Tuesday’s meeting of the Petal School District Board of Trustees took on a jovial tone early in the evening, with students, parents and staff celebrating the district’s annual Board Appreciation at Petal High School.
The meeting started with the swearing in of school board member Chuck Harrell for his upcoming term, followed by the organization of the board. In that matter, each school board member will retain his title: Chairman Bruce Magee; Vice Chairman Jerry DeFatta; Secretary Troy Wicktom; board members Harrell and Greg Bullock, and attorney Bill Jones.
Several awards were then handed out, including the recognition of Petal High School senior Quay Robinson as a National Merit Finalist and the honoring of Nancy Hullum with the Hometown Values Award. Three schools in the district received Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools awards: Petal Elementary School for language arts and math, Petal Middle School for math, and Petal High School for English II and U.S. History.
Following the awards was perhaps the highlight of the event, during which each school board member was “roasted” and honored by students from district schools. The roasts took the form of short skits, including some that were inspired by Forrest Gump and The Wizard of Oz.
DeFatta was honored by Petal Primary School, followed by Petal Elementary School for Bullock, Petal Upper Elementary School for Wicktom and Petal High School for Magee. Each board member received a Pantheon Award in the shape of the district’s red panther mascot.
“The board of trustees are truly the writers, directors and the stars who make our school district successful,” said Petal Education Foundation executive director Leahne Lightsey, who introduced the skits. “In appreciation of their tireless energy to keep the Petal School District at the top of excellence, we present the Pantheon Award. Hollywood has their Oscars, and Petalwood has their Pantheon.”
After the skits, participants were treated to a short concert by the Petal High School Jazz Band, who performed three songs, including Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”
To close off the celebration, Bart High was recognized as Petal High School Parent of the Year.
“We really enjoy the appreciation, but I think I speak for the whole board when I say that we’re not the reason the Petal School District is successful,” DeFatta told students, parents and staff. “It’s the time that you put into the district - not just in the classroom, but outside out the school.
“When you leave here, the way you go and represent our community is really what puts us on the map. It’s always nice for us to be able to have a little role in (the district’s success), but we know that the reason we’re successful is because of the time and energy that you put into our district and our community.”
