The Poplarville School Board met on Monday where they swore in their new campus resource officer Joe Smith.

The Board also approved applying for a Mississippi Community Oriented Policing Services in Schools grant for a total of $20,000.

School District Finance Director Samantha Sandifer said the grant money would be given back to the city for officer’s compensation.

The Board also approved Superintendent Carl Merritt’s job description for the two officers.

The district could receive another $10,000 grant upon completion of professional development training for two of the district’s teachers. The Board approved sending the educators to the selective program.

The Board also approved a partnership with Will’s Way LLC from Hattiesburg for potential assessments of children in the special education program.

Merritt said getting approval for the program will save time later on if an assessment is needed.

Sanidfer said the district would not have to pay for the partnership until services were rendered.

They also approved a consulting agreement for dyslexia therapy in the schools. Merrit said this would be tremendously beneficial for students.

In other news, the Board:

• Approved Merritt to negotiate hunting and fishing bids for 16th section land.

• Approved a 2015-2016 workers compensation insurance proposal that saw a significant increase. Merriitt said he would be implementing educational programs to look for the best practice procedures to keep staff safe.