The Biloxi school board, which at its January meeting approved moving ninth grade students to Biloxi High School by 2010, today will discuss a construction timetable and funding for a $12.5 million addition at Biloxi High School.

          Half of the funds are expected to come from taxes on casino gaming revenue, while the remainder will be revenue from existing property taxes.

          The school board's decision to move the district's more than 400 ninth graders to the high school means that sixth grade students would move from elementary schools throughout the district to Michiel Middle School.

          The move also opens the door for the district to begin offering pre-K classes.

          To see renderings of the proposed new 36-classroom wing at Biloxi High School, click here 

Kiara Gordon, a senior at Biloxi High School, was the first place winner in the high school category of the 2008 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest.

The topic of this year's essay was "How I Can Make Dr. King's Dream a Reality". 

Shantia Hooker, also a Biloxi senior, won the second place award in the same category. 

Both students' essays were submitted through  American Government classes taught by Mrs. Effie Clark.  The contest is sponsored by the Committee for Coast-Wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration.

Kiara Gordon and  Shantia Hooker were recognized at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Program on Sunday at Little Rock Baptist Church in Gulfport. 

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Manners, students attend teen summit

Biloxi High School Principal Pamela Manners and BHS students  Jennifer Cain, Destiny Hunter and Renzo Ruis attended the Mississippi Department of Educatiion's Destination Graduation: Teen Summit Jan. 15 in Jackson. The event was a unique opportunity to engage high school students to identify the characteristics of schools, school leaders, teachers, parents, students and other education stakeholders that best encourage students to remain in school and

Powerlifters win top honors

Biloxi High powerlifters won two divisions and finished in the Top
5 in two others in the recent Gulfport High School Powerlifting Invitational, which also featured Magee High School. 

Brock Allen finished first in the 275-pound weight class with a score of 1,000 pounds and Nick Stewart won top honors in the 242-pound weight class with a score of 1,160 pounds.

Mitch Adams finished fourth in the  place in the 181-pound class with a score of 905 pounds, and Michael Guider finished fifth in the 148-pound class with a score of 730 pounds. Adam Cook coaches the Biloxi team.

News and notes

The former welding shop at Biloxi High School will house the new Culinary Arts program that will be offered to students beginning school year 2008-09. Dr. Glenn Dedeaux oversees the Career Technology (vocational-technical) programs at BHS.