School Receives New Financial Officer

Lisa Thompson

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – Lisa Thompson, new finance officer for the School District, was introduced to School Board members Monday, March 1.

Thompson, who is with the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Financial Services, replaces former finance officer Suzanne Carter who resigned after her comments at the January School Board meeting on cafeteria food waste and discipline were brought to the attention of state officials.

Thompson’s introduction lasted less than a minute. Superintendent Sammy Higdon told school board members that she would only be coming to Water Valley one day a week to cut down expenses. “And, she won’t be attending any board meetings.”

In other actions at the March 1 meeting, the School Board:

• Accepted an anonymous donation of $1,175.23 to the high school activity fund for supplies.

• Disposed of a Dell computer, which Board President Lamar Burgess referred to as “our favorite asset.” His comment drew a round of laughter from the Board members.

• Changed the meeting date for the next school board meeting from March 15 until March 22. March 15 is the first day of spring break, the board was told.

• Scheduled a special meeting for Monday, March 8, to hear recommendations for the new superintendent from the Mississippi School Board Association. “It’s time to get that process started,” Higdon said. “I think the timeline will be met.”

• Heard a report from Mario Weekly, Transportation Director and School Resource Officer, who gave an update on the School District bus fleet and explained the preventative maintenance procedures.

A few of the buses are 1988 models, according to Weekly. “I think they are running the best they can,” he said. “They are old, I will say that.”

Higdon suggested that the board members raise taxes seven percent just for buses. “We’re going to have to replenish this fleet,” Higdon added.

• Asked for an update on the “cafeteria situation.” Higdon explained that the elementary school students would be helped as much as possible with their food selection.

He said that the younger kids, kindergarten and first grade, couldn’t be given the same number of choices. “Have you ever taken your child to the store to pick out a candy bar?” Higdon asked. “We’d be serving lunch until three or four o’clock.”

“What we can do we have been doing anyway,” Higdon added. “We aren’t taking milk from children.”

• Entered executive session at 7:17 to discuss a student issue and personnel.