Superintendent Teresa Russell and Haywood County School Board members held the October meeting on Tuesday, October 13. They approved several policies, an Eagle Scout project submitted by Everette Pettigrew, several out-of-state travel requests and Gap insurance premiums and discussed an assessment of facility needs.

On second reading, school board members approved two policies, one on testing programs and one on attendance. Policy 4.700 allows the TCAP scores to be excluded from students’ grades if they have not been received within five days of the completion of school. Policy 6.200 involves attendance and states that excessive absences are unexcused absences for more than five days. Another policy, 5.118, was passed on first reading. This policy ensures compliance with the state in regards to background investigations.

Everette Pettigrew, son of Jack and Glenda Pettigrew, presented his Eagle Scout Project to the board for approval. His project is to build a disability ramp in the back of East Side Intermediate School where students go out to the playground. There is an 18″ drop to the ground from the concrete slab were the children exit the building to the playground. He brought a professional drawing of his proposed project, an 18-foot concrete ramp, that meets disability guidelines, and the two 5×5-foot platforms, one at the top of the ramp and one at the end, to be built. Everette asked the school to build the handrail for the ramp. Board members approved his project and thanked him for the improvement to the school. Superintendent Russell also asked them to approve building the rail for the project. They agreed.

Board members approved out-of-state travel requests for two groups at Haywood High School. The HHS Tomcat Band, under the direction of Director Dumanic Wade, wants to travel to Jackson, Mississippi, to Senior Day on November 7-8. The Haywood High School Show Choir is requesting permission to travel to the World Strides Heritage Music Program in Orlando, Florida, from March 31 to April 3, 2016. Dr. Melinda Goedecke is the director.

In other business, school board members approved the Gap premiums for the Partnership PPO and the Standard PPO health plans. The school system already offered the Gap plan with its Limited health plan and pays the premium for that, but to be in compliance with the Affordable Care Act, the system has to provide Gap coverage to go along with the other two plans. The employee must pay the premiums for this Gap coverage.

Mrs. Russell announced that they had named Cedric Bunch director of the Extended Learning Program. This year, there are about 648 students in the before and after school program.

Superintendent Russell presented her annual Assessment of Facility Needs report.

• Anderson – no major projects, just needs some roof repair that is under warranty.

• Haywood Elementary – The priorities last year were to install a buzzer and cameras at the entrance of the school. This has been done as well as some HVAC ductwork and door work to be in code with the Fire Department. They also increased the parking there. She reported that there had been some electrical upgrades as well as some infrastructure upgrades and that technology upgrades are ongoing. Now they are planning to get some replacement cameras for some that are not working.

• East Side – East Side is in the process of getting a new roof. This was on the priority list for last year. They have also had a buzzer and cameras installed and had some technology upgrades. Also they will construct a sidewalk that will go to the front playground.

• Haywood Middle School – HMS has issues with the cooling unit in the gym and this will be fixed. A new floor in the gym is in its final stages of completion.  They are looking to replace the exit doors to the gym and are getting an estimate. There are parking issues there, too, and they need to do some repaving.

• Haywood High School – HHS has the same issues with some exit doors. There are also some leaks around the building, but the board is in contact with the roofers. There is also a need to increase the lighting at HHS in the back bus area to make it safer and more secure.

• HHS Career and Tech Building – This building has some HVAC units that have gone out and they are looking to replace them.

• Sunny Hill Innovative Learning Center – Sunny Hill is getting bids on a new HVAC unit.

• Central Office – They are completing the meeting place in the back.

Mrs. Russell said that she would update this list in the spring.

The next school board meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 10, at 6 p.m.