[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6384824,"mediaKeyId","2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918","parentId",2121132,"title","Board awards culinary building construction contract to Stewart Construction for $1,597,150","audioSeconds",380,"startMs",2718000,"endMs",3098000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918&start=2718&end=3098","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918/thumbnail_2718000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6384824/Mississippi/Board-awards-culinary-building-construction-contract-to-Stewart-Construction-for-1597150","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384824-02cbc5d7354cd896b65cafa773a2f46c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833008&Signature=jLd5Ui0Qqi6p8iIlYUJ-yazH~n~aNLKL3-S24p721BX8ssQi1YNkjMxwDbu615~y-ZpCPQ~MoLb70-hWYaQ8JoeWy6EaZXKww4OFL2ytCuKCXnw-GmDAGb8t2iR8vLvLyFy--qIyGuyHCBxnNhPl9WMXhwmgJkE0QOz6lELCPgvCK~ITKaGHL8915IdtrwdG9tJeR8i~uqW-rcAjD2wjLGHO-T09ODiRNpi3za4xCZgtND11Kjf7O~Uh-XZFn-W3ijD8~mdRkZq-PznU73WUQTQk3AWQ2Z0Fm~tjXePohyvv-9OREzLHrGg~F-aYdQ207WeWHWY8I1uG-psuxdwrFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","George County School District","date","2025-01-10T00:00:00Z","article","The George County School Board approved a construction contract award to Stewart Construction Company for the high school culinary building project in a recorded voice vote.

District staff told the board the project is tied to state appropriations: House Bill 603 was listed at $1,000,000 and Senate Bill 3015 at $500,000, which together account for $1.5 million in state funding identified in the presentation. The contractor award approved by the board was for $1,597,150. District presenters discussed project components that include classrooms, kitchen/dining/laboratory space, drainage, walkways and modifications to connect classrooms to the culinary lab so teachers can move students safely between instruction and kitchen areas.

Staff stated the construction specifications call for roughly 32,100 square feet (the transcript contains the figure “about 32,100 square feet”) and answered board questions about schedule and contractor timelines, saying the bid specifications required contractors to include a timeline and that the timeline submissions were comparable across bidders. Staff said architects and contractors will set the construction schedule after the contract award.

The board approved the award by motion, with a motion and second recorded and a voice vote of 'All in favor' as noted in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","George County School District Board Meeting January 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a $1,597,150 contract to Stewart Construction Company for a new high-school culinary building. District staff said the project is funded in part by House Bill 603 ($1,000,000) and Senate Bill 3015 ($500,000); total project cost and remaining funding details were discussed but not fully specified in the transcript.","taxTitle","GEORGE CO SCHOOL DIST, School Districts, Mississippi","taxId",60278,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6384828,"George County revises school meal charge policy; alternate lunches start Jan. 21 for accounts past threshold",192,3339000,3531000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918&start=3339&end=3531","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918/thumbnail_3339000.jpg","/articles/6384828/Mississippi/George-County-revises-school-meal-charge-policy-alternate-lunches-start-Jan-21-for-accounts-past-threshold","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384828-aedc7e1f4a2e5a63fd69e3197b8b3746/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833008&Signature=d-o2z~jaS6N8O3p6UaRv1xflVAvxQyyIY0gsk0xIvOhoaSp-W772Zh71XnZIerOK0nuOY5OcussO1qZRkmg6ncjTODA5sdF9eDv4bXUdvkYkqjlOIqU9k8etQX678jnzWreUbKleO1uIujaDtqOao-FGihZZ34qeyEWZ6Sg2~UHhiWIAcn-mpl9M8chtK8dIQ9~YJ5KWRwsKjgUXHV0dnnrzYXF8mesmGeWkFrkOf4Vztfc-un39v8tAY4JTqTfJrGMkUUZyMBknYq9mIYgoa3-6~haJdCRW~voRANjYSl0cJpkZ0eU6QGhQkCEzMh1D0~agkctsdCda5F2w4k0gyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The George County School Board approved revisions to its Child Nutrition School Meal Charge Policy, including provisions for alternate meals for students with unpaid negative balances.

District staff described outreach efforts — letters, personal phone calls, robocalls and social media posts — and told the board the district’s outstanding negative lunch balance had exceeded $20,000. Under the revised policy, beginning Jan. 21 students whose accounts exceed the district’s threshold will be offered an alternate lunch. School staff described the alternate option as a sandwich with fruit and a drink. Breakfast will remain free for all students and lunch remains free only for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Administrators said they had communicated the pending change through multiple channels and counselors had also contacted parents to discuss balances. The district also noted that many families had not completed free/reduced applications, which can prevent eligible students from receiving benefits.

Board members approved the revision by voice vote after discussion. The motion and second were recorded in the meeting minutes and the policy revision was adopted as presented.

District staff said parents may complete online forms or pick up applications at school offices and cafeterias.","The board approved changes to the Child Nutrition School Meal Charge Policy. District staff said negative lunch account balances total over $20,000; starting Jan. 21 students with unpaid negative balances will receive an alternate meal until parents resolve accounts or qualify for free/reduced meals.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6384832,"Rocky Creek Elementary identified as Targeted School Improvement; principal outlines goals and supports",394,1232000,1626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918&start=1232&end=1626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918/thumbnail_1232000.jpg","/articles/6384832/Mississippi/Rocky-Creek-Elementary-identified-as-Targeted-School-Improvement-principal-outlines-goals-and-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384832-82c5718c7b6ae594b8ef3c23e01ed951/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833008&Signature=aMPNxxwIkdie~1wra7n-DCeOYI4hj5JAYcVPUzWIDKjV~YbY12I1mT46njzaUFUXs76Q76XF4N4oNQqKP6diyUOymxxRihAuTmj6IIVaXZ3vLDqOafKaVz-0mVz57teUXyPhc-eyf28panfuF-AjxX7ClxEiQqxyzPFFbx39UaU~8YtbEfrgfhFKmbNp7Jn3tgpJJgTyaZDGqWT3FBzFyFE34VqWg2ZL6s-32UU396JJI8o9D2leJM1IqcWZ~DOhbyDN50fhZrQ4AEeXcLksFtcMfumgd8iIJQysv9k8ZeqhFMHSC-B9YSLuFbUsuXSg6GSjtkIyumLbwxvvlPjU4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rocky Creek Elementary has been identified again as a Targeted School Improvement (TSI) campus due to persistent low performance in a specific student subgroup, school staff told the George County School Board.

A school representative, identified in the meeting record as Fordell, said the campus was flagged because a subgroup of 10 or more students (special education students, in this case) scored in the bottom 5% for English language arts statewide. Fordell said the TSI designation requires 50% of that subgroup to show growth from one state test year to the next for multiple years to be removed from the TSI list.

Fordell described how the school has used targeted funding tied to school-improvement status to pay for professional development, additional teacher assistance and services that support dual-language learners who also receive special-education services. The school reported internal benchmark gains between fall checkpoints (for example, a rise in reading benchmark performance from 50% to 60% at one checkpoint and math from 42% to 50%), but noted science and other measures lag behind the school’s targets.

School leaders said Rocky Creek achieved an “A” rank on one accountability measure last year and that the school’s current accountability score is 489 points; the school’s stated target to maintain an A rating is 442 points or higher under the district’s accountability model. Fordell said Rocky Creek’s bottom 25% subgroup (the focus for growth points) represents roughly the lowest-performing students and accounts for the largest challenge in demonstrating year-to-year growth.

The presentation described enrollment and attendance patterns, chronic-absence counts and that the school’s additional staff funded through school-improvement money were being used to provide more immediate intervention and family communication.

Board members and district staff responded with congratulations for recent improvements and asked clarifying questions about benchmarks and the next state assessment window, which the district said typically runs from early April into May.

No formal action was taken; the item was presented as an informational report from the school.","Rocky Creek Elementary remains on the state Targeted School Improvement list for a subgroup; school leader described growth targets, use of funds and staffing supports to raise student achievement.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6384837,"New George County school board members sworn in; officers elected",445,238000,683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918&start=238&end=683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121132-164f7deb6b79dda58fc73e8f9819c918/thumbnail_238000.jpg","/articles/6384837/Mississippi/New-George-County-school-board-members-sworn-in-officers-elected","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384837-68fe4dec6bd6514b5c8f518dd0eac985/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833008&Signature=fG0jCw15X3kNFY1SUnGkzqprsQPXtjhulPtO96gLPuiaCQlayCMUS7IjYu-EHalUjOTvqsIzAfKC2uXG9JltekmpJRxo~qEH2TVJl6CYjoXnpHNsYtMZ9p6JXYKNIlIm4b1TEJsMgzDVqFPNz3kvlJeSZRyFacx827ZTLHLZnI~hfSlhxNrh-lcUFsmdlt6oqwH646P5cM28DRtDm~9j~HoovEzwAwWHmcbsZM4zIiIZj8WHTSs0k0EbrGpWdx3BThfMFw6CvV~uRe-XNZA4X8gJn7lrDIoWIXi3lS8nKEawwM9CVMJ7DajrQ70-Qz0bjRRJopHQDREnBiDyHos6tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Three newly elected members of the George County School Board took the oath of office and the board then elected its officers during a regular meeting.

Judge Maples administered the swearing-in for incoming members, including James Everdeen Jr. and at least two other members whose names appear in the meeting record. The board later held nominations and votes for the board’s officers. Maria Plante was nominated and elected vice president and Matthew Smith was nominated and elected secretary. The transcript records a separate nomination and vote for president but does not identify the person who received the presidency in the meeting record.

The board paused briefly for a group photograph of the newly sworn members before moving on to other business on the agenda.

The swearing-in and officer elections were procedural items at the start of the meeting and were followed immediately by the superintendent’s report and standing agenda items.","Judge Maples administered oaths to newly elected board members. The board then elected officers, naming Maria Plante vice president and Matthew Smith secretary; the transcript does not identify the elected president by name.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board awards culinary building construction contract to Stewart Construction for $1,597,150

George County revises school meal charge policy; alternate lunches start Jan. 21 for accounts past threshold

Rocky Creek Elementary identified as Targeted School Improvement; principal outlines goals and supports

New George County school board members sworn in; officers elected