Add Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google
Miss. (WDAM) – The bells were ringing, and halls were filled with faces again as the Richton School District kicked off the 2026-27 school year
“Those admission emails have already started flooding our inboxes,” senior Addison Breland said. “So, it’s starting to get very, very real. We’re a little anxious, but excited to see what the future holds.”
Superintendent Clay Anglin said leaders remain focused on raising the district’s accountability grade
With new benchmarks set for the fall 2026 report, many districts could receive lower grades even if student performance improves or stays the same
“The standards are the same, but the points are harder to come by than they have been,” Anglin said. “Obviously, the goal is always to be an ‘A.’”
For veteran English teacher Taylor Barnette, preparation is key
Part of her goals for the year include preparing sophomores for end-of-the-year testing, as well as incoming freshmen who’ll be taking those same tests in 2028
“I’ve been putting together a learning portfolio so they can track their progress and have some accountability with that on their own,” Barnette said
As the teaching landscape continues to evolve, Barnette said she’s pushing for her students to be aware of artificial intelligence (AI) and how to use it properly
“I want them to be able to understand that there’s creativity and there’s their own thinking that they need to tap into,” Barnette said
The district is also set to fully renovate the gym, including a new entrance for spectators during athletic events
“What we call the front now will actually be where students enter,” Anglin said
Anglin said this will all be done through a three-mil ad valorem tax increase
The district expects the project to begin after basketball season wraps up
“Bathrooms, dressing room remodels,” Anglin said. “We would like to put central heat and air into those dressing rooms.”
Anglin said the district is also encouraging parents to be aware of the new state attendance law
The law requires that students attend at least 66% of the day to be counted present
Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter
Copyright 2026 WDAM. All rights reserved
