Joining students, families and other guests at Anderson’s first Leadership Showcase were Superintendent Joey Hassell (left) and Chief Special Services Officer Chris Davis.

The Haywood County Board of Education met on Thursday, April 12, and approved, among other things, policies, an out-of-state trip for a DECA group and the ROTC, announced four mini grant recipients, adopted textbooks, and approved the dismissal of school for a half-day on Friday, May 11.

On second reading, board members approved changes/additions for Policies 4.603, 4.605, 4,606, 4.700, 5.802, 6.319, 6.405, 6.4052, and 6.4051. These covered issues about promotion and retention, graduation requirements, graduation activities, testing programs, qualifications and duties of the Director of Schools, the Alternative School Programs, and medicines that school nurses are allowed to dispense.

In the Celebration of Schools, Superintendent Joey Hassell praised Anderson Principal Charles Byrum for the great achievement and outstanding planning for the students’ curriculum. Mr. Byrum explained a presentation that recorded the improvements of the children in the different areas of study.

Board members approved out-of-state travel for five HHS DECA members to attend the International Career Development Conference from April 21 to 24 in Atlanta, Georgia. Business Technology teacher Laurinda Lamb will accompany the students.

GEAR UP also received approval for a HHS JROTC trip for 40 students, Major Daily, and two chaperones to travel to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, on May 8. They will also visit Austin Peay State University for a college tour.

Four teachers were approved for Spring Mini Grants. Brittany Ferrell from Anderson will purchase “Differentiated ELA Centers and Sight Word Journals.” The centers will be used to cover a variety of kindergarten and first-grade standards. Patrice Boyd will purchase 18 copies of the book, “Piecing Me Together.” The objective of this book is to inform young ladies that there is someone in print/media that looks like them and deals with the same situations as they do as teenagers at middle and high school. Sharon Clark will use her grant money to buy STEM builders for her students, and Sheena Parker from Haywood Middle School will purchase two Fire HD 8 Tablets for her students. They will be used to provide students in her ELA classes an opportunity to practice/reinforce skills and concepts.

Director of Nutrition Denita Jarratt received approval for an increase in adult meal prices in the cafeterias for the 2018-2019 school year. Breakfast will go to $3 from $2.50, and lunch from $3.50 to $4.

Board members approved the schools’ dismissal for a half day for students on May 11 so everyone can celebrate the 2018 Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day. More plans will follow.

Budget amendments were approved, and the board agreed to once again give six $2,000 scholarships to HHS graduates who are planning to become teachers. In other business, Superintendent Hassell said that the schools will settle up the yearbook debt at the High School, and that the school will put in place a better program for selling the yearbooks, buying extra yearbooks, and collecting the money. They may also look into using a different vendor.

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