Grant awards new computers for MISD

Some MISD students will soon be working on new computers.

The Mexia Independent School District Board of Trustees heard during the regular meeting Monday, April 18, that a grant is providing the district with 850 Dell Chromebooks.

The district submitted an application with the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which is available to schools as a result of the pandemic. It’s an opportunity to put devices in the hands of students in communities that might not have as many resources, said Brad Andrews, assistant superintendent of district Operations and Instructional Technology.

Air quality should soon be improving at the junior high and elementary school campuses.

“We wanted to address whatever we could and maximize our dollars with this project. So we looked at data from across the district, what are some of our problematic areas, and we really honed in and focused on the junior high and Mc-Bay,” Andrews said.

The project includes “addressing units 15 years or older.” Forty-seven units at the junior high and about eight units at McBay Elementary were identified, Andrews said.

MHS principal John Griggs confirmed Mexia High School graduation is set for 8 p.m. Friday, May, 27 at Blackcat Field.

“That offers the best opportunity for all families, to pretty much [offer] unlimited seating,” Griggs said. “We will just push it back as much as we can if there’s rain, and the last-case scenario would be to move it to the gym.”

Jozette Jenkins presented her monthly report for the Mexia Development Center campus.

The small staff of 17 service students in sixth through 12th grade, students in Developmental Education Assistance Program from a main campus, program of choice and the State Supported Living Center residential placements.

Their motto is “One Team,” Jenkins said.

In other business: • Superintendent Ryder Appleton reported enrollment is up five students from last month with 1,834 students in the district.

• The board also authorized the superintendent to enter a dual-credit partnership with McLennan Community College.

• Discussed board members attending optional summer leadership training and Jozette Jenkins, principal of Mexia Developmental Center, gave the monthly presentation for that campus.

• The board approved a contract for next school year for drug dogs to make random visits on campuses and discussed an HVAC project to improve air quality.

After reconvening from executive session the board approves hiring Joseph Alexander as executive director of Federal Programs; Carolyn Cummings as Mc-Bay Elementary principal; and Renee Appleton as instructional technology specialist.