ALBION, MI (WTVB) – The Jackson Public Schools are no longer pursuing a deal to take over services for the Albion School District. The original offer of the shared services proposal was originally seen as a way of saving the struggling Albion School District, but Jackson Superintendent Jeff Beal now says he didn’t want the idea to divide the Albion community.
Voters in Albion May 9, 2016 will be asked to approve annexation into the Marshall Public School District. If approved, the Albion Public Schools would disband and all students would attend Marshall Public Schools. Albion High School closed last year, and many of those students now attend Marshall.
The Jackson Public Schools proposal would have allowed Albion to continue operating it’s K-5 elementary under Jackson’s oversight for 5 years. During that time, Albion residents would be required to pay off the district’s estimated $3.1 million debt, but the school would be returned to Albion’s control after the 5 year period.