Picayune School District Superintendent Dean Shaw’s contract with the District was extended by three years during Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting. 

The motion was made during the certified personnel portion of the meeting. At first, Board member Dr. Lori Blackmer tried to move the contract extension to executive session, but her motion failed for a lack of a second.

A second motion by the Board was approved with Blackmer stating she wanted to discuss the matter in executive session.

The extension moves the end of his contract from the end of the school year in 2019 to the end of the school year in 2022.

In other business, the Board swore in its newest member, Josh Robertson, who replaces Frank Feeley.

The Board also heard about the achievements of 10th grade student and track star Mason Watkins. Varsity track and field coach Chris Wise said he first became aware of Watkins while the student was still in eighth grade. At that time Watkins would attempt to compete with varsity track team members, even though he usually came in close to last place.

Wise said it takes a special kind of athlete to compete in track. Most competitions take place on Saturdays, there are no cheerleaders and competing typically means a hour or more of travel time, Wise said.

Due to that drive, Wise said track team members usually end up being successful in life.

And Watkins fits that bill. Wise said he showed a dedication off season that led him to break the school’s record in 5K races with a time of 17:11. He was recently named to the All State Team

“Because nobody pushes themselves as hard as he does,” Wise said.

Curtis Watkins, Mason’s father, said his son trained extensively every summer, and no matter the weather he was always ready to train.

“I actually had to tell him when it was too dangerous,” Curtis Watkins said.

The next Board meeting will be Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m.