Several honored at June School Board meeting

When the Haywood County Board of Education met in session on June 13, board members honored several teachers and the HHS JROTC program, talked about the budget, and approved the TCSPP.

The Haywood High School JROTC program received special recognition from board members for its designation as a Distinguished Unit for 2005-06. Actually, the unit has earned this recognition every year since it began 12 years ago. This award recognizes Air Force Junior ROTC units that have performed above and beyond normal expectations, and that have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community.

Several Haywood High School teachers, Lt. Col. Alden Williams and Leah Simpson, were also in the spotlight Tuesday night when it was announced that they had each been honored for their accomplishments.

Lt. Col. Williams was selected by the Air Force Association as the Tennessee Teacher of the Year. He is now a candidate for the Air Force Association’s National Teacher of the Year. He has been the director of the Haywood High School JROTC program since it began in 1994.

Leah Simpson, the football cheerleader at Haywood High School, was recently named the Cheerleader Coach of the Year for West Tennessee by TSSAA.

In other business, Director Chapman asked board members to commend Assistant Director of Schools Doris Battle and the committee who developed the school system’s Tennessee Comprehensive System-Wide Planning Process (TCSPP). This plan is required by the state and received state approval. According to Director Chapman, this will be used to guide the local school system as leaders plan for next year and future years.

Director Chapman also gave board members a progress report on finalizing the budget for the 2006-2007 school year. The full board will meet again on June 22 at 6 p.m. at the Board of Education office to discuss year-end budget amendments, the upcoming budget, and negotiating teachers’ contract.