The Jackson Grammar School is a focal point of this small village, and the Jackson community demonstrates its support in a variety of ways. The school board, representing the citizens, is committed to providing a positive educational environment and not only seeks to make a solid education program available to all students, but also supports initiatives which are the key to growth and change. In turn, Jackson voters have consistently supported funding at annual school district meeting. The school board has ensured that sufficient funding is available to support the educational program, actually doubling the district’s operating budget over the past 15 years. Of particular note is the fact that voter support remained strong despite significant increases in local taxes as a result of the state’s educational funding law.
Parents form an integral piece of the educational community. The size of the school lends itself to parental participation, and they are actively involved as parents, mentors, teachers, advisors and fundraisers. They choose this active role. In addition, other community members serve in the same roles as the parents, even though their children no longer attend the school, demonstrating their belief in the importance of education and their commitment to the children of Jackson.
Jackson is a member of SAU #9, and maintains the Jackson Grammar School for students in Kindergarten through sixth grade. Seventh and eighth grade students are tuitioned to the Bartlett Elementary School and the high school students are tuitioned to Kennett High School in Conway. With the increase in the student population coupled with the condition of the Kennett High School facility not meeting the standards set for accreditation, there is a pressing need to either renovate and expand the present Kennett facility or build a new school. The effort to form an eight-town cooperative school district to accomplish this was voted down by the Jackson and Bartlett voters in 2001. By 2003 the eight towns voted to enter into a tuition agreement with the town of Conway that included building a new high school and renovating
the present school for the junior high. Voters in Conway would have to vote in favor of a bond for this plan to be implemented
Student Population
As of December 31, 2001, there were 53 students at the Jackson Grammar School in grades K - 6 with 6 to 9 students in each grade. A total of 36 students were in grades 7 – 12 at Bartlett or Kennett. Two students were home-schooled, one student had a private special education placement and 13 students were attending private high schools.
The preschool population shows a distribution of 5 to 11 children in each of the age groups due to enter Kindergarten in the next six years. This indicates that the grammar school enrollment will continue to be fairly stable into the foreseeable future.
The Jackson Grammar School
Originally built in 1888, the Jackson Grammar School was expanded in 1990 to contain five classrooms, a principal’s office, which is also used as an instructional space, and a general office. The wall between the two classrooms in the addition can be folded back to create a large space for large group functions. There is a multipurpose classroom that is used for activities such as art and music. The classroom on the second floor is not handicapped accessible. In addition, there is large space in the basement of the school, which will be renovated in the fall of 2003 as a multipurpose space. Since there is no school library, the students utilize the town library. The first floor of the old town hall is used for indoor physical educational activities.
There are five full-time staff members at the grammar school – four classroom teachers and a teaching principal who covers special education. Part-time instructors are hired to teach art, music, and physical education. Also on the staff are a guidance counselor, school nurse, instructional aide, technology coordinator, secretary, maintenance person and two bus drivers.
At the grammar school students are taught in multi-grade classrooms, with one to two grades combined together with a single teacher. Grades 4, 5, and 6 split their school day between two teachers – one language arts and one science and math. The combining of grades changes yearly depending on the number of students in each grade.
Students with special learning needs are identified, evaluated and provided with individual education plans as prescribed by state and federal law. The special education program is comprehensive and incorporates related services such as speech therapy, counseling, physical and/or occupational therapy. If a student’s needs cannot be met within the Jackson Grammar School, or within the SAU, the student can be tuitioned out of the district – an occasional, but rare occurrence.
In addition to the classroom music program, students in grades 4, 5 and 6 are encouraged to play a band instrument. Instrumental lessons are available, and are scheduled during non-instructional time whenever possible. When students achieve the necessary level of proficiency, they become members of the Jackson School Band, which rehearses weekly and performs at Christmas and in the spring.
The Tin Mountain Conservation Center provides an environmental awareness and exploratory curriculum during the academic year, which includes classroom participation, outdoor activities and field trips.
The Eastern Slope Ski Club Junior Program provides alpine skiing instruction by trained volunteers during the snow season. The students are bussed to Black Mountain Ski Area one afternoon a week for 8 to 10 weeks. The program culminates with “Snow Day” held the beginning of March at Cranmore Mountain and Attitash Bear Peak with students from all the SAU #9 schools participating in a day of games, races and activities. Jackson students can also participate in an after-school cross-country skiing program offered by the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation one afternoon a week.
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