KSD board takes actions
At the Kosciusko School District Sept. 13 meeting, the school board approved financials, reviewed policies and procedures, and accepted staffing changes.
Financials
Board approvals concerning financials include the following:
• A temporary easement with Bobby Lowery and the Attala County Board of Supervisors along with KSD.
• Jay Price and Dee Cockroft as signers on the Kosciusko Athletic Booster Club account at Renasant Bank.
• Advertisements for bids for HVAC units using ESSER funds for the KHS and KJH gym along with the KJH fieldhouse. Advertisements for bids for the physical education/health facility was approved as well.
• Title FY22 budget and FY22 school improvement budget.
Policies and procedures
Board approvals made concerning policies and procedures include the following:
• Paying staff due to school closing for Hurricane Ida on August 30.
• Updating a policy concerning booster clubs. The statement reading “No district employee may represent a booster club as an officer” is removed and a sentence reading “No district employee shall handle money in dealing with a booster club,” is added.
• Allowing KJH cheerleaders to wear uniform tops on days of home football games.
• Approving the Homeless, Parental Engagement, English Language Learners, and Federal Programs Procedural handbooks for the 2021-2022 term.
• Updating COVID-19 policies, including reports on fewer COVID-19 cases throughout the district and talks of potentially moving to face-to-face learning at KHS.
Personnel
Board approvals made concerning personnel include the following:
• Resignations from Jerry Prince and Katie Cauthen for the 21-22 school term.
• Hiring Jennifer Trussell as a secretary at KLE.
• Hiring Courtney Summerlin as an assistant teacher at KLE.
• Hiring Tammie Seals as child nutrition sub for the remainder of the 21-22 school term.
• Hiring Cassjetta Hughes, Jessica Wilkerson and Renee Wilkerson as subs for the remainder of the 21-22 school term.
Professional Development/Field Trip/ Fundraisers
Board approvals made concerning professional development, field trips, and fundraisers include the following:
• KHS Literature class along with teacher to attend Little Shop of Horrors play at New Stage Theater on Oct. 8, 2021. Tickets are paid for by KFEE.
• Jennie Cook to attend SPED Quarterly meetings Sept. 9 in Jackson and Nov. 3 in Meridian.
• Gifted Teachers to attend annual MAGC Conference in Vicksburg, on Oct. 6-8.
Regional library system upgrades internet speeds
Internet Speeds at least 10 times faster than before are now available at all Mid-MS Regional Library System (MMRLS) locations. Residents in Attala, Holmes, Leake, Montgomery, and Winston counties can now take advantage of this new super-fast internet today by using one of the many public access computers or connecting to the free wireless internet at each branch. This increase in internet speed provides library guests with better resources for their educational, job, and leisure needs.
“We know our patrons depend on faster, more reliable internet now more than ever with virtual school and remote work becoming more common, and we are glad to make this improvement,” said Michael Davide, IT Coordinator.
MMRLS continues to grow and expand its offerings to the public. Whether it is faster internet, free online tutoring through Brainfuse HelpNow, or job search assistance with Brainfuse JobNow, we are here to meet our community’s needs.
For more information, call or visit your local branch library, or the library’s website at www.midmisslib.com. All library services are made possible thanks to the continued financial support of our local elected officials.
West Civic Club
The West Civic Club held its first monthly meeting of the new year. There were seven members present. Jean Aldridge led the opening prayer and Kathy Gelston led the Pledge of Allegiance. It was great getting together again. Birthdays for the month of September are Ruth Aldridge and Inez Dickerson. Happy birthday, ladies. Hostesses for the meeting were Mary Ann Stevens and Ruth Aldridge. The refreshments were delicious and thank you so much.
Business was discussion of the postponed Big Black River Festival. The group has several good ideas and suggestions for having it in the coming year. The main concern this year was the recent outbreak in our area of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
If you are a vendor and would like to participate in next year’s festival, please send your information to Carol Black, P. O. Box 401, West, MS 39192, or call her at 662-967-2062.
The treasurer gave an updated report. There will be a drawing on Sep. 30 for a $100 gift card donated by Dickerson Petroleum. Any of the members can help you with that information.
There are also t-shirts commemorating 9-11-2001. They are light blue, short sleeve, with the Big Black River Festival logo as well as the skyline of the twin towers in New York. You may call Kathy Gelston 601-201- 3306 or Carol Black 662-967-2062, to receive more information on these t-shirts.
Little Garden Club meets
The first meeting of the Club year was held at the charming cottage home of Dale and Dean McLean in Sallis, at 10 a.m. on September 2. Dean and Barbara Burns prepared a delicious brunch for members who served themselves as they arrived. Dean called the meeting to order and Barbara gave to each member present a copy of the Club yearbook for 2021-22, and each month’s program was discussed briefly. Three new members were welcomed, Betty McBride, Karen Putt, and Lynn Wiggers.
Dean conducted the business meeting and noted that a library book will be bought to honor Polly Brown, a former, longtime member who passed away recently.
Dale McLean, a prolific and accomplished artist, was the featured speaker at the meeting, and he commented on the numerous paintings aligning the home’s walls. Dale started painting at a young age, and he began his presentation by showing a pastel he had painted in 6th grade. In the beginning he sketched in pencil and then started painting with pastels. Later he used oil on canvas and he still is partial to oil, saying it is so “forgiving.” He has traveled a lot and he has painted scenes from Tennessee to North Carolina and places in between. He is a member of Fine Arts of America, entering several contests through that association and others, winning First Place awards. One painting of an elderly gentleman in overalls leaning against an old store front titled “Didley” won First Place at a Fine Arts competition. As members moved through the various rooms, Dale pointed out special renderings, such as a scene on the Old Natchez Trace and portraits of his daughter and son as children. Dale has donated to the Skipworth Fine Arts Center a portrait of Charlton Ferguson in his Navy uniform. Charlton is the Kosciusko native and High School band member who died in the bombing of Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Oklahoma. Dale worked for many years at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and painted the likeness of Charlton Ferguson from a picture he saw at the Pentagon.
Present were Jamye Autry, Barbara Burns, Linda Buskirk, Kathy Cox, Mary Ikerd, Betty McBride, Dean McLean, Ellen Pettit, Karen Putt, Barbara Wasson, and Lynn Wiggers.
