Members of the Haywood County School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, November 10. Superintendent Teresa Russell opened the meeting with the monthly Celebration of Schools. She spoke about the schools’ partnership with West Tennessee Healthcare Sports Plus and that the schools had been invited to an open house to its new facility in Brownsville. She also spoke about Sports Plus trainer Mallory Blurton, who works with all sports in Haywood County Schools, and her dedication and good work for the schools. A representative from Sports Plus also praised the partnership between them and the schools.

Mrs. Russell also welcomed the schools’ new Chief Financial Officer, Larry Livingston. He practiced as a CPA for 16 years and served for more then five years as the Haywood County Budget Director under the direction of County Mayor Franklin Smith. The Haywood County Schools budget is approximately $24 million. “I am delighted to be here,” Livingston said, and added that he was looking forward to working with Mrs. Russell and the schools.

In other business, board members approved an out-of state trip for two Career and Technical teachers to take three FCCLA students to attend the FCCLA National Cluster Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, from November 19-22. They also approved the System/School Compliance Report and a report from Mr. Livingston on the Catherine Truss Colhoun Scholarship Report. In addition, several budget amendments were approved.

Mrs. Russell made recommendations for awarding fall mini-grants. The following grants were approved:

“Word Problems with Study Island” – Amelia Morrison – Haywood Elementary 3rd Grade

“Tools for Language Success” – Beverly Grimes – Haywood Elementary 1st-3rd Grades

“Reading ELA the Social Studies Way” – Sharon Clark – East Side Intermediate  4th Grade

“Flocabulary Website Subscription” – Pamla Reagan – Haywood Elementary 3rd Grade

“2 HCK Tablets” – Jacklyn Eubanks – Haywood Elementary 3rd Grade

“BrainPOP Jr.” – Valerie Sceals – Haywood Elementary 1st Grade

“Reading Touches Lives” – Lauryn Spitzer – Haywood Middle School 6th Grade ELA

“BrainPOPJr.com License” – Heather Simmons – Haywood Elementary 1st Grade

“Kindle Fire HDX” – Leslie Phillips – Anderson ECC Pre-K

“BrainPOPJr.” – Brittany Ferrell – Haywood Elementary 2nd Grade

 

Before closing, Mrs. Russell asked Transportation Director Kenneth Emerson to give a report on his department. He reported that Haywood County Schools run 43 buses and 1 van each day. The department’s day begins at 5:30 a.m. and ends around 6:30 each night. There are approximately 1,800 students who ride the buses each day, and buses run 528 miles each morning, then again in the afternoon. There are 45 bus drivers, plus bus monitors and other employees who help maintain the buses. Mr. Emerson has cleaned up and organized the garage and started a preventative maintenance program. Priorities in his department are safety and being on time as much as possible.

The next scheduled board meeting will be held Tuesday, December 8, at 6 p.m.