By Leslie N. Dees
Rev. Doyle Mitchell, whose grandchildren attend Greenlee Elementary School, spoke to the Attala County School Board on Wednesday, Nov. 4, about the crisis plans that were in effect for the school system.
Greenlee was without water Monday, Oct. 19, during school hours and after being unable to fix the problem, 400 students were bused to nearby Ethel High School to use the restrooms in the gym.
Superintendent Larry Stevens said there is a plan in place for busing students to another school in times of crisis.
County School Maintenance cut the pipe elbow and went in search of a new one. They found there wasn’t one in Attala County.
“You think it wouldn’t take an act of Congress to get it fixed,” Stevens said. “Whether we sent them (students) home or not, they would have had to use the restroom” prior to the bus ride home.
“We need to look at our polices and practices when Mr. Stevens is out,” Mitchell said. Stevens was out of the office for training on the day of the water leak.
Contact was established with Stevens after a short period of time elapsed. After that Stevens said he was in constant contact with the principals and was constantly updated.
Mitchell also asked about security in our schools such as the possibility of cameras and if practices were in place should an intruder come into campus.
Stevens said they were looking to find grant funding to purchase cameras and that there was a crisis plan in place should that event occur.
“I am concerned about our schools,” Mitchell said.
He thanked the board for their time.
Trailer on 16th section
Mattie Wise is the only one left in a section of 16th Section land, which wasn’t classified as residential.
There were five families living on the land but didn’t know that it was illegal.
Wise said her trailer couldn’t be moved due to a bent axle.
The board granted her to remain on the land for 60 days until other arrangements could be made.
The board approved the following:
–Oct. 5 meeting minutes
–Federal programs: District Test Security Plan, Amendment No. 2 for IDEA Part B and Preschool Part C, Title VI Project Application, bids on Read 180 and computers
–Consent agenda – travel, removal of equipment from fixed assets, 60 percent day for Dec. 18, bus easements for David and Jimmie Kerr, Donald Lee and Carolyn Dees, and school trips.
–Financials – claims, activity and club accounts
–Timber bid on 16-14-6
–Release Tommy Prewitt from his hunting and fishing acres on 16-15-8.
–Pay Wayne McFadden for 30 days of unused leave.
–Pay teachers Jenny Norwood, Dale Mayo, Kim Latiker, Avis Hodges and Kimberly Spencer $250 each for attending a workshop.
–Resignation of Diane Grey. She will retire Dec. 31.
–Grant Mac Blaine an easement at Greenlee Elementary School to get his timber out of neighboring land.
–Ethel, McAdams and Long Creeks’ libraries will be automated and Greenlee will receive an upgrade. Students will be able to access the library online and this will help with research materials.
–Under the guidelines of the Mississippi State Department of Health, Attala County Schools via a doctor or nurse practitioner will be able to administer the H1N1 swine flu vaccine with parental consent.
