Friends, family members and fellow teachers gathered in the Board of Education board room on Tuesday, June 8, to honor 11 of their colleagues who are retiring from the Haywood County School System this year. Honored were (from left, seated) Rhonda Thompson, 34 years, 8 months; Robin Callery, 29 years; Pat Harwell, 28 years; and Linda Butler, 37 years, 4 months; (standing) Clara Richardson, 40 years; Linda Norvell, 41 years; George Norvell, 38 years, 2 months; Dr. Oscar Love, 35 years; Alice Mitchell, 30 years; Robert Mitchell, 40 years, 6 months; and Fannie Beasley, 10 years.

At the June school board meeting, four of the five Haywood High School valedictorians came to the board meeting to each honor one of their former teachers. Jordan Burroughs (from left) honored Mrs. Gail Chapman; Fabiola Calderon honored Mr. George Norvell; Audrey Pattat honored Mrs. Linda Baxter (not pictured); and Alex Primrose honored Ms. Glynn Bridgewater (also not pictured). Blace Correa, who could not be present, also honored Mr. Norvell.

After honoring 11 of their own at a retirement reception, Haywood County Board of Education members and Superintendent Marlon King conducted business at the June board meeting.

First on the agenda was a presentation by Superintendent King to the board members of the “HCS – Facilities Improvement/Renovation Scope of Work” proposal. This proposal, which he will give to Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith to share with the County Commission, is a 3-year plan of action to make improvements and renovations to the school system’s property – mostly at Haywood High – as discussed with the commission’s budget committee, other commission members, County Mayor Smith and at the May school board meeting.

The County mayor’s suggestion was to secure a bond for $3 million to begin work on the more than $5 million project, with the board of education dedicating $100,000, the city $100,000 and the county $52,000 per year for repayment of this bond.

Superintendent King’s needs assessment and estimate of costs totals more than $5,400,000 over the three years, equaling to a $2,400,000 deficit after the $3 million bond had been spent. Mr. King said that he is not requesting any funds but simply supplying the county mayor and the county commission with a plan of action for the scope of work that needs to be done.

Board members approved a SkillsUSA trip for Kenneth Emerson from HHS and three students to attend the National SkillsUSA Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, June 20-26. They also approved the 2010 Local Consolidated Application under the No Child Left Behind law and a resolution to authorize retirement credit for military service.

Also the board approved for the school system to work under a continuation budget until passage of the 2010-2111 county budget by the Haywood County Commission. In other business, board members approved a number of year-end budget amendments.

The next regular school board meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 13, at 7 p.m.