JACKSON -- Jackson School District administrators hope seeing is believing when it comes to the lack of space and other problems faced by students at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School.

School officials are inviting the public to participate in a series of tours over the next two months to see first-hand the crowded conditions students and teachers experience daily at the junior high. Most of the hour-long tours will be held on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m.. However, two evening tours are planned.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson said the tours will demonstrate why educators are so concerned about conditions at the junior high school. "There's really no way to describe it. People just have to see for themselves," he said.

Administrators said they hope the tours will rally support for a $6 million bond proposal to be considered during general elections Nov. 7 that would ease overcrowding in the building. The proposal calls for a tax hike of 10 cents per $100 assessed valuation to cover costs of construction of an 18-classroom addition and gymnasium, renovations to the library and kitchen area, and other improvements throughout the building.

Planned improvements are expected to cost just over $5.7 million. The remaining funds and any interest earned would be used to purchase classroom furniture and equipment and upgrade technology at the junior high and in other buildings in the district.

"We're hoping this will be the evidence they need to see that something needs to be done in that building," said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rita Fischer. "It's easy to see that's not a healthy environment for learning."

Junior high school principal Dennis Parham said the public needs to witness a class change to understand the nearly 800 eighth- and ninth-grade students housed at the school have little room to maneuver in the narrow hallways. Most students carry backpacks and are only allowed to visit lockers before or after school or during their lunch period.

Classroom space also is at a premium, Parham said, with a number of teachers managing classes of more than 30 students. Four teachers also have no classroom assignment and move from room to room every hour.

"It's not impossible, but when class sizes get that large it really hinders what the teacher can do," said Parham. "We're lucky to have a great staff that does what they have to do to manage these conditions."

This will be the district's third attempt at passage of a bond issue for improvements at the junior high. Voters overwhelmingly defeated a proposal in April. And a proposal identical to that being considered in November was narrowly defeated last month.

A four-sevenths majority, about 57 percent, is needed for passage of the issue.

SCHOOL TOURS

Members of the public may join the groups listed below in tours of R.O. Hawkins Junior High School on the following dates. People who are unable to attend a scheduled tour or who would like to schedule a tour for their organization may call the school office at 243-9533 for another date.

TODAY 9:30-10:30 a.m. Community Leaders tour

Sept. 11 9:30-10:30 a.m. Grandparents tour

Sept. 13 9:30-10:30 a.m. West Lane Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) tour

Sept. 18 9:30-10:30 a.m. Retired teachers tour

7:00-8:00 p.m. Open house tours

Sept. 20 9:30-10:30 a.m. Orchard PTO tour

Sept. 27 9:30-10:30 a.m. North PTO tour

Oct. 4 9:30-10:30 a.m. Middle School PTO tour

Oct. 11 9:30-10:30 a.m. Primary Annex, Gordonville, Millersville PTO tour

Oct. 16 7:00-8:00 p.m. Open house tours

Oct. 25 9:30-10:30 a.m. Band Boosters/Tribal Council tour