On the agenda

Meeting Thursday, the Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees:

• Approved minutes for the VWSD Board of Trustees March 27 regularly scheduled meeting and the special-called meeting April 8.

• Approved amendments to the 2013-14 budget.

• Approved the accounts-payable claims docket for April.

• Approved fundraisers for Beechwood Elementary, Vicksburg Junior High, Vicksburg High and  Warren Central High schools.

• Approved out-of-state travel items.

• Approved the beginning of the bid process for produce and milk for the 2014-15 academic year.

• Approved 16th-section timber sales for $156,000 for a 60-acre clear-cut.

• Approved the bid of four hunting and fishing leases for 16th section land.

• Authorized the district to approve Trustmark National Bank as fund depositories for FY 2014-2017.

• Approved a change of the May meeting date to May 20 at Beechwood Elementary School.

• Approved compensation for extra duties for March.

• Approved teacher salary schedules, certified recommendations and classified recommendations.

• Approved substitute teacher recommendations.

Nearly two months after a statewide law that would have delayed the beginning of the 2014-15 school year was amended, the Vicksburg Warren School District will return to a more familiar set of dates.

The VWSD Board of Trustees voted unanimously and without debate Thursday to return the district’s calendar to its original form after previously having adopted one that would have delayed the end of the 2015 spring semester

The 2014 fall semester will begin Aug. 8, more than two weeks earlier than Aug. 18 — a start date established in 2012 by the Mississippi Legislature.

Classes will be out for the week of Nov. 24-28 for the week of Thanksgiving, from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2, 2015 for the Christmas Holidays and March 9-13 for spring break.

Earlier, Jim Simmons, the bureau manager for the office of school improvement for the Mississippi Department of Education, affirmed Vicksburg High School’s continued improvement, with some caveats.

“We’re basically pleased with what they’re doing at the school now. Things are not exactly as we were looking at in the action plan,” he said, referencing an outline of procedures the school set to improve it’s performance on state testing.

For the current academic year, VHS administrators have been required to submit reports about the measures they are taking to improve the school’s MDE rating.

Simmons added that his department is optimistic about upcoming subject area testing program that includes statewide science, math, English and history exams.

“Nonetheless, they are doing things that are utilizing data and overall I think they’re going to show some improvement,” he said.

The five-member board also recognized two of the district’s basketball teams for their respective successes. The board honored the Vicksburg High School basketball team that finished second in 5A, falling to Callaway in the state championship.

“If you didn’t get the opportunity to see them play this year, this team brought a lot of excitement everywhere they went,” said VWSD Superintendent Chad Shealy.

The board then commended the Warren Central Junior High School Lady Vikes for winning the Little Six conference championship and finishing the year 19-0.

“We have a special group of young ladies that we’re very proud of. It’s been about 3 decades since our ladies have brought a Little Six championship to Warren Central Junior High School,” said WCJHS Principal Cedric Magee.