Pearl River Central School board
Published 7:26 pm Tuesday, November 7, 2006
The school board for the Pearl River Central School District heard reports on extracurricular activities and presentations from companies seeking construction work at the district’s campuses.
Doug Smith, assistant principal for the high school, said the football team finished with a 4-6 record, which he said was good considering the number of young people who participated. Smith said he expects those who played this year to get better for next year.
“In that respect, we look for greater things down the road from that group,” Smith said.
Lights in the gym were replaced with some that were donated by Pearl River Community College as they replaced their lights, Smith said. Also some interior work to the gym, such as painting, was done to prepare for the first basketball game scheduled to take place Friday night.
Band Director Ben Burge reported on the status of the band for the year so far, which is doing well, he said. The band competed in Gulfport in the regional competition and received all superior ratings.
“I feel confident that this is the best group we’ve had,” Burge said.
However, the drum line is still coming into their own with a unique set of freshmen girls and two guys, Burge said.
“Typically you see a drum line full of young, hot-headed boys. We had young, hot-headed girls,” Burge said.
Their scores were in the upper rankings, out of 50 points on musical performance they normally get in the upper 30s. This year, the group scored in the upper 40s.
“I think that speaks volumes for our students and how hard they have worked. I am really, really proud of our students,” Burge said.
Burge said he hopes to go to concert competition this spring and do just as well.
Two construction management firms, Scott Farve Construction Management and Southern Construction, gave presentations to apply for the chance to provide their services for some small construction projects. District Superintendent Dennis Penton said that some of those projects involve building a maintenance building in McNeill and a number of small hurricane repair projects.
Scott Farve said his company would ask for 15 percent and a percentage of the work completed to provide their services but would be able to save them money by allowing the school district hire their own subcontractors.
“This gives more control to the district and reduces the cost to the district,” Farve said.
Wayne Borries with Southern Construction said his company would charge 20 percent for their services. The board said they would take both presentations into consideration and have a decision by the next meeting to take place on Dec. 5 at 6:30 at the School District office
In other business, the board went into executive session on student and personnel issues. Members also discussed mediation on a legal matter dealing with sixth grade lockers that were damaged upon delivery and gave an update on the budget for 2006-2007.
The board also:
— Approved installation of Digital Video Recorders for security purposes at the elementary campus and move existing monitors to the second grade building.
— Accepted a donation of $255 from the Mississippi Association of School Nurses to the School Nurse Cholesterol Screen Fund.
— Approved raising substitute teacher requirements to a least a GED and completion of 12 hours of college credit while they work on getting the rest of their school credit.
— Approved all 16th Section matters concerning sealed bids on about 532 acres of hunting and fishing lease land, and a first reading of the 16th Section Hunting and Fishing Bid Procedures policy.
— Accepted donation of $500 from Wal-Mart to the campus security council.
— Approved the convicted registered sex offender policy that states such persons will not be allowed on campus while children are present.