Board approves one-third funding for SHS thespians

February 9, 2011

After a detailed presentation from two Starkville High School thespians, the school board approved to pay one-third of the funding Tuesday night for them to attend the theatre competition.
Student director Laura Kathryn Lindsay and play lead Davis Richardson took the board through the artistic process that brought their play “The Purple Fan” to the Southeastern Theatre Conference for the first time in 13 years. The thespians were awarded a pass to SETC based on their first-place performance at the Mississippi Theatre Association competition over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. They will have the opportunity to represent their state at the national level during SETC.
The students, armed with a PowerPoint presentation, explained in detail how the trip will cost the drama department $13,426.78. However, the thespians asked the board for one-third of the funding, or $4,475.59.
Though not present at the meeting, Comptroller Rob Logan had already informed the board that the district had $13,710 left in the student travel fund.
The board unanimously approved the students’ request.
For their fundraising efforts, the SHS drama troupe will hold a public performance Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Greensboro Center. The Starkville Community Theatre will also perform their show, “The Dixie Swim Club”, that night as well. Tickets are $8 to see both shows.
In old business, the board voted on the request from Jessie Collier who asked the district to compensate him $2,366.20 for the six months he transported his children to and from school while residency issues were being resolved.
“I don’t see any legal responsibility of the board to pay Mr. Collier compensation,” board attorney Dalton McAlpin said. “I don’t see any reason for the district to pay.”
“Based on the legal advice, I move to deny payment,” Pickett Wilson motioned.
The board voted unanimously to deny Collier compensation.
The did, however, agree to fund a pavilion at Henderson Ward Stewart in the amount of $23,861.54. The HWS PTA has already raised $20,000 for the pavilion project, and based on their efforts to install a pavilion, the board agreed to pay the remaining costs.
Board President Bill Weeks voted saying the project was “worth-while.”
Due to the recent snow days, the board agreed to change district exams dates to March 8-11.
Before the meeting, the district hosted a reception for out-going board President Bill Weeks for his 20 years of service.
The meeting also coincided with School Board Appreciation Week. Each school in the district gave gifts to each of the board members like roses, ferns, hand-painted art and t-shirts to thank them for their service to the district.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held March 8 at 6 p.m. at the Greensboro Center.

Editor’s note: A story highlighting out-going board member Bill Weeks will run in Thursday’s edition of the Starkville Daily News.