City school board cites need for repairs

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
March 5, 2004
The Meridian Public School Board in a specially called work session Thursday discussed the district's needs for an estimated $2.5 million in repairs at nine of its 15 campuses.
Archie Scarbrough, facilities director, said the district has several critical needs for improvements, including roof repairs at Magnolia Middle, Witherspoon Elementary, Oakland Heights Elementary, Poplar Springs Elementary and West End Elementary schools.
He said repairs are also necessary to plumbing at Meridian High, Witherspoon Elementary, Kate Griffin Junior High, Marion Park Alternative, Oakland Heights Elementary, Poplar Springs Elementary, West Hills Elementary and Magnolia Middle schools.
The school board talked about but took no action on possible ways to raise the money to make the repairs.
Suzanne Smith, chief financial officer, said the state would allow the school district to borrow the money and pay it back over a period of 20 years.
School board attorney John Compton said the repairs are critical to student achievement.
The board also discussed possible changes to the payscale for principals and assistant principals based on their school's performance classification levels, which is determined by the Mississippi Department of Education. Classification levels for the current school year will be released in July.
In other business, the board accepted the resignation of Kate Griffin Principal Phillip Daniels. Daniels will resign his post at the end of June and begin teaching social studies at Meridian High School next year.