Photo courtesy of the Jackson-Madison County School System
With unanimous support from Jackson-Madison County School Board members, Superintendent Dr. Marlon King will move forward with engaging the committees of the Madison County Commission for the construction of a new building for Pope School (Prek-8). School officials have reviewed several preliminary documents, but the approval of funding by county leaders will be the next milestone in the pre-construction process.
“Providing a bigger campus for families in the fastest growing area in Madison County has been a need of increasing importance for the last decade. That need will multiply exponentially as development of Ford’s Blue Oval City takes shape over the next three to four years,” Board Chairman James “Pete” Johnson said.
Although there are several different building options provided by Orcutt Winslow, the architect firm selected for the new Pope School project, every option under consideration includes a PreK through 8 model. The options vary from as small as a 600 student capacity school to a 1250 student capacity.
“Construction costs have increased significantly since 2019 due to the pandemic’s impact on the economy. If you speak with building professionals across the region, you know that’s not expected to change any time soon. Selecting a plan and receiving proper funding in a timely manner will help protect us from continued inflation,” stated Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ricky Catlett.
The newest census data, which shows residential growth in the current Pope School area grew more than any other area in Madison County, coupled with Pope’s long-standing needs for overcrowded and updated facilities, further illustrate the need for new public school construction in northwest Madison County.
“Our county legislative body along with this school board will go down in history for taking a discussion that’s been essentially tabled for 25 years and making it a reality as it relates to Pope School. Not only that, but the Board is also making a data-driven decision that supports our educational program,” said Superintendent Dr. Marlon King. “Knowing that, we have to make sure that we have reliable data when presenting to the Commission and stakeholders.”