North Pike board adopts 2025-26 calendar, approves audits and policies, sets budget dates

The North Pike School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved the district’s recommended 2025–26 school calendar, accepted two audit reports, approved updated gifted and special services procedures, set two budget-related meeting dates and adopted the Mississippi School Boards Association professional governance standards for 2025.

The superintendent told the board that 204 K–12 staff cast votes on the calendar and that 61.3% of those votes favored “option 1,” driving the recommendation the board approved. “We had 204 K–12 votes cast, 61.3% voted for option 1,” the superintendent said. The board approved the calendar by voice vote.

Why it matters: the calendar determines instructional schedules and affects families, staff planning and coordination with neighboring districts. The board also moved to set the formal budget hearing for 5 p.m. June 24, 2025, and to hold its budget adoption meeting at 5 p.m. July 1, 2025, followed immediately by the regular July board meeting.

In other formal actions, the board approved its annual financials and consent items, accepted the district’s 2023–24 audit report prepared by third-party auditors and accepted the 2022–23 compliance audit published by the state auditor’s office. Tina, a district finance staff member who presented parts of the audit material, said staff worked to meet the state’s March 31 deadline and that the district cleared several findings: “I didn’t know the state auditor’s office was shocked when they got it,” Tina said. She also said some findings from the state review remain under response and that the district has begun implementing reminders and procedural changes to address them.

The board approved updated gifted policies and special services procedures after the superintendent summarized changes required by state review. The superintendent said the revised gifted procedures align timelines with special education practice: an initial meeting must be set within 14 days of a written referral and evaluation completed and reported within 90 days.

The board voted to adopt the Mississippi School Boards Association (MSBA) professional governance standards and to sign an accompanying resolution. Board members who spoke in favor described the measure as voluntary guidance the majority of districts in the state already follow.

The superintendent also announced a personnel action on the technology team. Roland Young was introduced as the district’s technology staffer who has been working in an interim capacity; later the board approved the technology director appointment for a staff member named Johnson, who the chair said would have the interim title removed and become the district’s director of technology.

The meeting opened with recognition of staff award winners: Coach Dorel Anderson and classified employee Vicky Misenberg received quarterly superintendent awards, and multiple buildings announced their teachers of the year including Billy Lee (Career & Tech Center), Jordan Adams (High School), Leanne Price (Upper Elementary), Sally Klein (Junior High) and Claire Mitchell (Lower Elementary). Those recognitions were presented by building principals and the superintendent.

Procedural notes: most votes were recorded by voice; where individual roll-call tallies were not included in the record the board indicated “all in favor” and the motions passed. The board had no substantive superintendent report on business beyond the recognitions.

The board adjourned after completing the agenda.