Monday, the Pearl River County School Board held their final meeting of the 2014-2015 school year and recognized students and parent tutors for their achievements throughout the school year.
The first group to be recognized was the Upper Elementary robotics team, the PRC Blue Heroes. This was the first year the school had a program of this type. Students told board members they learned about teamwork, how to write computer code and programming and that they had a lot of fun.
The second group honored for their achievements was the Lower and Upper Elementary Regional Science Fair winners.
More than 200 students in grades K through 5 entered projects this year. Of those, 27 students placed first and took their science project to regional competition where seven placed.
Jade Bernard placed fourth in the behavioral and social science category. In biochemistry, Reece Carson placed third and Keira Huck placed first. Austin Woods’ project was awarded second place in the engineering, computers and math category. Kaitlyn Kajonen took home first place in the microbiology category and in the zoology category, Robyn Woods placed fourth and Lizzy Sones placed second.
This year Pearl River Central High School’s NJROTC underwent their annual inspection. The unit was named Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors, cadet Brockhaus announced to the board.
In another matter, the board also recognized the lower elementary’s parent tutors. These parents tutored students in phonemic awareness skills. Those honored were Lynn Smith, Twila Crabtree, Tina Powell, Melissa Kodrin, Rose Vicknair, Barbara Evans, Jamie Penton, Angela Ladner, Carol Hodge-Foster and Melissa Lumpkin.

In other action, the board approved:
• A Donation from the University of Southern Mississippi in the amount of $250 to the PBIS True Blue program at the middle school. A Donation to the middle school from Office Depot in the amount of $100 and Community Coffee in the amount of $115. A Donation from the Picayune Kiwanis Club to Student Services in the amount of $2,300.
• The lower elementary Summer Backyard Reading Bash for June 2016, which is funded through Title I.
• The upper elementary Summer Backyard Reading Bash for June 2016, funded through a grant by MDE.
• The Summer Food Service program to provide meals to the summer reading programs at both schools.
• Changes in student meals prices. Elementary student lunches will go from $2.10 to $2.25 and secondary student lunches will now cost $2.50 instead of $2.40.
• The donation of a greenhouse to the City of Picayune.
• A school bus turnaround at 152 Larow Drive for the 2015-2016 school year.
The next board meeting will be held on June 6 at 5:30 p.m.