To set the ball in motion for the South Panola School School district to be one of the best districts in the state, the proposed slate of officers for the South Panola Foundation for Public Education and Dr. C.L. Stevenson, superintendent of South Panola School District, met to come up with a plan to raise fund for the foundation and to set boundaries on what the foundation will be capable of doing for the district.
Gene Welch, proposed treasurer, opened with setting parameters around what the foundation will be able to accomplish.
"I may be wrong by saying this, but what are we trying to do for these children? Are we trying to build playgrounds for the schools or what? We can’t do every little thing."
"Our primary focus is to educate the children in our public schools," said Sgt. John Ard of the Mississippi National Guard and proposed president. "We need to be moving forward and not sitting on our hands. Our main focus needs to be staying positive and believe in what we sell.
"We need to get from the teachers a list of the ten most needed things in our schools. That’s where the rubber meets the road," added Ard.
Ray Poole, proposed director of committees, pointed out the vision of the foundation should be to go through the teachers and to provide grants that would generate academic purpose, morale, and school spirit.
"Our intentions are to help the children, but I don’t think we should go directly to the students. I think we should go through the teachers to get to the children," Poole said.
Poole also suggested rewarding the teachers who are active in the community.
"Some of our teachers are doing some extraordinary things," he said. "I mean we have good teachers that go home at the end of the day and then we have those that go to the games, plays, and band recitals voluntarily. Students that see the teachers outside of the classroom will try to do better in the classroom."
