With the school year kicked off, Columbia School District officials are making sure construction projects are moving along and reviewing enrollment numbers.
This year on the first day, 1,691 students were enrolled compared to 1,695 last year.
“We had a projection that we would settle in around 1,710, but we will probably have around 1,700 total,” Superintendent Jason Harris said. “We will update this and bring it back at the next Board meeting and get a true picture of it.”
Harris and Construction Administrator Mark Henley spoke about the status of the projects from the $10 million bond issue that began last spring.
“I want to thank all of the principals,” Harris said. “I know Mr. (Robbie) White and his staff (Columbia Elementary School) worked countless hours. Not that the others staffs didn’t, but they made it come together at the last minute. As an entire staff, everyone has worked really hard to make this work.”
Contractors are still working on finishing touches on several of the projects, and others will not be completed until later in the school year.
“We’ll still be working for a while, but we’ve got everybody functioning,” Henley said. “A lot of these items we can get done on Saturdays without interfering with students. There’s still some work to do, but we’ll work around everybody.”
The Board also approved a change order for $5,000 to reroute a gas line at Jefferson Middle School and accepted a donation of soap and tissue dispensers from Elkins Wholesale Inc.
The Board also approved several fundraisers for various groups at different schools.
In other business, the Board:
• Approved the 2017-2018 Pearl River Valley Opportunity Head Start Partnership Agreement.
• Approved the proposed Adidas apparel contract.
• Approved the recommendation to accept the highest bids received for surplus property advertised for sale.
• Gave first approval of the job description for professional development specialist.
• Authorized the purchase of Superkids literacy program for kindergarten and first grade from Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers the sole source provider.
• Approved student services agreements with Millcreek of Magee and Pine Belt Mental Health Resources for the 2017-2018 school year.
• Approved transportation agreements with Marion County Child Protection Services, Marion County School District, Jefferson Davis County School District, and Walthall County School District for providing transportation to the CARES School in Hattiesburg for the 2017-2018 school year.
• Approved the recommendation to amend the 2017-2018 coaching supplement schedule.
• Accepted the resignation of Angela Cagle, special education teacher at Jefferson Middle School effective at the end of the 2016-17 school year.
• Approved the employment of Leanna Calhoun (CHS), Chuck Hendricks (JMS), Andrea Brown (CES), and Donna Regan (CPS) as Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) Chairman at their respective school and each be paid a supplement of $1,000 for duties performed after regular working hours; Gail VanFleet (CPS) as MAP-A and Phelix Shoemaker (CHS) as Transition Chairman and each be paid a supplement of $1,000 for duties performed after regular working hours; Linda Echols as a special education teacher at Jefferson Middle School (license renewed); Rebecca Sinclair as a temporary special education teacher at Jefferson Middle School pending licensure renewal; Frank Terrell as a bus driver pending the results of a current background check as required by state law; Timothy Johnson as a para-professional assistant middle school football coach, effective Aug. 7, pending approval by MHSAA and the results of a current background check as required by state law; and Scott Davis as a volunteer para-professional assistant high school football coach.
• Changed the location of school board meetings on the following dates: Sept. 14 at Jefferson Middle School, Oct. 12 at Columbia Primary School, Nov. 9 at Columbia Elementary School and Dec. 14 at Columbia High School.
