CPSD approves timber sale, offers “fifth block”
By Taylor McKay Hathorn
The first school board meeting for the 2023-2024 school year was held on Tuesday, August 8, at 7 p.m., with Board President Bernard Kines calling the meeting to order. After the Board voted 4-0 (in the absence of Board Member Felicia Gavin) to approve the minutes from the budget hearing, the regularly-scheduled July meeting, and an additional special-called meeting, the Board recognized Continental Tires for their “partnership in the classroom and around the community.”
In the financial portion of the meeting, Financial Director Libby Callegan requested that the Board approve an emergency timber sale on the District’s 16th section land on Cynthia Road. The Board had previously placed the timber out for bids three times with no bids being received, but, according to Casey Reddoch with the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the continued failure to cut the timber was beginning to “affect the health and wellbeing of other trees.” The Board voted 4-0 to approve the emergency sale, in addition to approving other routine financial matters, including the supplements for coaches and paraprofessionals, as recommended by the CPSD athletic director.
As part of the consent agenda, the Board also heard a change in initial credit courses, which students previously completed during summer school. Now, Assistant Superintendent of Education Charles King informed the Board that these students can instead elect to take these elective courses online during a “fifth block” during the regular school year.
In his Superintendent’s Report, Superintendent of Education Andy Schoggin informed the Board that CPSD had enrolled 5,209 students thus far this school year, roughly even with last year’s enrollment, but with a 95% average daily attendance so far, which is up from the previous year when the school was still using a traditional calendar. One hundred fifty-seven high school students had enrolled in the District’s new Coast Guard program, which Schoggin said was “exciting,” considering that the District initially expected to have only enough students to fill two classes.
Schoggin also informed the Board about two upcoming meetings, one with stakeholders in the District’s Booster and PTOs at each school, which was held before press time on August 31 at Clinton High School, and another with Attorney General Lynn Fitch about social media safety that was also held before press time on August 22 at 5:30 p.m. at Clinton Junior High School. The meeting was then adjourned, with all measures having been approved 4-0 in the course of the thirty-seven-minute meeting.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be on Tuesday, September 12, at 7 p.m. in the Central Office boardroom at 203 Easthaven Drive.
