This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

i » THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2000
THE SEA COAST ECHO • HANCOCK TODAY
e new Bay Middle School is scheduled to open Aug. 21.
CONDOMINIUMS ON THE BEACH
The Village
228-452-7276 or 1-800-BEACH-17 Pass Christian, MS
•	TWO OUTDOOR POOLS
•	HEATED INDOOR POOL WITH SPA, EXERCISE ROOM & EQUIPMENT
•	JACUZZI
•	Steam room
•	600 FT. LIGHTED FISHING PIER
•	TWO LIGHTED TENNIS COURTS •CHILDREN’S GAME ROOM
•	ELEVATOR ACCESS TO UPPER FLOORS
•	LAGOON ON PRERMISES
RENTALS AND SALES
II
I
i
■■
Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Soft Serve • Novelties • Frozen Cakes
A
Dairy Queen
is
Dairy Queen® of Diamondhead 255-3358
Exit 16 off 1-10
Local educational facilities are among the South’s finest
BY GEOFF BELCHER News Editor
Hancock County’s population and economy have grown by leaps and bounds in the last decade, and they’ve been matched by growth and improvements in the area’s educational facilities.
Two separate school districts serve the student population providing kindergarten, elementary and secondary education. A number of privately supported nursery schools, kindergartens and parochial schools serve the area as well. The county’s two public school districts, the Hancock County School District and the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School system, have both kept pace with changing technology and educational methods while growing to meet the needs of an ever-increasing number of students. New superintendents have taken over at both school districts in the past year: Mike Ladner at Hancock Schools; and Dr. Kim Stasny at Bay-Waveland.
The Bay-Waveland district also has a new assistant superintendent, Chuck Benigno, a Bay St. Louis-native who has been working in the Forrest County School System. Long-time Hancock County Assistant Superintendent for Education Eddie Danzey will be retiring this year, effective June 30.
The Hancock County district opened the new state-of-the-art East Hancock Elementary School last year, and will open the new
Hancock County Middle School when the 2000-2001 school year begins. The Bay-Waveland district will also have a new middle school and new alternative school facility. The “old” Bay Middle School will open this school year as Second Street Elementary.
During the recent 1999-2000 school year, Hancock High/Middle School posted a 95% attendance average, up 1% from the 1998-1999 yearly average of 94%. This increase is an improvement from the 90% yearly attendance average from five years ago.
The Hancock County School District has recently won national arrlahn for tts committment to technology; allowing its students to be among the first in the nation to use NETSchool computers as their personal notebooks.
In October 1998, students in grades 9-12 each received a Study Pro laptop computer for use at school and home. Hancock High School was the first school in the state and one of only 13 in the nation to issue each student a take-home computer. K-l students are offered a computer-based instructional system designed to develop writing and reading skills. Students in grades K-2 receive Spanish language instruction and experience from a Spanish instructor for two 30-minute periods each week. The regular classroom teacher provides follow-up Spanish language instruction and reinforcement.
Echo staff photo by Geoff Belcher
Students at East Hancock Elementary School, one of the district’s newest, state-of-the art facilities, enjoy a progressive curriculum.