Four Poplarville High School students won state titles in the most recent Mississippi High School Rodeo competition.

Those four students were recognized by their principal, John Will, during Monday’s school board meeting.

McKinsy Harris won the state title in the Barrell Racing event. She said she took home a trailer, saddle and a belt buckle for the win.

Brandon McBride placed first in the Steer Wrestling event.

Chase Evans placed first in the Team Roping Healer event. He also went on to place second in that event in the national competition, missing first place by a fraction of a second, Evans said.

And Clay Brown took home the state title in the Saddle Bonc Event.

Will commended his students for their efforts in the competition.

Students were not the only ones to be recognized. The district’s superintendent, Carl Merritt, was recognized by Mississippi Association of School Superintendents Executive Director Sam Bounds for his service on their board of directors. 

Bounds commended Merritt for his dedicated service to the board and for his leadership. His performance has led to his appointment on the board’s executive committee as secretary, Bounds said. Merritt is expected to serve as the board’s president elect for the 2015-2016 school year and as president in the school year after that, Bounds said.

“He has shown outstanding leadership,” Bounds said. “Our future sits in those classrooms everyday.”

In school related business the board approved a motion to purchase a new school bus. Merritt said their maintenance department does a good job keeping the buses in good shape, but after a certain mileage they need to be replaced. Purchasing this bus will allow the district to cycle out an older bus and ensure the students are receiving reliable transportation to and from school. The board approved the purchase.

District Director of Finance Samantha Sandifer presented the board with some policy revisions and one addition. The revisions focused on FMLA guidelines concerning military service, while Sandifer suggested adding a policy concerning fraud and abuse.

The board approved the policy changes contingent they all be published on the district’s website for public comment.

A motion concerning the request for ad valorem taxes from the county was approved by the board. Sandifer said the district will be requesting about $10,000 less than they did the year before.

The next board meeting will be Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.