The Columbia school board meeting started off with a special visit from the Columbia Primary School Treblemakers.
Second graders under the direction of Sherri Turnage performed the National Anthem to open the meeting Oct. 10.
Further discussion was held on initial plans for a new football stadium. The board members were all for the concept; the only areas of concerns expressed were to reduce the seating from 4,000 to 3,000 and the encroachment on the foul line of the baseball field. Superintendent Jason Harris said he would take those concerns back to architect Jamie Wier. Harris said Wier told him the board is under a time crunch if the stadium is to be ready by next year.
The board also discussed the possibility of becoming a 501(c)(3) organization. It was determined the topic would be discussed with the school CPA to determine if a public school district could have a non-profit organization status. The board was looking at options for private donations. The Columbia Public Schools Educational Foundation Inc. has served in that role in the past and has nonprofit status, according to Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office records.
Under the consent agenda, the board approved various fundraisers.
Authorization was received to accept four grants from the University of Southern Mississippi in the amount of $500 each for the positive behavior incentive programs at each of the four schools.
Harris said the schools have started with their one-on-one initiative which has allowed high school students to take laptop computers home with them. He said being it has been successful and wanted to look at the possibility of allowing the eighth graders to do it as well. It would be on a trial basis beginning the second semester. He also said if it is successful the program could be expanded to allow the eighth through 12th graders next year the option of taking home the laptop computers the whole school year. The board approved the plan.
Approval was received to accept the resignation of Jessica Ford, special education teacher assistant at Columbia High School.
