The Poplarville Separate Municipal School Board recognized the efforts of the district’s students and re-established an important fine art class at the middle school on Monday.
Superintendent Carl Merritt presented board president Violine Jordan with the 2014 Mississippi School Board Association’s Lighthouse award.
According to an earlier Item story, the district received this award on Nov. 11 for exceptional student achievement and performance from last spring’s Mississippi accountability program testing requirements. The Lantern award acknowledges districts that have an overall grade of ‘B,’ and no schools below ‘C.’
According to Merritt, this was the third year in a row the district received this honor.
Soon the hallways at the Poplarville Middle School will be lined with the voices of singing students.
The board voted unanimously Monday night to re-establish the choral program at the school.
“This is a fantastic program,” Merritt said. “We have two principals willing to make this program work.”
The Lower Elementary and High School currently have choral programs.
In other action the board:
– Approved an amendment to the cheer and dance constitution. Merritt said this action is sweeping the state.
“It provides benefits to our students who may get caught up in the 63 percent attendance rule,” Merritt said. “There are many reasons a student may not be able to attend school including doctor’s appointments and family emergencies.”
The board will meet again on Monday, Jan. 11, 2015 at 6 p.m. at their office on Julia Street.