At a Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Marlon King presented commemorative plaques to top readers in the district's Leap Up for Literacy program and announced three board members received Master School Board (Level 5) recognition from the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA).

The recognitions were part of the board's routine meeting program. Superintendent Dr. Marlon King presented a plaque to Rebecca Whalen, a Southside High School sophomore, identified by district staff as the top reader for quarter one with roughly 10,800 minutes logged. Joanna Aguilar, a sixth grader at Northeast Middle School, was recognized as the top reader for quarter two with about 25,500 minutes. District remarks said each student topped more than 5,000 other participating students.

The board also recognized three members who had achieved TSBA Master School Board Level 5 status: Andre Darnell, Debbie Gaugh and James P. Johnson. A presentation noted Level 5 requires 185 points in TSBA’s professional development point system and that Tennessee requires seven hours of school-board-related training per year. The awards were presented at the TSBA convention on Nov. 9, according to the board’s remarks; the superintendent and board members accepted commemorative plaques and a small gift in the meeting.

"Reading 20 minutes per day is a tangible step toward greater goals for young learners," a district staff member said while announcing the student recognitions. The district encouraged students to continue participating in the Q3 reading challenge announced at the meeting.

The literacy segment also included recognition of the Southside High School Navy Junior ROTC color guard; staff identified the teacher directing the cadets as retired Navy Chief Ivan Henderson.

No budgetary amounts tied to the literacy program or the awards were presented in the meeting record.

The recognitions concluded without formal board action; the items were presented during the program portion of the meeting prior to board business.