Before the school board meeting on September 8, the HCEA, with the help of Haywood County School officials, held a reception for the teachers who retired in May. Attending the reception were four retirees, (from left) Barbara Bond, Cheryl Moses, Robin Cunningham and Betty Escue. Three others who retired, Margaret Smith, Susan Wilson and Virginia Williams, were not able to attend. Together the seven educators represent a total of more than 210 years in the classroom or as an administrator.

The Haywood County Board of Education held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 8, and opened the meeting with the election of the board’s chairperson and vice-chairperson. They also enjoyed a presentation by the HHS JROTC, approved several requests for travel by teachers for their students, endorsed a resolution of appreciation for bus drivers, approved several budget amendments, and approved a contract for the audit process.

Board Chairperson Harold Garrett and Vice-Chairperson Robbie Jarrett-King were reelected to serve in their positions for the next year.

Lt. Col. Mark Avery, Director of the HHS JROTC brought three of his cadets with him to the board to make a presentation on the Summer Leadership School they attended in Hawaii during the summer. Cadet Majors Tiara Holloway, Richard Rains and Ieshia Mitchell talked about their experience at the Hickman Air Force Base as they showed slides of their trip, and each said it was a wonderful opportunity.

In other business, Chairman Garrett read for the board and the audience a resolution drafted in appreciation of the school system’s bus drivers. They approved the resolution that named September as School Bus Drivers Month in Haywood County.

The board also approved two requests for out-of-state travel for students attending meetings, and one for a trip for the HJH football team. HHS FFA advisors John Joyner and Garry Butler will take 10 of their students to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, in October. SkillsUSA sponsor Kenneth Emerson will accompany one of his students to a leadership training institute in Washington September 19-23, and the board approved a trip for HJH football players to go to a college game in Jonesboro, Arkansas, contingent on a winning record before the trip on September 26.

Board members approved to contract with Kenneth Cozart and Associates for auditing internal school and cafeteria accounts for the period of July 1, 2009, through June 20, 2010. They also approved three budget amendments to include in the budget more than $1 million in grant money for which the system has received confirmation since the budget was finalized in August.

The next board meeting will be held on October 13 at 7 p.m.