East Side Intermediate School students in the Extended Learning Program’s Music and Spanish clubs entertained at the December School Board meeting.

The Haywood County School Board met on Tuesday, December 8, in regular session. Superintendent of Schools Teresa Russell opened the meeting with the Celebration of Haywood County Schools and recognized several staff members and a student. Mrs. Russell said that she received a letter from Governor Bill Haslam congratulating the Haywood County students for 100 percent Tennessee Promise participation. She also recognized HHS Career and Technical Director Pam Diebold for receiving the Horizons Award in West Tennessee. Mrs. Russell recognized Emmitt Gooden for winning the Tennessee Titans Class 4A Lineman Mr. Football Award recently. She also recognized Cedric Bunch and all the teachers involved in the before- and after-school Extended Learning program. Each school had a representative to talk about the program. Highlighting the East Side Program, members of the school’s Music Club and Spanish Club entertained board members and guests at the meeting.

In other business, board members approved out-of-state travel for the Haywood High School Band. They will be traveling to Panama City Beach, Florida, April 21-24, 2016, to participate in a parade/drumline competition. Board members also approved several budget amendments.

Mrs. Russell also gave an overview of the State of Tennessee Report Card for Haywood County Schools. The Report Card can be seen at https://www.tn.gov/education/topic/report-card. Under Profile and District, select Haywood County Schools.

She also announced that the school system will be implementing a new program called “Stop It” after the first of the year. This is a program that will combat bullying, cyber-bullying, threats and other situations that need to be reported in schools. The purpose of the program is to protect students, schools and communities. There will be more information on this in January.

The next school board meeting will be held on January 12, 2016.