When the Haywood County School Board on Tuesday night, members were busy taking care of business, including approving funding for school renovations. Superintendent Marlon King also reported on the system’s “Scope of Work” plan for the Race to the Top money, and announced that Mrs. Dorothy Bond, now principal at Haywood Junior High, will take the Principal position at Haywood High next year.

Superintendent King presented to board members a plan of action to perform renovations on Haywood Schools, mostly Haywood High School. According to Superintendent King, the total on completing all renovations needed on the schools will exceed $5 million. Superintendent King submitted the prioritized list to the Haywood County Commission Budget and Education committees and to Franklin Smith, Haywood County Executive. The commission proposed to borrow $3 million and requested that annually the schools pay $100,000, the city $100,000 and the County would pay $52,000 dollars over a 10-year period to pay off the bond issue. Mr. King stated that after much soul-searching, he would cut a Central Office Administrative position and generate $80,000 toward the issue even though his General Purpose School Budget has not increased over the last two years. Although the lost position would have an impact on the organizational effectiveness, slow the implementation of eCLASS and curtail community involvement; he recognizes the importance of having an environment that is conducive to learning. He said, “We have made great gains and contributions, but this is necessary for the children. He reiterated his motto of “Every Child, Every Teacher, and Every Community Deserves Excellence.”

Board member Allen Currie expressed his disappointment over the funding level authorized for the jail ($15 million) and the amount made available to fund school renovations. He made a passionate plea to support the schools. The board approved Mr. King’s plan for contributing to the payment of the bond issue.

Mr. King also presented to the board his preliminary “Scope of Work” plan for the Race to the Top money. He said the school system will receive about $900,000, and he and his central office staff have been working on a four-year plan of innovative programs for which he will use the funds. These plans include expanding technology and interactive learning and more professional development, among other programs. This plan must be submitted to the state for approval before the system can receive the funds.

In other business, board members Pearlie Hess and Robbie Jarrett-King reported that the system will give six $2,000 scholarships to Haywood High seniors from the Catherine Truss Colhoun Trust that the Haywood County Board of Education manages. The balance in the trust as of March 31 is $238,437.

Board members also approved a change for the fall break next year from October 11-15 to October 4-8. Board Chairman Harold Garrett reminded everyone about the HHS graduation on May 24 at 7 p.m., and the Adult Basic Education graduation on June 15 at 6 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held on June 8 at 7 p.m.