Monday’s Poplarville School Board of Trustees meeting occurred in the absence of Board President Tommy Strahan and Board Secretary Shirline Magee. Board member Kelton Smith participated in the meeting via phone.

The meeting began with the Board recognizing Assistant Superintendent Konya Miller as the Administrator of the Year.

Superintendent Carl Merritt presented Miller with a certificate of recognition for her work toward the betterment of the District.

Merritt also showed the Board the MSBA Light House Leader Award the District received for receiving an A rating. He said only 13 Districts across the state received the award.

“This symbolizes a lot of hard work of everyone in the school district,” Merritt said.

On March 8, the District held a job fair.

Technology Coordinator Stephen Seal showed the Board a presentation entailing photos from the fair demonstrating its success.

Miller said 27 participants were at the job fair, including employment applicants, food service employees and the transportation employees.

On March 9th the District also participated in a job fair held at the University of Southern Mississippi.

In other matters, the Board approved the MDE School Nurse Intervention Program Grant worth $85,000 that will enable the District to employ two nurses at the elementary school.

The Board also approved advertising a budget hearing to discuss the next fiscal year’s ad valorem tax rate for the school year beginning July 1, 2018. The budget hearing is scheduled for June 25 at 5 p.m.

The Board went into executive session due to a student matter.