Student handbooks were the hot topic of discussion at the Quitman School Board meeting Monday, July 15. 

Elementary principal Kelli Fortner stated that their student handbook would remain very similar to the prior year with mostly name and date changes. However, Fortner discussed changing the way they allow visitors to have lunch with students

Previously, campus visitors would flood the front office every day during lunch hours, making it difficult to maintain privacy when students came to the nurse’s area. Privacy was also an issue when students were sent to the office for discipline during these times.

Fortner consulted with other districts and after discussions with Superintendent Christopher Mason, decided to limit lunch visitors to Fridays for the coming school year.

At the junior high and high school levels, most of the changes had to do with dress codes, according to Junior High Principal Ashley Day and High School Principal Jeffery Tittle.

New this year will be the enforcement of a 7” inseam length on shorts. Also, students will not be allowed to wear leggings, tights or yoga pants at all.

The tights we tried, given fashion trends. There’s a way that types can be worn that are appropriate,” said Principal Tittle. “But we had teenagers that showed up in the morning and everything was fine but then all of a sudden shirts got tucked in or backpacks grabbed shirt material and hiked their shirts up. So we’re just removing that from our equation. And that’s just the way it’s going to be out of the gate,” Tittle explained.

Mason also updated the board on the renovation projects in progress around the district. Mason stated that the new elementary roof was “about 80% complete.”

Mason was also excited about the updates to the football stadium and gymnasium. Concrete was poured at Bud Moody stadium under the bleachers on the home side to help allow proper water drainage. Painting has been underway at Delbert Ballard Gymnasium beginning with the ceiling and continuing with paint updates to the bleachers, rails and walls. Quitman Junior High is in the process of replacing some of the lockers, and the elementary school is renovating some classrooms to accommodate growth.

Christmas Sharing was recognized for donating “Care” cabinets to the elementary and secondary schools. These cabinets allow students to access hygiene products and things they may need at no cost. Brian Neighbors was also recognized for donating $700 to the high school art program.  

First United Methodist Church of Quitman was honored with the “Top Bulldog” award for its work providing the “Backpacks and Blessings” program. Every week, they deliver backpacks to the school with enough food to supplement students who may not have access to full meals over the weekends. Reverend Thomas Harper and member Keith Zimmerman were on hand to accept the award.