Representatives of the Claiborne County School District asked the Claiborne County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 18 to work with the district on broadband expansion, infrastructure and economic-development ideas intended to increase student enrollment.
"Our mission is to educate students, to inspire students, and to get them to their full potential," said a school representative presenting greetings from the district. The presenter said enrollment has fallen from about 1,500 to roughly 1,100 over five years, a drop the speaker tied to economic factors.
Nut graf: The school representatives asked the board to participate in a round-table approach to address aging facilities and broadband access they said would benefit students; separately the board approved a procedural motion to accept a Claiborne County School District bus turnaround plan provided by the district, but required the district to add property-owner names to the submitted addresses.
What the school representatives said
The school delegation — which included district representatives who identified themselves as Miss Belinda Walker, Miss Jackie Jones and Miss LaDonna Reeves — described school buildings dating from 1926 and 1958 and requested joint problem-solving with the board and external partners such as Alcorn State University. “Can you imagine what an asset it would be for our students if every home had the Internet,” the school representative said.
Bus-turnaround action
The county received a written bus-turnaround submission the board indicated had been drafted Aug. 12. The board moved to approve the turnaround “substitute the mandatory requirements that are needed,” with the mandatory requirements to include identification of property owners for listed addresses. Motion was made by Supervisor Chambliss and seconded by Supervisor Odom; the board chair called the motion carried.
Why it matters: School officials told supervisors reduced enrollment and deteriorating facilities constrain educational outcomes. The district asked the county to collaborate on broadband and economic-development initiatives to help retain and attract families.
Ending
Supervisors said they look forward to a future joint meeting to review district proposals and potential county support.