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Votes at a glance: Haywood County Board approves grants, textbook adoptions, scholarships and an updated land MOU
Summary
At the April meeting the Haywood County Board of Education approved multiple motions including spring mini grants, textbook adoptions, a resolution to accept state teacher stipends, an updated MOU on a land purchase, Catherine Calhoun scholarships, and budget amendments.
The Haywood County Board of Education approved a series of routine and substantive measures during its April meeting. Board members voted on spring mini grants, textbook adoptions, vehicle use, a resolution to participate in a state stipend program, an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a land purchase, scholarships from the Catherine Calhoun trust, and budget amendments.
Summary of actions and outcomes:
- Consent agenda: Approved (motion by Miss Reed; voice vote).
- Agenda acceptance: Approved (motion by Miss Farrington; voice vote).
- Spring mini grants: Approved five teacher mini-grants at $400 each for a total of $2,000. Motion by Miss Perry; second by Mister Fairstore. The board recorded that five applicants would each receive $400.
- Textbook adoption (K'12 science and physical science): The board approved the textbook committee's recommendations. Doctor Jackson explained that the state's adoption list limited physical science options to McGraw Hill, and noted districts must adopt from the state-approved list though they need not purchase all adopted materials. Motion to accept the committee recommendations carried.
- Employee use of school vehicles: The board authorized full-time use of a district vehicle for bus mechanic Johnny Martin to support after-hours emergency calls. Motion carried.
- Haywood County Virtual Academy (HCVA): The board voted to discontinue HCVA after staff presented enrollment and budget data. (Separate detailed article covers that vote.)
- Resolution to accept state stipend: The board approved a resolution to participate in the Education Freedom Act (section providing one-time teacher bonuses) so the district can apply for and disburse one-time $2,000 stipends to eligible K'12 teachers, subject to state verification and requirements. Motion carried.
- Memorandum of Understanding (land purchase): Board approved an updated MOU that clarifies inclusion of USDA and other grant or loan funding sources; IDB had approved changes and the county attorney reviewed them. Motion carried to allow signatures and proceed with due diligence.
- Catherine Calhoun scholarships: The board approved 10 scholarships at $2,000 each for Haywood High seniors (total $20,000). Motion carried.
- Budget amendment (General School Purpose Fund): The board approved multiple line-item transfers and additions, including reallocations for Save the Children and community engagement grants, additional medical expense for the alternative instruction program ($4,050), an artificial intelligence service increase funded by additional revenue ($37,500), and transportation contracted services adjustments. Motion carried.
For many of these items, motions were approved by voice vote and the transcript records "motion carries" without a roll-call tally.
Selected contextual notes: textbook adoptions must follow the state's approved list; the resolution to accept stipends relies on state-provided verification via TNCompass; the updated land MOU adds explicit references to USDA and other funding sources to facilitate due diligence and loan applications.
Actions recorded below list the motions, movers/seconders where given, and outcomes.
