Pearl River County School District hosted a meeting of the Gulf Coast School Boards Association on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the Pearl River High School Campus.  The meeting was held in the Carriere Campus Cafeteria, 7407 Highway 11, Carriere, Mississippi.

Gulf Coast School Boards Association President James Stubbs called the meeting to order. The national anthem and invocation were led by NJROTC.  Mrs. Michelle Boyd, Pearl River County Board Vice President, provided the welcome.  As the group dined on a delicious meal prepared and served by the Pearl River County Food Service Department, they were entertained by The Blue Maskers.

Mr. Dennis Penton, Pearl River County School District Superintendent of Education, introduced the guest speaker and keynote speaker.  Dr. William Lewis, President of Pearl River Community College was the guest speaker.  Dr. Lewis praised the junior colleges in our state which is where people attempting to get a degree get their start.  This year attendance at the junior colleges in Mississippi is a few students shy of 100,000 students.  The junior colleges serve students pursuing career and technical degrees.  Students in the dental program start out at $60,000-$70,000 per year.  Students graduating from the junior colleges work for many different businesses and industries. Community colleges in Mississippi are unique in that they offer athletic programs, marching bands and dormitories.  The junior college system is always going through change and transition; you can now get law degrees and doctorate degrees on line.  It takes people working together with the junior colleges to get things accomplished.  When people come forward with a need to have students trained in a certain area, it can be accomplished with financial support with individuals and industries working together.  Dr. Lewis said, "tuition is still low in community college and is a bargain in today's world."

Dr. Hank Bounds, Commissioner of Higher Education, was the keynote speaker.  He reviewed some of the pros and cons of education in Mississippi.  On one hand we have the least educated citizen rate in the country and on another hand we have remarkable universities in our state with an outstanding medical center.  Our medical center accepts only Mississippi students.  We are in the top 10% of all agriculture research and we have super computers the size of a large room.  We do a lot of technology and medical research.  Dr. Bounds has worked tirelessly through his different positions in the field of education.  He solved the problem where students were losing credits when they change their major and decide to attend another college.  Dr. Bounds said there will be difficult days ahead. We will lose some courses and the time it takes to get a degree may be extended.  To deal with the cuts, tuition will have to be raised.  He reiterated that we need to keep working together and keep the lines of communication open.  Dr. Bounds said "students can still become anything they want to become and it doesn't matter what the question is, the answer is education."

GCSBA President James Stubbs thanked the guest speakers. Mr. Stubbs reminded the audience that we are challenged to take the resources we do have and do the best we can with them and to quit complaining about what we don't have and maximize what we do have. 

President Stubbs then asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes.  Motion was made by Mr. Teddy Harder, seconded by Mr. Edward Stubbs and unanimously approved to adopt the minutes of January 21, 2010 as presented.  Mr. Stubbs then called for a motion to adopt the financial report. Motion was made by Mr. Teddy Harder, seconded by Mr. Edward Stubbs and unanimously approved, to adopt the financial report of April 15, 2010 as presented.  President Stubbs then reminded board members about upcoming workshops and conferences and told them to take advantage of educational conferences being offered whenever they get the chance. 

Hancock County won the door prize of $40 for having the most people in attendance.  The next meeting on the third Thursday in October will be hosted by Picayune School District.   President Stubbs thanked Pearl River County for hosting the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.