By Joseph McCain
The Star-Herald
In anticipation of receiving the District Assessment results from the Mississippi Department of Education, the Attala County School Board has called a special meeting set for September 28. The meeting will provide a platform for discussing the assessment.
The board set the special meeting during the regular meeting on September 5.
Attala County School District Superintendent, Kyle Hammond, expressed optimism regarding the upcoming release of the District Assessment. "We are anticipating good news from the MDE," Hammond said, clearly proud of the dedicated efforts put forth by the district's educators and staff. "I am really proud of the jobs the teachers and staff are doing. We can attribute the improvements to our teachers," he added. Hammond also commented positively on the progress of the current school year, stating, "The school year has gone well."
During the meeting, Assistant Superintendent and District Test Coordinator, Rhyne Thompson, provided an overview of the district's enrollment statistics, highlighting that the enrollment remains steady at 961 students. Thompson also provided a breakdown of enrollment figures for each school within the district, including the vocational center.
Title I Director, Tara Kyle, presented the personnel report for each of the schools and noted that there is a current shortage of three staff members.
In addition to the assessment discussion, the school board addressed several other items of business during the meeting: the board will also approve the following:
•Fixed Asset Disposals
•Bus Easement
•District Financial statements & claims and Club & Activity Accounts
•Amended FY23 budget
•Donation to Ethel Band program
•Classified staff for 2022-2023 school year
•Substitutes for 2023-2024 school year
•Opening of bids on forest products sale from Sixteen Section lands
The board also approved the minutes of the August 3 and August 10 meetings, which included the following actions:
•Approval of resignations
•Approval of SRO for 2023-2024 school year
•Approval of school nurse for 2023-2024 school year
•Approval of classified staff for 2023-2024 school year
•Approval of Bus Easement
•Approval of Fixed Asset Disposals
•Approval of bid opening for site prep spraying of sixteen section lands
•Approval of timber harvest extension
•Approval to add potential timber cuttings to FY24 Annual Forestry Plan
•Approval of District Financial statements & claims and Club & Activity Accounts
•Approval of contractual services
•Approval to purchase SRO vehicles/equipment from Attala Co Sherriff Dept- $25,000
•Approval to advertise for bids on campus renovations: advertise for bids on Long Creek/Greenlee- hallways (various projects) & bathroom renovations, Ethel-roof renovation & bathroom renovations, McAdams- bathroom renovation.
•Approval of HB603-Special Projects Funding
•Approval of certified teacher for 2023-2024 school year
•Approval of coach assignment 2023-2024
•Approval of Food Service staff 2023-2024
•Approval of bus staff for 2023-2024 school year
•Approval of extra pay for summer assistance- Bus Shop
•Approval of SPED PD stipend pay
•Approval of substitutes for 2023-2024 school year
•Discussion of SRO position
•Approvals and nonapparoval of out of district transfers
•Approval of the ACSD Instructional Management System
The special called meeting will be held at the Attala County School District office at 4:00 p.m. on September 28.
