Scholarship funds held by the North Pike School District will be turned over to the Southwest Mississippi Community College Foundation.
State auditors advised the district earlier this year that it should not hold scholarship monies, prompting a search for an organization that could oversee the fund.
Business Manager Tina Griffin said she had discussed the Zachary Cox Scholarship Fund with the district’s Parent-Teacher Organization, which is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that can accept tax-deductible contributions, but the PTO’s mission does not include offering scholarships.
Instead, Griffin said the Cox family had agreed to work with the SMCC Foundation to establish the scholarship there.
In other business, the board:
• Learned construction is underway on several projects being funded by federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money, including window replacements districtwide and upgrading the roof and heating and air conditioning system at the high school gymnasium.
• Learned construction at SMCC’s John I. Hurst Stadium will cause high school graduation to be moved to the middle school football field this year.
• Learned there were no findings on the city’s most recent audit.
• Approved advertising for proposals for a heating and air conditioning systems service contract.
• Approved student handbooks and revisions to district policy to conform to the handbook regulations.
• Approved contract days for counselors for the next year.
• Approved plans for extended special education instruction and the high school’s summer credit recovery program.
• Approved out-of-state travel for Skills USA students to go to the national conference in Atlanta in June.
• Reviewed proposed electoral district lines for board members.
