By Rupert Howell

There will be two vacancies in the South Panola High School’s administration as Principal Jay Foster will leave to serve as superintendent of Senatobia Schools following a meeting Wednesday night of that school’s board.

South Panola School District Superintendent Keith Shaffer confirmed Foster’s departure from the district Thursday morning saying “another search begins.”

Last Tuesday’s monthly South Panola board meeting was also the last for 39-year school veteran and Vocational Director Billy Smith who is retiring.

During Tuesday’s meeting Foster reported successful robing and graduation ceremonies and Project Graduation, a party for graduates held at the school after graduation, while giving staff credit for their work toward the successful occasions.

Foster reported over one-half million dollars in scholarships were awarded to the school’s graduating class not including athletic scholarships and military stipends.

Middle School principal Dr. Carol Gary expressed concern about sending “placing” students who did not meet academic requirements.

“I struggle with the number of students I had to place (overage students not promoted but moved up) … I feel we are still setting them up for failure, but I can’t have 14-year-olds in my building. I feel we are going to miss these children.”

Gary’s comments led into a conversation among trustees and principals who agreed that many begin school behind two or three years and the schools have to play “catch up” with them along the way before they wind up in junior high past the mandatory school age of 16 and drop out.

Gary also reported that her school’s fifth graders had by chance gotten to witness a presidential motorcade on a Monday trip to Memphis.