After a passionate plea by Thelma Collins on Monday, the Leflore County Board of Supervisors voted to donate $1,000 to the former Itta Bena mayor’s steadily growing playground equipment fund for Leflore County Elementary School.
The board approved the funding unanimously, though the vote followed a lengthy discussion as to whether it should pick up a burden some supervisors feel the Leflore County School District has left behind.
As leverage over the school district, the board specified in the motion that it would take back the $1,000 if Leflore County Schools did not offer any money itself.
Collins, who is president of Leflore Elementary’s Parent-Teacher-Student Association, originally asked the board for $5,000 toward the construction of a playground for the school. The total cost of the equipment is $40,000.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group and the national nonprofit KaBoom! awarded the school a $15,000 grant in September, but that grant is set to expire in May if the school cannot raise the remainder of the funds.
“Why won’t the school district give any money?” asked Supervisor Phil Wolfe.
Collins explained that the district has assured her that it will donate, but it has not yet told her how much it is willing to give, leaving her with a question mark of how much funding is left to pursue.
Collins has now been before the board three times, and on what she called her “last visit” Monday, she was more animated than ever.
“You’ve asked us for a letter, we provided the letter. You asked us for the superintendent, and she’s not available. Do not give based on what someone else will give. Give out of the goodness of your heart,” Collins urged.
She said that Leflore County Schools Superintendent Viola Williams McCaskill was not available to attend Monday’s meeting.
According to Supervisor Wayne Self, a number of board members have already donated to the cause from their personal funds, including Chancery Clerk Sam Abraham and Supervisor Robert Moore.
Board President Robert Collins said that hesitance to donate on the part of the supervisors was not because they questioned the cause.
“We’re questioning the school board,” he said.
Also Monday, the board:
nApproved adjustments to the Solid Waste Department for the month of January.
nAgreed to allow Michelle Keys, who petitioned the board to let her open a beauty salon in her residential neighborhood, to begin advertising.
nApproved a motion to allow supervisors to attend the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington. “Anybody who wants to go can go,” said Abraham.
• Contact Jeanie Riess at 581-7235 or jriess@gwcommonwealth.com.
