Special Sales Tax Holiday set for April 25-27

The Tennessee Department of Revenue announced the spring Sales Tax Holiday dates as Friday, April 25, through Sunday, April 27, 2008. This one-time holiday will offer three full days of tax savings to shoppers on clothing, school and art supplies, and computers...more

School board adopts standard dress code; awards grants

Haywood County School Board members approved a standard dress code, approved mini grants for 10 teachers for special projects for their classrooms, agreed to donate a surplus bus to a local non-profit group, set dates for summer school, and approved next year’s school calendar when they met in regular session Tuesday, March 12. Director of Schools George Chapman also gave board members a report on the need for new construction at the L. Z. Hurley Memorial Stadium.

After discussing the results of a survey given to all parents of students in the schools, Haywood County School Board members deliberated long and hard Tuesday night before approving a standard dress code for Haywood County Schools. The particulars are basically what the Haywood High School Committee recommended in December – with a few changes. Standard Dress Policy for All Haywood County Schools Effective August 1, 2008.

The school board awarded 10 mini-grants of $200 each to teachers at Anderson, Haywood Elementary, East Side, Haywood Junior High and Haywood High School. Three kindergarten classes at Anderson will benefit from these grants. Teacher Jerra Lee will buy Literacy Center Activities for her kindergartners; Krista Brown will purchase a “Listen, Learn, and Play Literacy Center;” and Kelly Key’s students will have a “Wow! We’re Writing” center in their classroom. Haywood Elementary librarian Dawn Lovelace will purchase books on tape for the library, and Katrina Hill’s students will learn how to take better care for their computers with products and supplies to enhance longevity of the computers.

At East Side, Kellie Davis will purchase a Literacy and Math Stations for her fourth graders, and Tanya Baltimore will buy a comprehension interactive computer program for her third and fourth graders, “Universal Design’s Three Levels of Learning.” Also at East Side, Minnie Reed will use colors to enhance learning in her classroom with “Tables of Colors.” At Haywood Junior High, William T. Grissom, who teaches seventh grade, will use his grant money to take his classes on a field trip to the state’s capital.

Finally, Mamie Converse at Haywood High will purchase “Fastrack” novels to increase skills and interest in reading among her students.

The School Board adopted the school calendar for next year. The first day for teachers is August 1, and the kids begin school on August 5. The same holidays were approved – Fall Break, Christmas Break and Spring Break - and the last day of school will be May 22, 2009. They also set this year’s summer school for May 27 through June 20, 2008. For the complete school calendar, click on 2008-2009 SCHOOL CALENDAR - Adopted 3-11-08.

The board also agreed to donate a surplus school bus when they have one to the Concerned Citizens of Haywood County. Among other uses, this group plans to transport young people to jobs this summer.

In final business, Director of Schools Chapman spoke to the board members about the need to request funding for the replacement of the visitor’s side at L. Z. Hurley Memorial Stadium. He reported on a meeting with architects at TLM Associates in Jackson who conducted a thorough analysis of the visitor’s side of the stadium, and said their report is that it is not safe and it would not be safe to renovate the current structure. Their estimate to tear down the structure, build free-standing dressing rooms and install new bleachers is in the ballpark of $472,000. Director Chapman said he will make a request of the County Commission at its March 17 meeting for the funds to do the project. Time is of essence since the project would have to be completed in time for the football season that starts in August.

The next scheduled Haywood County School Board meeting will be on April 8 at 6 p.m. at the school board office.

School board members promote public education at state capitol

Members of the Haywood County Board of Education joined school board members from across the state Tuesday, February 26, for a day of legislative networking at TSBA’s annual “Day on the Hill.” This year, featured program speakers included Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, Senate Education Committee Chair Jamie Woodson, and House Education Committee Chair Les Winningham. “Day on the Hill” is designed for school board members and directors of schools to study pending education legislation and discuss priorities with local legislators. The event began with a breakfast at the Downtown Sheraton Hotel and was followed by visits
to legislators’ offices and committee hearings...more

School board addresses dress code

Voted as Teachers of the Year were (from left) Mindy Waddell, Haywood Junior High; Miranda Jones, East Side; Mandy Bell, Sunny Hill; Pam Thomason, Anderson Early Childhood Center; Clara Richardson, Haywood Elementary; and Linda Baxter, Haywood High.

The Haywood County Board of Education met in regular session Tuesday night, February 12, to a full house of parents and educators mostly there to see how they would address the issue of a dress code in the schools. The board also announced teachers of the year, presented a special diploma, and discussed a skate park near East Side Elementary...more