LAMAR COUNTY, Miss. ( WHLT ) – Lamar County students will return to class next week. The school district is busy making upgrades to several school campuses and preparing for incoming students.

The first day of school will be July 23, 2024.

“We enjoy the hustle and bustle of being able to reunite after the summer break. Teachers have the energy of coming in and decorating their classrooms, reconnecting with old colleagues, and meeting new teachers who have been hired. It’s an exciting time when we like to set the tone and the expectations for the school year,” said Purvis Middle School Principal Brandi Twillie.

Students and staff can expect several school upgrades. The district has been busy remodeling school restrooms, floors and school courtyards.

“We want our kids to walk into a nice school in that it’s clean, that is just clean and safe and just all those things that go into having a nice school for our students, but also our faculty. Our faculty spend a third of their day in this workplace, and so, we want to have a nice place for our faculty and staff,” said Lamar County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Hampton.

Administration said maintaining academic excellence is their top priority, which starts with supplying teachers with necessary materials and making sure students don’t fall behind.

“We have we offer after-school tutoring programs. We also had daytime tutors in our building who were helping. We had teachers who would take their off periods in their planning periods and see it need a need with kids who were struggling,” said Twillie.

Hampton said he plans to ask the school board to put a new bond referendum up for vote in November to help pay for the construction of new school buildings.

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