Pickering announces school grant for Meridian

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
June 24, 2003
Republican 3rd District U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering announced Monday a $1.2 million grant for the Meridian Public School District.
The funds, which will be given in $400,00 increments over a three-year period, will support counseling programs in elementary schools.
Suzanne Smith, chief financial officer for the Meridian Public School District, said the money will be added to the $2.5 million allotted for student support in next year's proposed budget.
Smith said the district will add three counselors and three social workers to the district staff. She and other school district officials learned about the grant late Monday.
Assistant Superintendent Sylvia Autry announced the grant at the budget hearing and said she was surprised when Pickering called. Autry said the district applied for the grant last year and had almost forgotten about it when Pickering and Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran called to give her the good news.
The U.S. Department of Education awards these funds to support counseling programs in elementary schools.