Desoto County School District

The board meeting featured the recognition of students who achieved a score of 30 or higher on their ACT, as well as multiple state championship teams from local high schools, including basketball, wrestling, and bowling teams. The superintendent presented an energy usage report for the previous year and discussed ongoing HVAC improvement projects across various campuses. The board addressed several items of business, including the approval of a reverse auction bid for teacher laptops, the selection of a vendor for bus video storage, and authorization for payments to vendors regarding services rendered prior to purchase order issuance at Horn Lake Middle School. Additionally, a minor employee expense reimbursement was approved.

The board meeting involved student recognition for academic achievements, including ACT scores, valedictorian, salutatorian, and star student awards. The superintendent presented reports on school assessment data and introduced personnel changes. The board approved an agenda, accepted a paving project bid for Pleasant Hill Elementary School, and entered into a contractual agreement for substitute staffing services. Additionally, the board approved the installation of a marquee at Hernando Elementary School and adopted revisions to two school board policies.

The meeting included an executive session to address property and personnel contract matters. The board also celebrated Teachers of the Year from various school zones, with sponsorship support from First Horizon Bank. Additionally, representatives presented on the New Teacher Academy mentor program, highlighting its focus on recruitment, teacher support, and professional development strategies such as the 'Ready Set Teach' initiative to assist new educators.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda. The Superintendent reported on the CSI, TSI, ATSI information and celebrated School Board Appreciation Week, including a performance by the Central Elementary third-grade choir. Recognition was given to the DeSoto County School Counselor of the Year, Marsha Foster, from Pleasant Hill Elementary School, and seniors from both Central Elementary and Olive Branch High School were recognized for their accomplishments. Discussions moved to new business, which included approving the use of ARCHITECTURAL services for the Career Tech West addition, accepting the lowest bid from Furniture Specialist for Lewisburg High School furniture, and approving the lowest bid from Unar Computers for student netbooks. Further actions involved approving a contractual agreement with Murphy's and Sons for the Olive Branch Middle School restroom renovation, approving reimbursement for a principal's credit card expense, and approving a resolution of intent to issue three new notes. Personnel matters included requests for paid administrative leave due to inclement weather, calendar adjustments for 230-day employees, adding secondary assistant principal positions for the 2026-2027 school year, and reclassifying a teaching position at Central Elementary temporarily. Additional pay requests for summer boot camps, critical needs math instruction, and dual credit college algebra instructors were also presented for approval. Finally, the board moved to enter an executive session to discuss a student matter.

The meeting began with the approval of the agenda. The Superintendent reported on welcoming students and future planning for the 2026-2027 school calendar, which would involve the teacher advisory council. The board recognized numerous state champions from Lewisburg High School's swim team and celebrated the back-to-back state championship win by the Central Middle School Dian Squad and dance team members. Several business items involved bid approvals, including accepting the lowest bid from Pencing Unlimited LLC for the South Haven High School Athletic Fencing Project, and accepting bids from Wilco Services LLC for playground additions at Fernando Hills Elementary School and Orange Lake Intermediate School. Contractual agreements were subsequently approved for these fencing and playground projects. Further new business included approving contracts with Fork Farm for child nutrition hydroponic grow farms and with Endeavor IT for partial rewire projects at Fernando Middle School and Isa Branch Elementary School. Approvals were also sought for payments for previously rendered services that lacked corresponding purchase orders for Centerville High School (Chart of Earth Services), Hernando High School (water treatment service provider), and for transportation hardware. The board also approved the purchase of a new bus using district maintenance funds. Finally, the board addressed personnel matters, including requests for various paid and unpaid leave, additional pay for staff serving as spelling bee judges or tutors, and the addition of a temporary data support unit for the transportation department. The meeting included time for executive sessions regarding early graduation requests, student discipline, residency appeals, and standard public comment.