During Tuesday’s meeting, members of the Picayune School District’s Board of Trustees expressed concern about a travel request.
The concern was the destination, since it involved an area where the Zika virus is said to be prevalent.
Their concern also involved the fact that the travel was for a parent conference that would be attended by parents and staff of the Picayune Early Head Start program. The conference is set for Dec. 5-8 in San Juan Puerto Rico.
Dr. Pamela Thomas, director of Picayune’s Early Head Start, said the conference is held in December each year in the same place, so the it was booked last year, before the Zika virus became a threat.
Board member Frank Ford asked Board Attorney Gerald Patch if the school district would be liable if a birth defect occurred in relation to the travel.
Patch suggested they request conference attendees sign waivers to protect the district from potential lawsuits.
When approval of all requested travel came up for a vote, which included three separate requests, it died for a lack of a second. Board Member Dr. Lori Blackmer then made a motion to approve the other two travel requests on the agenda, while tabling the travel to Puerto Rico. That motion was approved, with Board Member Edward Stubbs opposing.
Ford said the travel to the conference is federally funded.
In a separate matter, the Board approved a motion to issue the bid for roof replacement work at the Nicholson Elementary cafeteria and the district maintenance building to Dale | Bailey, an architect firm out of Hattiesburg, for $13,728. Patch said it was the lowest bid.
The Board also approved a motion to accept a $3,637 donation from the Parent Teacher Organization at Nicholson Elementary to purchase renewal licenses for Renaissance Learning software. It will cover 240 licenses for accelerated reading and accelerated math programs.
The next Board meeting will be Oct. 11 at 5: 30 p.m.