The Quitman School Board meeting was more lively than usual Monday.

Festive hats and clothes were spotted among the attending members while the giggles and chatter of children – the elementary school kids slotted for the student showcase portion – rose above preparatory noise.

However, although the board meeting took place just before Christmas break, business did manage to be completed.

The board heard the audit report from Michael Taylor of Rutherford Taylor & Co.

The year-end report from Aug. 31, 2023 was discussed. Taylor said QISD had “a very healthy fund balance; you should be proud of that.” While there was some discussion regarding technical details of the audit, there were no deficiencies found.

Board member Jeremy Smith asked Taylor if “in your opinion, based on what you see here, our school is doing a good job with what we do with our money?” Taylor responded with an unequivocal “Yes, sir.” Taylor also congratulated QISD on making many capital improvements while maintaining zero debt.

QISD will be purchasing LifeVacs for their cafeterias. This instrument helps to pull out an obstructing item in the throat of someone who is choking.

According to Superintendent Chris Mason, LifeVacs have “saved lives” and will be used as “another safe line to help our students.” They will be used only as a last resort, as traditional anti-choking methods like the Heimlich Maneuver will be attempted first on a choking person.

The board also received another hurrah in the department of financial acuity: the district received a perfect 100 score on the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). The rating, which is done through the Texas Education Agency, was an annual review for the year 2022-23 but based on data from 2021-22.

As part of a literacy initiative, the school has brought libraries into a weekly rotation in the hopes of exposing students to more literature and texts. To show the board the effects of this new literacy program, QISD librarian Connie Russell came with five first-graders so that they could show the board their poster projects. The first-graders were thrilled and presented their “Flat Stanley”-themed posters to the board. 

“I took my Stanley to a skate park. We went on a very long hike, and then we circled back around at lunch, and that was the best day I’ve ever had in my life,” said student Xander Farrell seriously as he presented.

Mason announced those wanting to apply for a place on the Quitman ISD Board of Trustees ballot must do so by Feb. 16.

According to an athletics update by QISD Director of Athletics Coach Shane Webber, new floors may be on the horizon for the QISD gym as “we cannot sand the floor any more.” The school is also getting the athletic track re-surfaced. Bids for the project are coming in and will be opened on Jan. 2.