When the Haywood County Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, November 10, board members approved the disbursement of mini-grants to 10 teachers. Board members also approved to pay for an increase in health insurance for employees, roofing repairs, and saw a presentation of a trip HHS students took to Dauphin Island.

Board Chairman Harold Garrett reported that the executive committee met on October 29 and approved paying for a 4 percent increase in health insurance premiums for employees. This increase will take effect on January 1. Chief Financial Officer Vincent Harvell said this expenditure was included in the approved budget.

Board members also agreed to pay for roofing repairs on school properties with money from the General Purpose Fund Balance.

Superintendent Marlon King, the board, administrators, teachers and others at the board meeting all enjoyed a presentation by HHS teacher Kavin Carr and a number of his students who recently traveled to the Sea Lab at Dauphin Island, Alabama. Several students spoke of the great learning opportunity and thanked the board for their support for projects like this.

In other business, board members awarded mini grants for $200 each to Janet Grammer, Samantha Davis, Jerra Leek, Amy Harris, Amelia Morrison and Tanesha Walker at East Side Elementary; Julie Dahlhauser at Haywood High, Abby Hooper at Sunny Hill and Thomas Young at Haywood Junior High. Each teacher will spend the funds on projects or materials for their classrooms.

Board members heard a report from Mr. Harvell on the Catherine Truss Colhoun Scholarship Fund. After giving $10,000 in scholarships in July, the balance in the fund as of September 30 is $231,822.79. They also approved budget amendments.

The staff at the Alternative Learning Center will host the mid-month meeting for board members on November 24 at noon, and the next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on December 8 at 7 p.m.