During Monday’s meeting, the Poplarville School District’s Board of Trustees approved a security contract with the city of Poplarville for the 2019-2020 school year.

The contract provides additional security for large games, especially football and basketball, and is estimated to cost $15,850 annually, said Superintendent Carl Merritt. The District enters into the contract with the city every year, Merritt said, and the cost estimate has increased slightly.

The Board also approved a threat assessment overview with indicators for improvement conducted at all four schools. The assessment is based on a rubric from the Mississippi Department of Education and Homeland Security, said assistant superintendent Konya Miller. The biggest concern is parking and barriers, said Board President Tommy Strahan. Next, the District will develop steps for improving security, said Miller.

In a separate matter, the Board recognized Poplarville High School student Candi Spiers for receiving the Walter S. Bounds Scholarship for Excellence. Spiers was among 101 other applicants and is the first Poplarville District student to receive it, said Merritt.

In a separate matter, the Board accepted the highest bids for five obsolete school buses. Lynn’s Enterprises bid $877 for bus 18 and $1,077 for bus 36. Harold G. Wheat bid $1,000 for bus 34, $1,000 for bus 35 and $1,000 for bus 37.

In other business the Board:

—Approved the 2019-2020 professional development plan.

—Approved policy changes based on legislative mandates for the school safety plan, emergency drills, suicide prevention education in-service training, donated leave, teacher salary scale, school admission, corporal punishment, comprehensive eye examination, student safety and detention facility records.

—Approved two school nurse intervention grants that total $85,000 from the Department of Education for the 2019-2020 school year. The grants help pay total nurses salaries, but do not pay the entirety of the salaries, said Miller.