Haywood County Schools newly appointed Superintendent Teresa Russell is pictured at the September 12 board meeting with Board members (from left) Allen Currie, Harold Garrett, (Russell), Robbie Jarrett King, Pearlie Hess and new member Greg Vanstory.

When the Haywood County School Board met in regular session on September 12, board members voted unanimously on a roll call vote to offer Teresa Russell the Haywood County Schools Superintendent position. She had served as Interim Superintendent since July 18, a week after Dr. Marlon King announced his resignation. Russell had served as King’s deputy director for four years.

The board and Russell agreed to a two-year contract effective immediately at the same annual salary she agreed to as Interim Superintendent, $95,000. The contract also says she will have an evaluation no later than May 30 each year.

Russell thanked board members for their vote of confidence after she accepted their offer. “I appreciate your confidence in me,” she said. “And I want you to know that just as each of you sitting here have students’ best interests first, I do, too. That’s what it’s all about is our students, every one of our students. And that is my ultimate goal to make sure that we take care of them in the best way we can.”
In other business, board members welcomed Greg Vanstory to the board and reelected Harold Garrett to the board chairman position and Robbie Jarrett King as vice chairman. Garrett made committee appointments.

In addition, board members approved requests made by the Haywood Youth Sports organization to use three Haywood County School buses. They also agreed to requests made by the HHS AFJROTC program for a trip to St. Louis and the HHS Show Choir to travel to Florida for the 2013 Heritage Music Festival.

Board members also approved six school nutrition program policies, nine board policies on first reading and a number of budget amendments.

Mrs. Russell asked Pam Diebold and Yvette Blue to speak to the board and guests about the Career and Technical Program and the Reach Program, respectively.

She also asked board members to approve the contract with Cowart Reese Sargent for auditing internal school and cafeteria accounts for the period of July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held on October 9 at 6 p.m.