Parents and community rally to protect historic JT Reddick School in Tift County

TIFT COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) – “We must speak up for our community.” Those are the words from parents and community members in Tift County as they fight to protect J.T. Reddick School — a building many call a cornerstone of local history and pride.

Rumors have been circulating about possible school closures, prompting concern across the county. In response, the Tift County School System says it plans to address the speculation and clear up misinformation about J.T. Reddick’s future.

A community meeting is being held at Deon’s Event Center, where residents are expected to... — A community meeting is being held at Deon’s Event Center, where residents are expected to voice their concerns and push for the school’s preservation.(WALB NEWS 10)

A community meeting is being held at Deon’s Event Center in Tifton at 7 p.m., where residents are expected to voice their concerns and push for the school’s preservation. Organizers, including County Commissioner Melissa Hughes, are encouraging everyone to attend and make their voices heard.

Rumors about the possible closure of a longtime Tifton elementary school have many making their voices heard, calling it a historic landmark and a pillar of the community.

Hughes, who once attended the school herself, says the building’s legacy is deeply tied to the history of Tift County’s Black community.

“The legacy, the heritage, the landmark speaks so many things about J.T. Reddick school,” said Hughes.

Before integration, the campus was known as Industrial Elementary and High School — a place where generations of Black students learned and grew. Hughes says seeing what’s now J.T. Reddick at risk feels like watching a piece of Black history fade away.

She says she received a call from a school board member about rumors that J.T. Reddick Elementary could close, sparking concern across the community.

“People who have gone here are very concerned about it. People who live here are concerned about it. People who have moved away are concerned about it,” Hughes said.

Tift County Schools Chief of Communications Dana Spurlin says there are no plans to close J.T. Reddick and that much of the chatter is based on misinformation.

“The Board of Education has made no decisions regarding the closure of any schools other than Northside Elementary and G.O. Bailey Elementary,” said Spurlin. “The Board also recognizes the historical significance of schools on the south side of Tifton, including J.T. Reddick, as well as the significant community contributions of the namesakes of many of our schools.”

Still, that reassurance isn’t easing the minds of everyone.

For longtime resident Solomon Nixon Jr., J.T. Reddick is personal.

“My father attended this school, and my mother actually was an educator. She substituted at this school and helped educate students here,” Nixon said. “If this leaves our community, being a pillar in the community, it’s an asset that will be gone.”

While Spurlin notes that some campuses do need upgrades, she says any decisions about additional closures would be years away.

“We haven’t made any decisions. If there were additional school closures other than Northside and G.O. Bailey, that would not be made for at least another two to three years,” Spurlin explained.

Still, residents say they want to stay prepared — and vocal.

“If we sit idle, nothing will be done,” Hughes said. “We need our voices heard so that they will know what this school means to us.”

A community meeting will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at Deon’s Event Center in Tifton, where residents plan to rally together to protect what they call a vital piece of local history.

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