Members of the Picayune School District’s Board of Trustees approved a motion to change website hosting services during Tuesday’s meeting.
Technology Coordinator Freddie Parker said the district is currently using Edline to host their websites, but starting next year the E-Rate funding from the federal government will no longer pay 90 percent of those costs.
The total cost of that service was a little less than $13,000 a year, of which the district paid 10 percent. Edline offered a portal for parents and students to monitor their progress, helping students keep track of whether they were failing a class or not before quarterly reports are released.
Since the funding assistance is no longer available an alternative was needed. Parker said a new parent and student portal service has been established at no cost, allowing the district to seek a cheaper website hosting alternative.
Parker presented the board with a proposal from SchoolDesk, which would cost the district about $4,000 per year.
The board approved making the change.
In another matter the board approved a motion to allow district employees to maintain surveillance cameras. Parker said that previously contractors installed and maintained the cameras, which are set up in and around the campuses of the high, junior high, and alternative school campuses. The cameras monitor areas such as the parking lots, cafeterias, hallways, offices, gymnasiums and campus entrances.
Superintendent Dean Shaw said at times the cameras would cease to function, sometimes caused by lightning strikes. To help keep the cameras operational, their maintenance will be moved in-house. Parker said new cameras are being installed now and will be operational by the beginning of the coming school year. Shaw said there is consideration to add cameras to the football stadium.
Work to improve drainage of the high school baseball field is going well. Shaw said he expects the contractors to be able to sprig the field within the next couple of weeks. He said the contractors are working diligently and doing a good job.
In a matter concerning 16th section leasing, Finance Director Lisa Penton advised the board that attempts to contact a delinquent renter on 16th section land have been unsuccessful, prompting her to request the board to pass a motion to take ownership of the property in order to sell it. The board approved the motion.
In other business the board:
— Approved a motion to keep Gerald Patch as the board attorney.
The next school board meeting will be July 14 at 5:30 p.m.