By Rupert Howell
Trustees filled several administrative positions at Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the South Panola School Board including the Pope School principal and district business manager according to Superintendent Tim Wilder.

Matt Smith will serve as Pope’s school principal beginning July 1 after that school has been under interim leadership during the current school year.

Smith has served principalships in Kosuth and Marietta and is a former elected school superintendent for Prentiss County.

David Rubenstein will begin working as the school district business manager July 1. He will fill the position being vacated next December by longtime business manager Suzanne Covington who will retire.

Rubenstein currently serves as vice-president of Mississippi School Business Officials and is currently serving as Moss Point business manager where he has been employed for the past 12 years. He was at Lumberton five years prior to his current position at Moss Point.

Other administrative hires at Tuesday’s meeting approved by trustees included: Amy Sutton, assistant principal-Batesville Middle School, David Odom, district testing coordinator/special projects; and basketball coach Charlie Howard was named assistant principal along with his coaching duties.