Board approves strategic plan, contracts, purchases and routine sixteenth-section actions

The Marion County School District Board of Trustees on an otherwise routine agenda approved a three-year strategic plan and a series of contracts, purchases and sixteenth‑section actions, with most motions passing unanimously.

Board President opened the meeting and the board adopted the agenda and approved prior minutes by voice vote. The board accepted a consent agenda after pulling two items (5.10.4 and 5.10.21) for discussion and later approved those pulled items as well.

The board approved the district's three-year strategic plan and a set of procurement and program items including authorization to bid out 18 old buses; renewal of the postage machine contract through November 2030; continued participation in a male involvement volunteer program at East Marion Elementary; purchase of I-Ready diagnostic and instructional materials for East Marion Elementary and West Marion Primary; approval for East Marion Elementary and East Marion Middle School to use federal funds for Kids First Education Consultants; continued participation in the Mississippi Whole Schools program for 2025-26; purchase of handwriting books for K-4; continuation of the district meal process for adults for 2025-26; updated threat assessment forms; dual-credit college participation for students; a rental agreement with Canon USA; WorkKeys test-prep services for East Marion Middle/High and West Marion Middle/High; and a memorandum of understanding with the WorkSmart Career Club project. Most of these motions passed by voice vote recorded as 5 to 0.

Under financial business, staff reported a revised budget posture that reduced an earlier projected draw on fund balance. The finance presentation said the district now estimates it will need to use approximately $747,233.27 of fund balance in the general fund (district 11.20), after identifying duplications and trimming expenditures. Board members then approved transfers and project authorizations tied to sixteenth‑section interest funds and other financial reports.

On sixteenth‑section land matters the board approved a package of lease cancellations, lease reinstatements for parcels that had paid back taxes prior to tax sale, an assignment of an 80‑acre lease, a small lease to Gulf South Pipeline Company, forestry replanting and site-prep bids recommended by the Mississippi Forestry Commission, and a right-of-way move request for Pearl River Valley Electric. Those items passed by affirmative votes recorded as 5 to 0.

The board considered going into executive session but ultimately reported no action taken in executive session and continued regular business. A motion recorded near the close of the meeting also passed 5 to 0.

Votes at a glance (selected items; outcome recorded exactly as stated in the meeting): - Adoption of agenda — approved (voice vote). - Approval of minutes — approved (voice vote). - Acceptance of consent agenda (with two items pulled) — approved 5 to 0. - Approval of MCSD three-year strategic plan — approved 5 to 0. - Authorization to bid out 18 old school buses — approved 5 to 0. - Postage machine renewal (Nov–Nov through 2030) — approved 5 to 0. - East Marion Male Involvement volunteer program (2025-26) — approved 5 to 0. - Kids First Education Consultants (East Marion Elementary and East Marion Middle) — approved 5 to 0. - Purchase of I-Ready for East Marion Elementary and West Marion Primary — approved 5 to 0. - Mississippi Whole Schools participation (East Marion Elementary, 2025-26) — approved 5 to 0. - Purchase of handwriting books for K–4 (2025-26) — approved 5 to 0. - Meal process for adults (2025-26) — approved 5 to 0. - Updated threat assessment forms — approved 5 to 0. - Dual-credit participation for students — approved 5 to 0. - Rental agreement with Canon USA — approved 5 to 0. - WorkKeys test-prep services for East Marion Middle/High and West Marion Middle/High — approved 5 to 0. - Memorandum of Understanding with WorkSmart Career Club — approved 5 to 0. - Sixteenth‑section: lease cancellations, lease reinstatements, lease assignment, Gulf South Pipeline lease, forestry replanting/site prep bids, right‑of‑way move — all approved 5 to 0.

The board did not take action in executive session. No motions failed during the meeting.