Teachers of the Year are (from left) Jarrod Kornegay, Megan Mysinger, Cecilia Frost, Julian Stanz, Denise Hooser, Shaquana Leonard, and Sarah Haynes.

Haywood County School Board members honored the 2016-17 Teachers of the Year at their meeting on February 14. They also met Brittain Adams, a new member of the HHS 30+ Club, approved several requests and approved budget amendments.

To open the meeting, before approving the agenda at the meeting, School Board Chairman Harold Garrett told board members that discussion about one of the items on the agenda, the TRANE Energy Savings Report, had been postponed to give board members more time to study it. Superintendent Russell said that a work session to study the report has been set for Tuesday, February 28, at 6 p.m.

Superintendent Teresa Russell congratulated Brittain Adams, a junior and the son Steven and Violette Adams, for scoring a 31 on the ACT test recently, earning membership into the prestigious HHS 30+ Club.

The Haywood County Schools Teachers of the Year were announced: Anderson – Denise Hooser, Haywood Elementary – Megan Mysinger; East Side Intermediate School – Cecilia Frost, Haywood Middle School – Shaquana Leonard, Haywood High School – Jarrod Kornegay, HHS Career and Technical – Sarah Haynes, and Sunny Hill REACH Academy – Julian Stanz. Each received congratulations and plaques from Superintendent Teresa Russell. Named as the District Teachers were: Pre-K-4^th Grade – Denise Hooser, 5^th – 8^th Grades – Shaquana Leonard, and 9^th-12^th Grades – Jarrod Kornegay.

Board members approved on second reading Policy 4.700 – the Testing Policy that specifies the percentage the state test scores will count on students’ final grades. They also approved out-of-state travel for Coach Dave Rogers to take the HHS girls and boys track teams to two track meets, the Winona Invitational in Winona, Mississippi, on March 18 and the Racer Invitational at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, on April 1.

Peggy Jackson, the Family Resource Center Coordinator, asked the board for approval of the Statement of Agreement between Anderson Early Childhood Center and Family Resource Center and United Way of Tennessee. One-hundred percent of grant money received from this funding will be used to purchase new books for the Reading is Fundamental “Book Jam” program for Anderson, Haywood Elementary, and East Side. Board members approved the request.

CFO Larry Livingston shared with board members the quarterly report of the Catherine Truss Colhoun Trust. The balance as of December 31, 2016, was $196,397.93. This Trust provides scholarships for qualifying Haywood High School seniors each year.

In her Celebration of Haywood County Schools, Superintendent Russell reported that the HHS Lady Tomcats are ranked first in the district, and the boys are second in the district. She also gave a report on the Leader In Me conference that she attended with school principals, and the GEAR UP conference she attended with program coordinator Jackie Whitten and Director of Federal Funds Gina Rawson, saying that both were very informative and will be beneficial for implementing and continuing the programs.

The next school board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 14.