The Simpson County School Board made their decision on relocating students from the deteriorating Mendenhall Junior High School at their regular monthly meeting on May 8.
Board member Stanley Bulger has frequently made it a point at each meeting to voice the need to remove students from the deteriorating Mendenhall Junior High School facility.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Lawrence told the public and school board that moving the 7th and 8th grade to Mendenhall High School and 6th grade to Mendenhall Elementary School was the best option available at this time.
A public hearing was held to allow input from citizens before the board made their decision after the May 8 meeting.
Following the approval of the agenda, Board President Ralph Walker said the decision on moving the school would be postponed until a workshop meeting on May 16.
However, given the time sensitive nature of the decision, the board discussed it following the executive session hearing for student discipline after the regular May 8 meeting, saying they needed to make the decision to allow adequate time for the construction of two metal buildings that will hold two classrooms each.
The new construction will allow 7th and 8th graders to have their own space on the campus. This change of campus will go into effect starting with the 2024-2025 school year.
The board celebrated student and teacher achievement and recognized the Simpson Central Archery Team for winning their 10th state title. Mendenhall High School boys tennis players Clark Mangum and Wes Stephens were honored, along with their coach, Clark Walker, after competing for a state championship.
Simpson Central history students Nathan Little, Johnya Johnson, Takiah Gilmore, Rylee Rainey, and Breanna Landing were honored for their award-winning history projects that covered civil rights and the significance of Brown v. Board of Education.
During board comments and before the board made the choice to move students to the high school and elementary campuses, Bulger referenced Mendenhall Junior High and how it was not a good idea to invest money “into the swamp.” He shared data on how the district is losing money attempting to maintain nearly 60 buildings, and he estimated that the district did not need at least 20 of these buildings. He said that the move of the Mendenhall Junior High students is necessary, and the school district needs to support the teachers. He emphasized the impact that COVID-19 had on public education.
Minutes from April Board meetings and the consent agenda were approved. The human resources report was discussed in executive session before being approved.
The financial report was approved, which included approval to transfer $3,950,000 from District Maintenance to District Infrastructure to ensure fund balance assigned for capital improvements.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Lawrence reported that the employer contributions to PERS will be .5 percent over the next 5 years, which will save the district up to $300,000.
Lawrence also discussed the changes in the funding formula for public schools. He said the district will receive a set amount per pupil based on enrollment instead of average daily attendance. He provided the board with reports on enrollment trends over the last ten years and a study on salaries across the district.
The board entered executive session to discuss student discipline and legal matters.
Following the executive session the board discussed and voted to move Mendenhall Junior High students to Mendenhall High School campus before adjourning the meeting.
