The Poplarville School Board of Trustees approved the purchase of a 1.65 acre property for $150,000 during Monday’s meeting.

The property, located at 1343 South Main St., is situated between the middle and high schools. The District wanted to make the purchase due to the location, but does not have specific plans for the property yet, said Superintendent Konya Miller.

In a separate matter, the Board heard the accountability progress report presentation from Middle School of Poplarville Principal Heidi Dillon. The school is participating in the Additional Targeted Support and Improvement program to improve the test scores of its students with disabilities.

Students took their mid year diagnostic tests, said Dillon. The number of students who are more than two grade levels behind has decreased since the beginning of the school year, and there are more students who are two grade levels behind or on grade level, Dillon said.

The school is working to increase student proficiency by at least 3 percent, because other schools that have improved by that much have been able to get out of the ATSI program, Dillon said.

The Board also approved the 2020 school improvement grant plan totaling $51,527 for the Middle School of Poplarville. The grant was awarded to the school because it is in the ATSI program. The school wrote a plan to place the funds into benefits and salaries for employees, Miller said.

In other business the Board:

—Approved the 2020 school year program plans for the two elementary schools and the middle school. The schools received almost $700,000 in federal funds through title programs, and must have the plans to hold them accountable for how they utilize the funds, said Miller. 

—Approved the athletic training agreement with Hattiesburg Clinic Professional Association. The District has entered the same agreement with the clinic for approximately 15 years.