The Vicksburg Warren School Board honored nine of its schools for their improved test scores at Thursday night’s board meeting held in the district’s boardroom.

Bovina Elementary, Beechwood Elementary, Bowmar Elementary and Warrenton Elementary were recognized for making a ‘B’ grade on the most recent accountability model by the Mississippi Department of Education.

“Last year, we had one ‘B’ school,” VWSD superintendent Chad Shealy said. “This year, we have four. As proud of that as we are, in addition to that, we had a ton of growth.”

Warrenton showed the most growth with a 177-point increase advancing the school three accountability levels to a ‘B.’

Those four schools as well as Warren Central Intermediate, Warren Central Junior High, Vicksburg Intermediate, Dana Road and Sherman Avenue were honored for exceeding growth in their accountability scores by double digits in just one school year.

“All of those combined on last year’s model would have been a ‘C’ because we met our strategic plan,” Shealy said.

The district received a ‘D’ grade, but the overall score increased by 71 points to a 499.

“We exceeded our strategic goal by 10 points,” Shealy said. “Thanks once again to all the hard work that went into that. We will exceed our next level of accountability by double digit points if we have a continued gain like we did this year.”

During the meeting the board also formally voted to approve acceptance of the Rural and Low-Income School Program, Title VI, for a $166,121.56 grant.

“It is a discretionary grant given to us from MDE off of federal programs,” VWSD director of federal programs Laura Prather said. “What we’re using it for in the district is to purchase supplemental educational materials, computers and software programs.”

All district schools will receive some funding, but the majority of the money will be dispersed at non-Title I schools, which are schools that receive federal funding based on the population and poverty level of the district. All of the schools in the VWSD are Title I except Bowmar, Vicksburg Junior, Warren Junior, Academy of Innovation, Vicksburg High and Warren Central High.

“We try to serve those schools with Title VI money,” Prather said.

MDE notifies school districts around the state if they are eligible for the grant, and the districts must apply each year explaining how they would use the money. At the meeting the board formally accept the funding and agreed to follow the guidelines associated with the grant.

“Every time we get a grant in, the board has to sign for it,” Prather said. “We’ve been receiving it for the last four or five years, as I recall.”

In other news, the district received one agriculture bid by Roy Simmons for $25,000 on an advertised five-year lease for a portion of property the district owns on Eagle Lake. The board chose not to accept the bid and instead will re-advertise in the hopes of obtaining a better offer. The previous lease on the property was awarded to Simmons for $30,000 five years ago and expires at the end of the year.