Michael Jackson's hometown to name school for him

Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Fan events mark 5th anniversary of Jackson's death
Five years after Jackson's untimely death at age 50, the singer remains a pop culture powerhouse, proving to be just as big a moneymaker in death as in life.
AP-AP

GARY, Ind. -- Plans are in the works to name a school in Michael Jackson's Indiana hometown for the late pop star.

The Gary Community School Board on Tuesday approved a memorandum of understanding with Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson. The agreement that Katherine Jackson signed last month says the district wants to inspire children to excel in the arts and education.

District superintendent Cheryl Pruitt tells the Post-Tribune (http://bit.ly/1luhGfp ) she's working with the Jackson family on which school to rename.

Pruitt says the renaming came up in a conversation with Katherine Jackson, who donated $10,000 during the Gary Promise scholarship event hosted by Magic Johnson in April.

The family moved to California after the Jackson 5 struck it big struck it big in 1969 when Michael Jackson was 11 years old.