The Board of Trustees of the Meridian Public School District approved more than $2 million in spending Monday night, some of which was provided by grant and bond money.

    The board voted unanimously to spend $2,059,819 to provide renovations to 11 of its facilities, most of them schools, in the form of air conditioning and heating units, as well as plumbing.

    “All these systems are original equipment to the buildings,” said Archie Scarbrough, executive director of central operations. “That means they’re 40 and 50 years old and have reached their life expectancy so they’re going to go out.

    “We’re just trying to get ahead of the game here,” he said.

    New air conditioning and heating units are needed in the district’s transportation office, central office, Crestwood Elementary, the upper T.J. Harris Elementary, Harris’ cafeteria, Northwest Middle School and George Washington Carver Elementary. Plumbing and restroom renovations are needed at Crestwood Elementary, upper T.J. Harris Elementary, lower Harris Elementary, Parkview Elementary, Marion Park, Northwest Middle School and Poplar Springs Elementary. 

    The board also approved nearly $99,330 to purchase books, instructional materials and reading software for various Carver and T.J. Harris Elementary Schools, and another $100,613 for training, travel and materials as part of a three-day Consortium on Reading Excellence workshop. Both amounts are funded by a Reading First grant.

    Another $10,260 (funded by a Whole Schools Initiative grant went to Poplar Springs Elementary by the board for the arts, including puppetry, visual arts and storytelling performances as well as a workshop for teachers integrating various subject areas.

    Other board actions included approvals of field trips and facility use requests and receipt of $12,071.91 from the Poplar Springs Parent Teacher Association and another $1,125 from the People’s Choice Barber Shop.