From Haywood High School, 16 students spoke to board members about their participation in the Education Equal Opportunity Group Leadership Conference in Nashville.

When the Haywood County School Board met in regular session on April 12, Superintendent Teresa Russell celebrated several groups of students from Haywood High and Haywood Middle School. The board approved Spring Mini-Grants and among other business, agreed to give six $2,000 Colhoun Scholarships to graduating seniors.

• Mrs. Russell recognized the HHS Show Choir and Girls Ensemble for its success at the Worldstrides OnStage Competition on April 1 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The Show Choir placed third, and the Girls Ensemble placed second in the competition. Choir member Anne Marie Sceals won the Ovation Award, the highest musical award given to the most outstanding student musician.

• Mrs. Russell also recognized four HHS FCCLA members who attended the State Leadership Conference and received special recognition. Mikayla Leath received a gold medal, Victoria Perry received a silver medal, and Titus Newble received a silver medal and first place in the Nutrition and Wellness competition. He will compete on the national level in San Diego, California. Adara Donald was elected as the new Tennessee FCCLA state President.

• Nineteen members of the Haywood Middle School Band performed at the WTSBO A Solo and Ensemble Contest at University of Tennessee-Martin. They brought home 30 ribbons.

• Seventeen students earned Career Ready Certificates.

• Eleven Haywood Middle School seventh graders participated in the 2016 Duke University TIPS program and received recognition for scoring in the top 5 percent for their age group on the ACT. Recognized were Ann Wesley Banks, Andrew McBride and Elizabeth Kirby.

• From Haywood High School, 16 students spoke to board members about their participation in the Education Equal Opportunity Group Leadership Conference in Nashville. This program helps students learn about what life looks like after graduation. The students spoke about what they learned, about how the speakers influenced them, and about networking. They all thanked board members for letting them attend the conference.

• One of Haywood County Schools Teachers of the Year, Elizabeth Lovelace of Haywood Elementary, received a plaque from Mrs. Russell for also being selected as the 2016 Southwest Tennessee District Teacher of the Year.

Receiving Spring Mini-Grants were Barbara Wellington from Haywood High, who will purchase the “MotivAider.” Nan Naylor from Haywood Elementary will purchase two HKSC tablets for her students. Elizabeth Lovelace, also of HES, will purchase a subscription to “Spelling City,” and Kelly Key of Anderson will purchase as many i-pads/tablets as possible. Julie Dahlhauser, librarian at Haywood High, will buy “Little Bits Gizmos and Gadgets,” a box of motor and robotic parts designed to promote math and engineering skills with creativity. Dumanic Wade, the HHS band teacher, will buy Finale Software and MIDI keyboard, and HHS teacher John Cunningham will purchase “Identifying the Property of Solution” for his Chemistry I students.

In other business, board members approved textbook adoption for four books for Career and Technical classes, and received a copy of the Annual Financial Report for Haywood County School District. Chief Financial Officer Larry Livingston said there were just a few minor findings. He also clarified that this is not the $24 million school budget that is audited by the State of Tennessee, but the budget that covers the individual schools’ money and activities there. Budget amendments were also approved.

The next board meeting will be held on May 10 at 6 p.m.