by Hunter Dawkins
All four schools within the Pass Christian School District were honored last Tuesday after the Mississippi Department of Education accountability grades were released in late September, but there were additional highlights providing examples of the immense activities happening. The Board of Trustees monthly meeting gave the financial data, new board policy, and a few features from the schools.
Initially, three schools in the district (DeLisle Elementary, Pass Christian Elementary, and Pass Christian High) were given red banners for receiving “A” grades from the accountability report while the Pass Christian Middle School finished with a “B” grade and blue banner flag. Pass Christian Superintendent Dr. Carla Evers expressed her thanks to the administration, faculty, staff, and students for their hard work.
In other actions, the Pass Christian School District Certified Financial Officer (CFO) Paige Bromen presented the financial details for the district, including the figure of having 276 employees, which only was a little higher than last school year. Additionally, a construction change order unanimously passed among the action items with a $3000 hot water request for a school field house.
Before the final reports, a new school board policy for curriculum and instruction was adopted even though this will be required to sit for 30 days until the change is made.
Dr. Evers stressed a big push for school attendance in her report, saying the goal was less than 5% chronic absence and proudly declaring the Pass School District having the top attendance rates on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. After delivering the total number of students within the district (2067), Evers spoke of four students who are enrolled in the new Ingalls Shipbuilding Academy, three being named to the Mississippi State Superintendent Council and 21 having licenses to operate a boat of the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) came to provide Pass students training.
Student Representative Jackson Roberts noted successful athletic teams around the high school, such as football, volleyball, and cross country and explained the resurgence of the Beta Club having up to 80 people now. Roberts ended his address to the school board by pointing out the upcoming ceremony at the Live Oak Cemetery, which numerous students participate and a project done in the AP Government class to prepare for a mock election along with voter registration.
The next meeting is scheduled for November 12 at 4:30pm in the central office of the Pass Christian School District.
