Smyrna showcases student art, proclaims Women’s History Month and hears Campbell High School Foundation update

At its March 3, 2025 meeting, the Smyrna Mayor and Council recognized a student-art exhibit featuring about 60 artists from Nickajack and read a proclamation recognizing March as Women’s History Month. The council also heard a presentation from Dr. Purin Shada, president of the Campbell High School Education Foundation, on the foundation’s history, programs and recent initiatives.

Leah of the Smyrna Arts Council introduced the student exhibit and told the meeting, “From what I understand, we have 60 artists from all grade levels from Nickajack represented here community center and half of y'all's artwork here in City Hall.” City representatives posed for group photos by grade and encouraged attendees to view the work on display.

Council members read the city’s Women’s History Month proclamation. Councilmember Latonia P. Hines said the city will hold a Women’s History Month event on March 23 at the Reid House, and described two categories of recognition the city will award: a historical honoree (posthumous) and a current community honoree. Hines listed five historical nominees considered this year, including Lily Wood, Lila Denmark, Diane McCurdy, Maddie Lou Clower and Louise Lindley Harper, and said nomination details will appear on the city website.

Dr. Purin Shada, president of the Campbell High School Education Foundation and a Campbell High alumnus, updated the council on the foundation’s work since its inception in 1995. He said the foundation responded quickly during the pandemic to supply laptops: “During the pandemic, the foundation was able to act quickly to supply laptops to 120 students identified by teachers as being at risk for being left behind. Those laptops remain in service today.” He described the foundation’s endowment—“currently we stand at a quarter million dollars”—and programs including a $1,000 needs- and achievement-based scholarship, summer tutoring, college-and-career counseling staffed in English and Spanish, and the Campbell Advanced Placement Scholars program launched in the 2023–24 school year to support high-performing students.

Dr. Shada described upcoming fundraising and engagement events: the foundation’s golf tournament on April 20 at Fox Creek, the Jonquil Jog on May 3, and an alumni/homecoming weekend in October. He said the foundation’s work includes both targeted teacher grants and student supports and that board members aim to return with a progress update later in the year.

The council thanked organizers of the recent Black History Month dinner and staff in the city’s library, parks and museum for ongoing community programming. Council members and the mayor also discussed downtown pedestrian congestion on weekends and asked staff to study temporary weekend bollards for Bank and King streets to improve safety during busy times; administration indicated support for exploring the idea and to present options to the Committee of the Whole.

The mayor closed the meeting at 7:37 p.m.