Only Picayune Memorial High School didn’t name a teacher of the year while the other schools in the district presented their to the school board for the Picayune Municipal Separate School District last night.

Interim Superintendent Brent Harrell said that the high school did not submit an application for their teacher of the year. However, the school board was honored Pamela Fluitt with South Side Lower Elementary, Stacey Shaw with West Side Elementary, Donna Brenneis with Nicholson Elementary, Linda Hancock with Roseland Park Elementary, Earl J. Fox Jr. with South Side Upper and Diana Hawkins with Picayune Junior High as each school’s teacher of the year.

The district teacher of the year was Linda Hancock.

The district received donations from several local organizations and companies. World Vision donated $3,000 in supplies to the district and Huey Stockstill Inc. donated $9,000 for weight equipment for Picayune Memorial High School Athletics.

The district also received grants from Target for Nicholson Elementary of $1,000 to fund field trips, Jordan Fundamentals of $2,500 to South Side Lower for an outdoor classroom project, Stennis Space Center granted the FIRST Robotics team $6,000 to help fund up coming competition, Toshiba granted $950 to Roseland Park Elementary to fund “Air: It’s a Matter of Matter” and Chevron granted the district $100,000.

The board approved applying for grants from Target for $1,000 for Nicholson Elementary field trips and a grant from Best Buy for $15,000 to fund a rolling lab for Roseland Park Elementary.

Jim Corkern with the Northshore Flying Club addressed the board about using some 16 section land to keep the club going. He said before Hurricane Katrina, the club had about 150 members and a place to fly their model airplanes. Since the storm, there are only 50 members and their previous place to fly has been lost. Corkern said if they are granted a site to fly, it would be open to the public and he said he could also offer flying lessons.

There are two locations the club is looking at, one site is in Hancock County that would need some stump clearing and the other is the old airport in Picayune. Board member Harvey Miller said he was worried about the noise level if the club were to be out there while a baseball game was in progress near the old airport. Corkern said if the board decided to allow them to use the old airport then that issue could be worked out. Corkern said he has toured the Hancock site that was proposed but has not had the opportunity to tour the old airport. The board approved allowing Corkern to tour the old airport and consider the proposal.

Three high school students have qualified as semi-finalists in the Coca-Cola Scholar’s Program, Harrell said. Those students are Kellye Bolar, Julie Hall and Kasey Mitchell. The students were asked to complete and return more material to the foundation by Jan. 127, according to an announcement from the company. In April, 250 students will go to Atlanta, Ga., to conduct an interview that will determine who will receive the national $20,000 or the regional $10,000 scholarships.

The board went into executive session on a discipline appeal, a discipline matter, student matters and a personnel matter. All matters were approved as recommended.

In other business

— Approved Oral Health procedures for Early Head Start.

— Approved revised Asbestos continuing service contract with Pickering Environmental.

— Approved second reading of board policy concerning the school wellness policy.

— Approved requesting a new scoreboard and clock from Hattiesburg Coca-Cola with the school board to ask if they could raise funds to pay the difference on a state of the art scoreboard and clock.

— Approved waiving fees for the auditorium for the Hancock Junior Miss on Feb. 22-24, Showcase of the Stars senior project and United States Army Field Band Thursday March 29, 2007.

— Approved receiving quotes on three new buses. Board member Duane Wheat suggested the board get quotes on five new busses, but Harrell suggested the board wait until they get further into the budget before purchasing five.

— Approved advertising for the sale of obsolete buses.