By Stacey Cato
The Pass Christian School Board held its first monthly meeting of the school year Tuesday evening.
Superintendent Carla J. Evers began by expressing great appreciation to all faculty and staff members for “an amazing” and smooth opening to the 2017-2018 school year.
School Board President Margaret Jean Kalif introduced and welcomed newly appointed school board member Avra O’Dwyer who will take office next month. In public hearing, leaders reviewed information regarding the qualifications and requirements of Pass Christian School District to apply for and expend Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B and Preschool Federal Funds.
The estimated child count of students with disabilities within the district was a total of 250 based on December 1, 2017 numbers. Key areas of consideration for the expenditure of federal funds were outlined and up for discussion.
Board members were awarded certifications for their completion of continued education. The six-hour training is mandatory to continue serving the students in the district.
Action items approved during the meeting included this year’s annual school budget which can be found in this week’s issue of the Gazebo Gazette.
A motion was also made to begin the advertisement for bids on the construction of an addition to the Pass Christian High School’s band hall, the high school’s football field, the tennis court parking lot, and for a new roof to cover the high school’s gym, cafeteria, and band hall.
Evers said with the board’s speedy approval of bidding out the long-awaited projects, things should be kept on schedule. The schools football field is expected to begin construction by November 1 and wrap up by March 2018. Pirate’s Landing is already underway, she said. Evers said, the rain has held up the building process of the gym. since the dirt has been shifted. However, crews do expect the completion to still be on time.
Next month’s regularly scheduled meeting will be September 12 at Central Office.
