WOODVILLE &045;&045; State education officials have informed the Wilkinson County School District it qualifies for $616,000 in interest-free loans through the federally-funded Qualified Zone Academy Bonds program.

But the district first must convince local partners to match 10 percent of the loan, School Superintendent Mildred McGhee told school board members Wednesday.

&uot;Businesses must provide 10 percent of the bond money in support. It can be money, it can be in-kind (labor or contributions)&045;&045;it can 50 businesses or it can be 100 businesses,&uot; McGhee said.

The bonds must be repaid over a 10 to 12-year period and can only be used for renovation purposes. McGhee said she studied district’s financial standing to determine the impact of borrowing the money.

&uot;We can handle the bond repayment,&uot; she said.

McGhee said she designated Wilkinson County High School as the target facility to benefit from the loan. Restrooms, air conditioning units and doors need to be restored and replaced at the school, McGhee said.

&uot;What I would like to happen is to have the architect come down and look to see what will the $616,000 best do,&uot; she said.

The district must finalize its plans for the loan within six months. McGhee said she would invite a state official to provide more details and assistance with the loan at the district’s public budget hearing on June 29.

McGhee said she applied for $1.5 million through the program in 2000.

&uot;As the money became available to the state, then the state took the applications in the order they received them,&uot; she said.

In other matters, the board unanimously approved a new district activity fund policy.

The board also granted McGhee authority to advertise for bids for classroom supplies and fuel and granted her permission to dispose of old records in accordance with state law.