JPS to close Ida B. Wells Elementary and co-locate Obama Elementary with Northwest; board approves reconfiguration

The Jackson Public School District administration presented and the board approved a recommendation to close Ida B. Wells Elementary, reconfigure Bailey Magnet Middle School, and relocate Barack Obama Elementary to co‑locate with Northwest Middle School.

During the April meeting presentation, the administration said the Wells building will remain open to house the APAC program. The administration also said the relocated Obama Elementary will operate as a separate pre‑K through grade school co‑located at a Northwest campus location; the district will preserve the Obama name and program identity at the new co‑location and has started work on signage and shared crests for both schools.

Board members and staff discussed operational details raised by families: playground access, separate points of entry for elementary and middle-school populations, and safety concerns about building size for younger students. Administration said separate entrances will be designated for the co-located schools at Northwest and that the playground and swing set for the relocated Obama elementary site are in process. The administration also said that the former Obama property will enter the district’s facility-repurposing process for potential outside partners or buyers.

Trustees pressed administrators to address community concerns about site conditions near Shirley (former Whitten Middle) including overgrowth and debris along bus routes; the administration said it will coordinate with city officials and use existing relationships to address immediate site conditions and to provide ongoing communication with parents.

The board moved and approved the item after discussion. Administrators said they will continue community engagement, hold ribbon-cutting and open-house events at the new sites, and provide details about signage and parent outreach.