A South Pike School District contract for security at athletic events drew scrutiny from trustees Thursday because of its higher cost than what the district pays off-duty Magnolia police officers for the same work.
Trustees eventually left the matter in Superintendent Johnnie Vick’s hands, urging him to negotiate better terms with Kingdom Security LLC of McComb, but only after discussion that included objections from board members Eva Andrews and John Hilbert, who said it was a “no-brainer” to let Magnolia police handle the work at $15.75 per hour rather than pay $25 per hour to Kingdom.
The board first approved the arrangement with Kingdom Security in the summer of 2016 at the recommendation of athletic coordinator Hilton Harrell, and it was Harrell who suggested that trustees renew it.
Hilbert noted that the board approved the Magnolia Police Department rate only a month ago, and that trustees had received assurances from them that they would be able to provide as much manpower as might be necessary.
“It doesn’t take a specialist to figure it out,” Hilbert said. “Why in the world would we want to pay somebody $25 an hour when you can get the same work for $15.75 an hour? I think it’s crazy on our part to even consider that.”
Vick commented that at high-profile games, such as with North Pike, extra security was often needed.
“But Magnolia (police) said they could handle it,” Hilbert responded.
“Paying (Kingdom) an extra $9.25 is uncalled for,” said Andrews, the board president, adding that Kingdom’s proposal did not specify whether its officers were certified, as law enforcement officers are.
“If we’re going to do this, we should go back and pay (Magnolia police) $25 an hour,” Andrews said. “This is our home base, and just about all those officers live here in the City of Magnolia. Their tax dollars go to our schools.”
District business manager DeLorean Hall pointed out that the cost of security comes from the athletic department budget and not the district’s general fund, to which Andrews replied, “But it’s our money we put into their budget.”
“Yes, where does that money come from?” Hilbert asked.
Andrews said that until last year, Magnolia-based Cook’s Protective Service provided security for games when needed, at rates similar to the police department’s.
The board briefly considered tabling the matter until its October meeting, but some members noted that the football season would be over by then. Vick was left with the board’s instruction to approach Kingdom Security about lowering their rates, but still with complete authority to engage them at $25 if he saw fit.
This is the second time in a week the topic of game security has come up at a local board meeting. On Tuesday, Magnolia Police Chief Ray Reynolds, responding to the city board’s questions about the safety at games following a fight at the South Pike-North Pike game, said he usually has nine officers present at games, depending on the crowd.
In other business, the board:
• Accepted donations — $400, $400 and $250 for the high school athletic department from Dr. Burnett Hanson, Harrell Eye Clinic and John Ott Inc., respectively, and $70 from Supermarket Operations, Inc., for the high school band.
• Renewed an interagency agreement between the district and Southwest Mississippi Mental Health Complex for mental health services on an as-needed basis.
• Approved a facilities use request by Mississippi Thunder Basketball to practice in the Eva Gordon gymnasium.
• Hired student teachers — Jessica Clark from Grand Canyon University in an elementary classroom and Judy Hall Sheets from the University of Mississippi for a secondary classroom.
• Renewed an agreement with Pearl River Opportunity Head Start, which provides special education services.
• Reclassified a 1.8 acre 16th Section parcel on LaBlanc Road from hunting and fishing to residential.
• Agreed to allow Capitol Music Group to produce a La’Porsha Renae music video at South Pike High School. The music label offered to make a “nominal donation to the band,” but Vick did not know how much that would be.
• At Hall’s request, approved an upgrade in financial data backup software. Instead of the current $1,500-per-year service, which only backs up data, the new service, through Gemini Managed Services, will also allow employees to continue working even when systems are down. After a $4,348 setup fee, the annual cost is $3,998.
