By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.—At Tuesday evening’s regular meeting of the Paris Special Schools District (PSSD) board, Director of Schools Dr. Norma Gerrell reported a total of 22,112 meals were delivered to students from April 1-17. “That’s 22,112 meals over 17 days or 1300 meals a day being delivered” to students while the schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve got the system here running like clockwork,” Dr. Gerrell said. “I can’t brag enough” on all the staff members who have been working with the program. “In all this time, there has not been one person who said, ‘I’m not doing it.’ It’s just been amazing.”
It was a short and sweet session for the PSSD board and one which took into account the current social distancing guidelines. Board members and Dr. Gerrell were present for the meeting, held at Rhea School, and each board member sat at a six-foot cafeteria table alone. The cafeteria was sanitized before and after the meeting. Media members joined the session over the phone.
Also in her report, Dr. Gerrell said PSSD received a State Professional Development grant which comes with a four-year commitment. It involves a $20,000 monetary award and provides professional development to three district teachers who then will present what they learned to the other teachers. Dr. Gerrell said PSSD is one of only five districts in Northwest Tennessee to receive the grant “and we’re very excited about that.”
In other business:
–Dr. Gerrell also reported that the district has received a $30,000 USDA grant to replace the serving lines at Inman School. District School Nutrition Supervisor Pam Brazzell wrote the grant and Dr. Gerrell noted that PSSD is the only district in Northwest Tennessee to receive it.
–Online registration is moving along well, with 127 registered since it opened Monday. Dr. Gerrell said several of those students are new to the district.
–PSSD will be receiving funds from the CARES Act, which provides funding from the federal government to states to respond to the COVID-19 emergency in schools. Dr. Gerrell said, “We’re going to knock doors down on grants and other funding available out there.”
PSSD photo.