The girls choir in the boys bathroom

When 17-year-old Tyler Tankersley thinks back on the past three years at Jackson High School, what pops into his head first is the line of students eating lunch in the hall outside the cafeteria because there's no room left inside.

After that, there's the image of tripping over music stands in the crowded band room and attending journalism class in a former closet.

Senior Kara Thompson has similar memories floating in her mind, along with thoughts of the many times she's had choir practice in the boys bathroom or snagged her shoe on the loose carpet in C Building.

"There are signs that say no food or drinks -- that's a joke. We have nowhere else to go," Thompson said.

Those are all part of the student experience at Jackson High School, all challenges that come with 90-year-old buildings.

"We've gone numb to it. We've lived with it for three years, and now we have no frame of reference," said senior Lucas McIntosh.

Even worse, school officials say the dilapidated campus is beginning to have an impact on students' education. A lack of space is preventing current programs from growing and new programs from being added.

Though neither Tankersley, Thompson nor McIntosh will be a student in Jackson in four years -- the earliest construction would likely be completed if the bond issue passes Nov. 2 -- they're intent on making sure future Jackson students have something better than they had.

"I know I'm only a senior, but when I look at this bond issue I think about the kind of school I'd want my kids to go to," Tankersley said.

The students have all been involved in weekly tours of the high school facilities given to members of the public who are interested in seeing the problems first-hand. They've also been canvassing neighborhoods, handing out information about the upcoming bond issue vote.

"This is not going to go away. It's a problem now. The bond issue isn't pre-emptive action," Tankersley said.