Five of the seven schools within the Picayune School District qualify for supplements that can be paid to teachers.
The District’s Board of Trustees approved a motion to enter into a memorandum of understanding concerning the Mississippi Department of Education’s School Recognition Program Supplements contract.
Under the program, schools that received a grade of “A” will receive $100 per pupil in the school’s average daily attendance, while schools that received a “B” will receive $75 per pupil in the school’s ADA.
A committee of five teachers will be formed to determine which teachers will receive those funds, to be paid in a lump sum before Dec. 1, 2017. Assistant Superintendent Brent Harrell said the intention is to pay the supplement prior to the deadline.
Administrators cannot be on the committee, nor receive a supplement, said Superintendent Dean Shaw. Roseland Park Elementary and Picayune Junior High were the only two schools that did not qualify for the program.
In a separate matter, District Finance Director Lisa Persick said that after speaking with Pearl River County Tax Assessor Gary Beech, taxpayers in the District will not see a tax increase. Board Member Frank Feeley asked if that was because of the increase in assessments, to which Persick said “yes.”
This year two positions on the Board are coming to the end of the term. One is appointed, but the other is elected, Feeley’s seat. He will stay on until the end of the year despite a change to the election law, which moved the election of Board members from the spring to November. Last year former Board member Jimmy Hancock vacated his seat in the spring due to a misunderstanding with the change.
However, a recent Attorney General opinion states that Feeley can remain on the Board until the election is held and that person takes office, said Board Attorney Gerald Patch.
Feeley declined to say if he would run for the position again.