Board acknowledges school police department; votes include cosmetology hold and contract increase for Wallace Electric

The McComb School District trustees acknowledged that the school police department had been previously established and recorded that recognition in the meeting minutes, and they discussed how the district will define the department's duties, training, transport policies and budget implications.

A trustee moved to amend a prior motion to "acknowledge that the MSC Police Department was previously approved and not documented in the minutes." The amendment was seconded and the board approved the acknowledgment. Trustees and staff then discussed guidance from a judge and materials from national organizations about policing in schools, including proposals to review discipline practices, collect data to detect bias, and ensure police officers perform roles consistent with district policy rather than school discipline duties. One trustee emphasized mentorship and non‑disciplinary programs; others raised concerns about increased incidents inside buildings despite having more officers.

On transportation and liability the board asked legal counsel and the district's insurance provider to clarify whether and how school police can transport juveniles, what staffing ratios are required for transport, whether cameras are needed in vehicles, and the district's insurance exposure. Trustees referenced a prior request from a judge about transportation protocols and asked staff to bring back insurance and operational guidance.

Votes at a glance: the board approved several items during the meeting.

- Motion to place cosmetology program on hold: moved, seconded and approved (vote recorded as carried). - Approval to increase the contract amount for Wallace Electric (details in packet): motion carried; trustees asked staff to formalize contract amendment language before final paperwork. - Approval of financial statements and routine consent and personnel items: motions carried as part of the consent agenda; trustees requested pay/compensation details be included in future documentation for transparency.

Why it matters: acknowledgment of the school police department triggers questions about policies, training, transport and budgeting; trustees said policy and handbook language should align with the department's defined role and that data on discipline and program outcomes be returned to the board.

Next steps: staff and counsel will draft recommended policies, provide insurance and liability guidance for juvenile transport, and return with a detailed memo on SRO duties and data-collection plans. The Wallace Electric contract amendment will be formalized in a corrected document before final execution.