Students entertain school board members and guests



East Side Elementary School students opened the April school board meeting with song on April 11.

Before the business session began, Haywood County School Board members had a treat Tuesday night, April 11, when they met in regular session. Students from East Side Elementary School provided entertainment by singing three songs from their spring concert for board members and guests.

After the mini-concert, members conducted their monthly business. They adopted new textbooks for spelling in grades 1-6 and 7-8; music books for grades 1-6 and 9-12; art textbooks for grades 1-6 and 9-12; driver’s education and theater books for the high school; literature books for grades 7-8 and 9-12, including a 9th grade supplemental literature text; and health sciences, marketing education, trade and industry and business technology textbooks.

Board members also approved tenure for 18 teachers who had met the criteria that included positive evaluations during their employment. Twelve teachers also advanced to the professional list.

The April board meeting is also the time each year board members determine the number of Colhoun Scholarships it will give this year. They agreed to allot $18,000 for scholarships, five for HHS seniors and four for teachers’ aids who are pursuing a teaching degree and meet the criteria. The board oversees this trust fund that was set up years ago to provide scholarships in the Haywood County School System.

Director of Schools George Chapman announced that Haywood County Schools received notification that it had been SACS accredited by the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement. The Haywood County School District is considered a “2005-2006 Super System for Quality Schools.” SACS stands for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and every school strives to earn this accreditation. To earn this designation, the local school system had to meet certain criteria, and SACS accreditation ensures benefits to the community, including:

• Mission and goals focused on improving student performance and each school’s capacity to improve teaching and learning.
• A collaboratively developed improvement plan that includes methods for measuring student progress and involves key school stakeholders.
• A continuous improvement process that integrates all types of school planning and evaluation requirements.
• The assurance of quality through regular review of programs by a team of outside peer professionals.
• Accountability and value for tax dollars spent.
• Recognition as an accredited school.

The next Haywood County School Board meeting will be held Tuesday, May 9, at 6 p.m. in the Haywood County Board of Education building at 900 East Main Street in Brownsville.