When the Haywood County School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, September 8, members adopted several new policies, approved two out-of-state trips for high school groups and a contract for audits, gave a report on some changes in insurance and approved a number of budget amendments.

Superintendent of Schools Teresa Russell recognized two school employees during her Celebration of Haywood County Schools. She and board members congratulated HHS Basketball Coach Kendall Dancy, who was selected by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) the Coach of the Year in the State.  She also congratulated Sharon Clark, a teacher at East Side Intermediate School, who was chosen as the PBS Learning Media Lead Digital Innovator. Earlier in the year, WLJT Channel 11 announced that Sharon Clark was one of the 100 educators selected for the 2015 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators program. The program, which is in its third year, recognizes tech-savvy K-12 educators who are serving as leaders in the education technology space and incorporating digital media in classrooms. She is now starring in two commercials on the PBS station highlighting the program.

In other business, Board members also re-elected Harold Garrett as Board Chairperson and Allen Currie as Vice Chairperson. Harold Garrett and Harrison Jones were nominees for Chairperson, and Garrett won on a three-to-two vote. Allen Currie, Greg Vanstory and Garrett voted for Harold Garrett, and Harrison Jones and Olivia Farrington voted for Jones. Allen Currie also won the Vice Chairperson position on a three-to-two vote. Currie, Harold Garrett and Greg Vanstory voted for Allen Currie as Vice Chairperson, and Olivia Farrington and Harrison Jones voted for Farrington as Vice Chairperson. As his first order of business, Chairperson Garrett reappointed board members to serve on the same committees as last year. Garrett will serve on the TLN Committee. Allen Currie and Harrison Jones will serve on the Scholarship Committee. Olivia Farrington and Greg Vanstory will serve on the Collaborative Conferencing Committee and Allen Currie and Harold Garrett will serve on the Budget Committee.

In other business, board members approved for HHS FFA Advisors John Joyner and Shelby Cross to take the FFA Chapter officers to the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, October 27-31. They also approved a request by Jackie Whitten, the GEAR UP site coordinator, to let HHS JROTC leaders take students to a job site tour of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and an airport near Fort Campbell on September 22.

On second reading, two policy changes were approved by the School Board. Policy 2.800, Expenditure of Funds, which outlines the procedures for school expenditures, had one sentence change. It says, “The director of schools shall develop federal grant expenditure and cash management procedures that comply with all federal laws and regulations.” In Policy 2.805, Purchasing, there were several new parts added. One addition involves individual school purchases. Another addition to the policy involves online purchasing.

Board members approved to sign a contract with Cowart Reese Sargent for auditing internal school and cafeteria accounts for the period of July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016.

Deputy Superintendent and CFO Vincent Harvell reported on a new insurance plan and on an insurance premium change. The board approved the proposed rate for a new state insurance plan. This is merely an additional insurance plan option for employees. He also reported that there was a premium change on one of the plans that employees have. The premium is actually going down to equal that of another plan available to employees. These changes have no impact on what employees pay for their insurance.

The next board meeting will be held Tuesday, October 13, at 6 p.m.