The Pearl River County School Board approved the state’s 2015-2016 dropout prevention plan format and addressed the new school year during their monthly meeting on Thursday.

Superintendent Alan Lumpkin spoke about the school district’s successful first day of school.

“The first day was amazing in Pearl River Central,” Lumpkin said.

Several schools within the district held fun activities to welcome students back to school, including a new year’s-style ball drop at the high school to kick-off the beginning of the new school year, Lumpkin said.

Also at the meeting, the district’s Curriculum Director Kim Alford presented the 2015-2016 school year dropout prevention plan, which the board approved.

The Mississippi Department of Education recently adopted a new dropout prevention plan template, which is designed to reduce dropout rates, Alford said.

“It addresses what we are doing for K-2 students to make sure they’re successful to go to the third grade and how we identify students at risk for dropping out,” Alford said.

Each school within the district will have an action plan to ensure students achieve academic goals, Alford said.

The action plan calls for the Pearl River Central High School to implement an ACT preparatory course in all four-subject areas. The district has already hired additional staff and plans to start the program this school year.

“We’re excited what this will bring to our high school and ACT scores,” Alford said.

The action plans also calls for the high school, along with the middle school, to host a career fair in the fall and to promote literacy training in all grade levels within the district.

In other news, the board:

—Approved personnel changes at Pearl River Central Upper Elementary, Pearl River Central Middle School and Pearl River Central High School.

The next meeting will be Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the district office near the high school campus.