September 6, 2024
On Thursday, Pearl River hosted an important Lunch and Learn session focused on the Poplarville School District’s proposed bond issue. Superintendent Jonathan Will gave a fact-filled presentation, breaking down the critical improvements needed for both the high school and lower elementary school.
Attendees were greeted by Executive Vice President for Planning and Accreditation/Dean of Honors Institute (Poplarville) Dr. Jennifer Seal, who also led the invocation. PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood welcomed attendees while sharing a little about how the Poplarville School District is outstanding and reflects its leadership.
After providing a brief history of the buildings, Will showed attendees current images of the facilities requiring improvement or replacement. Poplarville High School was built in 1959 and lacked the infrastructure needed for the modern classroom environment. Additionally, classroom wings have outdoor hallways that lack protection from intruders or weather.
“We are continually trying to improve the education of our students so they can succeed when they graduate,” said Will. “Student safety is a big issue for us, including intruder safety, electrical, plumbing, infrastructure, restroom quality, and inclement weather.”
The $17.7 million bond proposal is focused on providing a safer environment for students that is conducive to learning. At Poplarville High School, projects include a new two-story building with 24 classrooms, a new 773-seat auditorium, and a new gym lobby. Poplarville Lower Elementary will get two new pre-K classrooms and an ADA-compliant covered drop-off area.
“At the end of the day, our passion is students, and the bond proposal fits in with our thought process of preparing students to be successful in life,” said Will. “This is my 29th year in education. When I hand off the torch one day, I hope the district is a little better than I found it. So, we are asking the community to partner with us in this regard.”
Several community members expressed their support for the bond. Poor facility conditions and student safety were the common reasons for their support.
The vote on the school bond issue will occur on Tuesday, September 10. If passed, the millage will increase by 13.84 mill with the potential to drop as the community grows.
April Grecho, President of the Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the continued growth of the chamber and upcoming events including the Booberry Festival and First Responder & City Worker Luncheon in October. The Chamber will be working on getting the Poplarville Main Street Program project launched. Southern Belle Event Venue will host the next Chamber meeting on Tuesday, September 10 at 5:30 p.m.
The next Lunch and Learn will be held on October 24 with guest speaker Sheriff David Allison.
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG), and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article and photography by Laura O’Neill.
