By Rupert Howell
What teenager wouldn’t like to sleep a little later on school days? South Panola seniors in good standing will have an opportunity in 2017 for “late arrival.”
School administrators recommended and school board officials voted in favor of giving those senior students an option of attending 3rd through 7th periods as opposed to 1st through 5th periods previously offered.
Superintendent Tim Wilder explained that not only would it serve as incentive for students to maintain good standing, “It will also help us with class scheduling.”
Trustees also heard a recommendation to change the teacher personnel policy allowing teachers to add one day of sick leave for each month with perfect attendance.
Although teachers are not paid for those sick days, they can accumulate for retirement, Wilder explained to his trustee board members during a special noon meeting Wednesday when the board met for final approval of the coming year’s budget.
Without naming districts, Wilder said certain school districts to the east and north were offering local supplements four and five times higher than South Panola.
“We’re competing for the same teachers,” Wilder said while explaining the additional days of sick leave was just another way to entice good teachers to the district.
Also during Wednesday’s meeting Wilder was given authority to proceed with having culvert and roadwork repair near an exposed gas line between Batesville Middle School and Tiger Stadium.
Engineer Larry Britt had indicated work needed to be done as soon as possible causing trustees to deem the work an emergency repair and bypassing the bidding process. The engineers estimate for the work was  approximately $70,000.