Pearl River Central School Board honors swimmers

By Amanda Miller/Item Staff Writer

CARRIERE — The Pearl River County School Board honored two members of the PRC High School swim team Monday night.

PRC swim team coach Chris King honored seniors Katie Griffin and Gavin Lossett, who participated in the statewide swim meet in October.

At the south state finals in Biloxi on Oct. 20, Griffin placed first in the 50 meter freestyle and Lossett placed first in the 100 meter butterfly.

At the state finals in Jackson, Griffin placed third in the state in the 50 meter freestyle, and Lossett placed third in the 100 meter freestyle, and placed first in the 100 meter butterfly.

“(Lossett) set a personal best time in the 100 meter fly, and came close to setting a state record. He is now the state champion in the 100 meter butterfly,” King said.

Superintendent Dennis Penton said Lossett held a high honor for the school.

“We have had very few state champions in the school’s history, and we are very proud to have you as one of them,” Penton said.

Penton asked the board to allow each grade in the school district to order class t-shirts that may be worn occasionally as part of the uniform.

“We have discussed this before, and we have decided they can wear the t-shirts if they purchase an official t-shirt through the school. Each grade will have its own design, and it will allow the grades to begin developing pride in the year they will complete school,” Penton said.

Penton told the board that high school and middle school students will be allowed to wear the t-shirts on the first Friday of each month. Students in the elementary school will be allowed to wear the t-shirts on the first and the third Fridays.

Penton said the parent-teacher organization in the elementary school has agreed to take over the project and will sponsor design contests for the design of the t-shirt.

“The t-shirts will be blue with white writing. There will be design contests on both campuses,” Penton said.

Penton also explained an amendment to the budget for $189,874 for after school tutoring and transportation.

“We are setting up this program to target those students who are in need of additional assistance, and are not getting enough minutes during the regular day with their teachers,” Penton said.

Penton said the program would provide after-school tutoring for an hour a day two days a week for those students determined to be in need. The program will use the students’ regular teachers when they are available.

Board member Michelle Boyd asked about the additional transportation costs.

“That cost is included in the amount asked for. We will run the regular routes with the buses, and then the buses will return to pick up the other students and take them home,” Penton said.

The board voted unanimously to make the amendment to the budget.

In other business, the board:

— Approved amendment to substitute teacher pay scale wording from “substitute with degree” to “substitute with bachelor’s degree”.

— Approved sixteenth section matters.

— Approved requests from two Girl Scout leaders for the use of the elementary cafeteria for the purpose of meetings and waived the facility fee.

— Approved request from Pearl River Central Athletic Association to use the McNeill gymnasium and the baseball field and concession facility on the upper elementary campus. PRCAA will be responsible for liability insurance, security, and fees for usage of the building.

— Approved renovations to high school gym to change the existing coach’s office as well as renovating the stage.