Ed Dept. may take out loan for Hazlehurst schools

JACKSON — State education officials are considering taking out a $1 million loan to help cover the cost of improvements to the Hazlehurst school buildings.

That’s because the city school district that’s been under state conservatorship for four years can’t get one on its own.

The idea is to have the school district’s facilities in the best shape possible when Hazlehurst schools are returned to local control without too much of an increased financial burden.

Hazlehurst schools were taken over in 2008 for academic and financial reasons.

Suzanne Smith, Hazlehurst schools’ state-appointed financial adviser, said there is a plan to make improvements to the building to reduce energy usage, which would save the district money.