For a year that was heavily impacted by COVID-19, the 2020-2021 school year turned out to be good financially for North Pike.
The district was able to put $533,000 back in its fund balance, which is money the district uses to operate when tax funds are not flowing in, or can use in case of emergencies.
“We were fortunate enough to not have to spend all of the money we had budgeted in all our line items,” Superintendent Dr. Jay Smith told board members Oct. 7.
He said the district was able to use some federal money allotted to the district in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program to undertake some projects instead of using local money.
The district also has ESSER funding available for projects this year.
Smith proposed creating line items in the current year’s budget from which to pay for professional services related to spending the ESSER money, if needed.
The board previously voted to contract with the Machado Patano architecture firm from the Gulf Coast and board attorney Jim Keith to handle legal issues related to using the ESSER funding on construction projects, if any are deemed necessary.
The new line items would be used for payments to Machdo Patano and Keith.
Regarding COVID-19, Smith said the district has seen a significant decline in positive cases and quarantines recently, with no positive test results at the lower and upper elementary schools, and only one quarantine at the lower elementary due to familial contact.
The high school had one positive case and three in quarantine as of the Oct. 7 board meeting, while the middle school had two positive caes and 17 in quarantine.
In other business, the board:
• Learned the district is waiting for a quote in cybersecurity insurance. The company carrying the district’s existing policy is phasing out the coverage.
• Accepted a $140 bid per acre from Welch Contracting Service to plant a tract of 16th Section land.
• Approved agreements with Head Start agency Mississippi Action for Progress.
• Accepted donations to the athletic department and booster club for $1,290; and $2,400 to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes clubs.
• Granted permission for out-of-state travel for a field trip to the Washington Parish Fair and for basketball games at Doyle High School, both in Louisiana.
• Accepted the resignations of full-time bus drivers Clary Marshall and Tiffany Gordon, shuttle bus driver Sally Klein and cafeteria worker Rhonda Erhardt.
• Hired high school detention facilitator Javian Jackson, elementary assistant teacher Camille Harrell, full-time bus driver Barbara Anderson, substitute bus driver Raymond Brumfield, cafeteria worker Shafrance Varnado, substitute cafeteria worker LoKevin Davis, learning loss coordinator Winona Dykes, and after-school program teachers Susan Hallmark, Brandi Smith, Kara Patt, Raven Nunnery, Lisa Lewman, Stacy Kelly, Trinia Blackmon, Aszur Holt and Sally Klein.
