TYLERTOWN – Walthall school officials have decided to make changes in the Career and Technology Center offerings.
The metal trades course of study is being closed out. In its place, the district will institute a law and public safety offering.
“Metal trades had been hard to populate,” Superintendent Wade Carney told school board members. “It competed with the welding class for students.”
Carney said about 20 students have preregistered for the law and public safety program, and the district is advertising for an instructor.
“A number of highly qualified people have already turned in” applications, he said.
The board granted approval for the district to accept sealed bids for the sale of the metal trades equipment, including a diesel lawnmower with a 6-foot deck.
“W’e’ve barely used it,” Carney said. “It’s too big to get in a lot of places, and if the grounds not perfectly flat, it’s a problem.”
Changes are also coming to the center’s automotive program.
Instruction and equipment for the program must now meet standards of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
Carney said the district had been given time to upgrade the equipment, but grant funding could help the district speed up the timetable.
In other business:
• The board considered two quotes for property and casualty insurance.
Renewing with Landmark American would cost the district about $256,000, up from $247,000. A quote from the Mississippi School Board Association, which combined coverage from Landmark American and Axis, was $31,000 less, at about $225,000.
Neither quote included flood insurance, and the MSBA plan is “not admitted” in the state.
Firms which are not admitted may offer coverage in the state, but do not have an agreement with the state to operate and are not covered by the state’s surety pool if claims are more than available funds.
Policies issued by non-admitted firms are also subject to addition taxes and fees.
Asked his opinion on the matter, board attorney Conrad Mord said, “That $31,000 in saving is mighty attractive.”
Tylertown Insurance agent Joan Ugrinich said that most insurance companies that are rated A or better tend to be stable, well capitalized and have reinsurance.
The board settled on the MSBA plan for insurance next year.
• Board members also changed pest control service.
Parker’s Pest Management, based in Lamar County, had covered the county for the past seven years, but Orkin put in a bid of $300 per month, about half of what Parker quoted.
Board member Doloris Breland said the Dexter school building had a terrible roach problem when she taught there, but Parker’s had taken care of that after that company won the contract.
“I just don’t us to have that problem again,” she said.
The board awarded Orkin a six-month contract on a trial basis.
• Mord was reappointed as board attorney for the 38th year.
