Mississippi News
Mississippi Board of Ed awards $3.6M to PATH
State Board of Ed awards $3.6 million contract to company with government ties
The Mississippi State Board of Education on Thursday approved a multi-million dollar contract to a company whose vice president chaired the state board until last spring.
The board voted 5-2 to approve the contract to the PATH Company to administer a loan program established by the Legislature earlier this year. The contract will pay up to $3.6 million over a four-year period, providing $1.2 million in the first year. Two members of the company’s leadership have ties to state government: Senior Vice President of Business Development Jason Dean is the former chair of the State Board of Education, and Co-Founder and Principal Nathan Wells is the former chief of staff to Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn.ย
The Educational Facilities Revolving Loan Fund makes money available to school districts as a zero-interest loan for repairs and renovations of existing school buildings and new construction for pre-K programs or career and technical education facilities. In its first year of operation, the Legislature allocated $40 million to the revolving loan fund.
The company will be responsible for reviewing the construction plans of districts to ensure that they are “critical infrastructure improvements” and adhere to building codes, as state law requires, and for tracking the repayment of the loans.
When asked by Mississippi Today about the possible conflict of interest with Dean’s employment, the Mississippi Department of Education pointed to the Public Procurement Review Board manual, which establishes that former membership to a board is only considered a conflict of interest if it has been less than one year since the former member exited the board. Dean left the board in April 2021.
Dean told Mississippi Today the contract was awarded through a public competition that numerous other construction management companies could have applied to, but did not.
โObviously, I know people that are on the State Board of Education,โ Dean told Mississippi Today. โI did not contact them and use any personal relationship at any point to influence the decision. I wanted it to be awarded to us objectively based on merits.โ
Bill Jacobs, a state board member, questioned spending such a large amount for reviewing construction plans and financial record keeping, and asked why PATH Company was overseeing the loan repayment program instead of an accounting firm or similar financial entity.
Felicia Gavin, chief of operations for the Mississippi Department of Education, said the law creating the program allows no more than 3% of the funds to be spent on administrative costs, which the contract adheres to. Gavin also said that while the PATH Company was the only group to apply for this contract, the proposal met all the criteria, including their financial management abilities. On the company’s website, its work is described as โhelp(s) entities utilize technology to create better efficiencies in the areas of energy, water, and/or operations.โ
Dean added that PATH has internal financial managers, and the company stated in its proposal that it plans to bring in an additional accounting firm to assist in the financial management of the loans.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Danver’s celebrates forty seven years of continued success
SUMMARY: Danver’s restaurant in Tupelo, Mississippi, recently celebrated its 47th anniversary, maintaining a loyal customer base since its opening in 1977. General Manager Larry Wade, who started as a cook, emphasized the restaurant’s focus on consistency, quality, and customer service. Despite economic challenges, Danver’s has thrived due to its enduring values and community connections, which patrons appreciate. Regular customers, like Tom Robinson, value the reasonable prices and consistent quality. The restaurant aims to continue this legacy, looking forward to its 50th anniversary in three years as it remains a cherished community staple.
The post Danver’s celebrates forty seven years of continued success appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Creator Studio at MUW expands opportunities for students
SUMMARY: The new Creator Studio at the Mississippi University for Women aims to enhance student creativity by providing a dedicated space for video production, podcasting, and audio work. Located in Fant Memorial Library, the studio offers essential equipment and software, including lighting, microphones, and green screens. Dr. Bary Smith emphasizes that it enables students from various majors to bring their ideas to life without the burden of investing in expensive gear. Students can reserve the studio for projects, fostering valuable skills applicable across industries, particularly in effective communication and branding. Reservations can be made online or through the library.
The post Creator Studio at MUW expands opportunities for students appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
New month same temperatures
SUMMARY: COLUMBUS, Mississippi will experience a return to warmer weather after a brief dip, with highs in the 80s over the next few days. Friday night will be humid, dropping to the low 60s, with possible patchy fog. Saturday will be mostly cloudy but rain chances are reduced, while Sunday will see a mix of clouds and sunshine, with lows in the 60s. Next week starts dry with temperatures in the upper 70s to middle 80s; however, scattered showers are possible on Election Day Tuesday, so residents should prepare with rain gear.
The post New month same temperatures appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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