Board approves MOU with Zion Foundation for after-school literacy program after questions on liability and staffing

The Muscogee County School District board voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with the Zion Foundation to support after‑school literacy programming at several schools, including JD Davis, Lonnie Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary.

Board members asked detailed questions before the separate vote about the MOU’s scope and the district’s liability. “What does that mean for us? What is our liability in that?” asked board member Dr. Chambers, seeking clarity on how the partnership would operate and whether the district would bear costs.

A district staff member explained that the Zion Foundation pursues state and federal grants to fund the program and that the MOU is needed so Zion can apply for Department of Early Care and Learning funding. “There’s not a cost to the district other than typical hosting—electricity, that kind of thing,” the staff member said, adding that grant proceeds would cover program expenses.

Board members also pressed on staffing and safety. Zion will hire its own employees and must conduct background checks; the MOU requires those checks and disallows staff who fail them. The district confirmed it provided staffing guidelines and the MOU was modified to reflect district expectations. Staff said literacy blocks would use smaller groups—about a 1:10 ratio—while other after‑school activities would use larger groupings (about 1:18).

A board member asked whether parents or families would be charged; the response was unequivocal: “No charge to the parents or to the district.” The board discussed the project team structure schools must provide, including an instructional contact and an after‑school licensure contact to coordinate facilities and safety matters.

Supporters in the room pointed to the program’s objective—targeted literacy instruction and enrichment inside the school day and after school—while board members sought assurance the program would meet the district’s safety and instructional standards. After the discussion, the board approved the MOU by voice vote.

The district said the MOU’s immediate purpose is to allow the Zion Foundation to pursue grant funding; the foundation has worked with the named schools previously on after‑school activities and seeks to expand services to more students.

Next steps: the Zion Foundation will pursue the licensure and grant applications that require the board‑approved MOU; the board asked staff to provide copies of the MOU and the community assessment materials referenced during the discussion.