but we're working through it. Our team is continuing to be in partnership and close communication with the city as we have those issues," Greene said. "It's the boil-water alerts, also water pressure that, as we come back into these larger buildings, it's not at our homes where there's far less water pressure needed to flush toilets, to wash dishes, to do all of those things."In addition to that, many JPS buildings are aging, with some more than half-a-century-old."We're at a place now where many of our buildings are failing us," Greene said. "HVAC systems, plumbing systems, electricity, we're constantly patching, fixing, and running behind so many issues."Greene said students have been extremely resilient in the face of the continued pandemic and the ongoing water problems."There are no easy answers, but we're certainly up for the challenge," Greene said. "We can't continue to patch."The superintendent said the district is thankful for the stimulus dollars that can be used to make some repairs and fixes. However, he admits it's not just a money issue. There are also labor shortages and supply chain issues, and, even if there are supplies, they are limited. With all of this weighing on students, teachers, and administrators, Greene knows something must be done."The story is not all bleak. There are some wonderful improvements in what our scholars are doing and what our educators are doing with our scholars, so it's certainly worth the investments that we need to make," Greene said.
JACKSON, Miss. — As Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Errick Greene and his team work to make the first few days of school good ones for returning students, they were hit with a problem that's plaguing everyone in the capital city: another water crisis.
"Water pressure, from time to time, is an issue as well, but we're working through it. Our team is continuing to be in partnership and close communication with the city as we have those issues," Greene said. "It's the boil-water alerts, also water pressure that, as we come back into these larger buildings, it's not at our homes where there's far less water pressure needed to flush toilets, to wash dishes, to do all of those things."
In addition to that, many JPS buildings are aging, with some more than half-a-century-old.
"We're at a place now where many of our buildings are failing us," Greene said. "HVAC systems, plumbing systems, electricity, we're constantly patching, fixing, and running behind so many issues."
Greene said students have been extremely resilient in the face of the continued pandemic and the ongoing water problems.
"There are no easy answers, but we're certainly up for the challenge," Greene said. "We can't continue to patch."
The superintendent said the district is thankful for the stimulus dollars that can be used to make some repairs and fixes. However, he admits it's not just a money issue. There are also labor shortages and supply chain issues, and, even if there are supplies, they are limited. With all of this weighing on students, teachers, and administrators, Greene knows something must be done.
"The story is not all bleak. There are some wonderful improvements in what our scholars are doing and what our educators are doing with our scholars, so it's certainly worth the investments that we need to make," Greene said.
