Jones County School System seeks input on five-year facilities plan

The district is considering upgrades to several schools as it prepares to submit its local facilities plan to the state.

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Jones County School System is preparing to submit its local facilities plan to the state as it considers upgrades to several school buildings.

Superintendent Dr. Jessica Graves says the district partnered with architectural company Altman and Barrett to conduct a comprehensive analysis of its facilities.

The district is also seeking input from families and community members through a survey and a board work session.

Graves says community feedback is an important part of the process.

“We know that looking at expert opinion is one piece, but alongside that, we have to have buy-in from our community,” she said. “We need our community to be behind the work of this district. We know that there are some great people in Jones County, and it’s a family-oriented community. And so when we share our vision and cast that vision for the community and receive that input, it gives us the opportunity to really fine-tune our plans to make sure they align with the expectations of families we serve.”

Graves says some of the recommended work includes updates to Mattie Wells Elementary School and Clifton Ridge Middle School.

The district is also looking at its pre-K building, which was built in 1965 and was the original Gray Elementary School.

Graves says the district wants to use expert recommendations and community input to fine-tune its plans and make sure they align with the expectations of the families it serves.

The Jones County Board of Education will consider the community’s input as it decides what comes next in the facilities planning process.