[8/29/03]Several residents appeared at the Vicksburg Warren School District board meeting Thursday night, and five spoke, encouraging the district to keep gathering information on year-round classes.

“I am so impressed with his plans and his vision,” said Toni Lanford, a former teacher who said she first heard of plans to study the idea at a Rotary Club meeting at which Superintendent James Price spoke. “I felt like the school board needed to know that people in the community support his vision.”

Price made clear that plans were indefinite.

“I urge the board to seriously look at, study, research and do all the stuff they need to do if they make the decision to go year-round,” Lanford said.

Under schedules followed in districts in other states, classes are held in four nine-week sessions with three-week breaks between each session and no classes in July. Remedial and achievement programs would be offered during the breaks. The number of class days in a calendar year would remain the same, but traditional summer vacation time would be shortened.

Daniel Edney, a local physician, also addressed the board and commented that other nations use the plan. He emphasized the immediacy of the remedial sessions, as opposed to summer school. “It makes a lot of sense to use the breaks as a time for remediation and enrich students,” Edney said.

And Sen. Mike Chaney, R-Vicksburg, cautiously pledged his support as well.

“I endorse the study and concept wholeheartedly,” Chaney said. “But it would be hard to endorse the plan when we don’t yet know the details.”

Also commenting were Joe Johnson, director of Central Mississippi Prevention Center, and businessman Bob Morrison III. Board members also said the notion is just talk, for now.

“We are a long way from making a decision on that,” said District 1 Trustee Chad Barrett.

“Dr. Price knows he has to think outside the box to solve our problems. He knows we’re supportive and we’ll look at anything he proposes. If this is the best thing he’s got up his sleeve, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Opposition to the idea could come from supporters of fall and spring sports programs because seasons would be interrupted by breaks. Also, those who offer summer programs for youths would have to pack them into tighter periods.

In other matters:

A certificate recognizing achievement in Fixed Asset Management from the state auditor’s office was presented to the school district for an audit performed in the spring. In a statement, state auditor Phil Bryant said no errors or problems were discovered in the audit. Additionally, the board approved sending thank-you notes to Donald Oakes, the former superintendent, and Mike Ouzts, former property manager, for their efforts in the audit.

Approved amendments to the 2003-2004 budget.

Approved terminating three hunting and fishing leases on property near Dana Road Elementary School, Nine Mile Cutoff and Ballground; approved advertising for bids for the lease.

Accepted a $250 donation to Bowmar Magnet Elementary School to be used for instructional supplies.

Accepted a VCR, TV and sofa as donations for Redwood Elementary School from the Redwood Parent Teachers Organization.

Accepted a donation of five cell phones from Cingular Wireless.

Accepted a government lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for property near the Big Black River at the rate of $3,333 per year.

Approved a bus turnaround at 101 Dusty Road.

Approved personnel matters.