During Tuesday’s Poplarville School District’s Board of Trustees meeting, several routine matters were approved.

Superintendent Carl Merritt said the Board was updated on the District’s current accreditation status. Merritt said no issues were found in the reaccreditation process, which has been the case for the past 11 years. 

The Board was also updated concerning the District’s testing security plan, which ensures that there is a policy in place for the day of testing and that the backup policy complies with state regulations in instances of inclement weather.

Merritt said the District counselor has received the required number of continuing eduction hours from the University of Arkansas. He said that university was used because it was the only one within the area able to provide the service within the District’s short timeline.

Adjustments are being made District wide to save some money in electricity costs. Merritt said the Board approved a motion for the installation and lease of LED fixtures. Merritt said the cost saving measure will be phased in at all campuses over about a two year time span.

His hope is to save more money on electricity costs, which in turn could be put back into the education of students.

Some property purchased by the District two years ago was recently damaged by a fire. Merritt said the structure the District purchased received that damage when a fire occurred at a neighboring structure, which are both located next to the Lower Elementary. The fire and water damage prompted the Board to approve a motion to demolish the building and then use the property to expand the Lower Elementary’s playground area.

The Board also approved a motion to sell two buses and purchase two buses for the school year.

Merritt said the policy is for the District to sell and buy two buses per year to keep the fleet in the best condition possible. 

The next Board meeting will be Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in the District office on Julia Street.