School board members converge on Houston County

Story by Teresa N. Settle
TENNESSEE EXPRESS WRITER
Photos by Mike Davis

* Members of the Mid-Cumberland District of the Tennessee School Boards
Association converged Thursday, Sept. 16 in Erin at Houston County High School
for their fall meeting.
* The theme of the meeting was “Together We Can.” About 60 school board members
and directors of schools from 11 different school districts in middle
Tennessee, gathered at HCHS for a legislative session, seminars, and dinner.
* TSBA Associate Executive Director Mark Beal, who led a “No Parent Left
Behind” Session prior to dinner, seemed right at home discussing the issue with
school board members. Of course, that’s because Beal had stepped down earlier
this year as long-time schools director of Houston County to take his new
position with TSBA.
* During the No Parent Left Behind session, Beal had school board members break
into groups to discuss various issues.
* “Parental involvement is a very serious issue,” he said.
* In one of the groups, Billy Sexton, chairman of the Stewart County School
Board, stated, “We are very happy with parental involvement [in Stewart
County].”
* In another group, Houston County Schools Director Cathy Harvey discussed the
issue with Cheatham County school board members who are working on a new five-
year plan. Harvey said Houston County completed their five-year plan about a
year ago which included strategies for improving parental involvement.
* Both Stewart and Houston County School Boards were well represented.
* Stewart County Director of Schools Dr. Phillip Wallace along with 100 percent
of the Stewart County Board were present, including: School Board Chairman
Billy Sexton, and members Darrell Gillum, Lesa Fitzhugh, Bailey Gafford, Bobby
Morgan, Kenny Collins, and Billy Gray.
* Representing Houston County were: Schools Director Cathy Harvey, School Board
Chairman Camille Lashlee, along with board members Robert “Bob” Mitchell, Tommy
Beechum, Mitch Mitchum, Robert Skelton, Kendall Coleman, and the newest member,
Charlie Ligon.
Also representing Houston County was HCHS Principal David Bell.

A Wonderful Dinner...
* Dinner was a formal, candlelit affair with 30-plus HCHS students serving as
waiters and hostesses. The meal opened with a salad, rolls, tea and coffee,
before steak or chicken was served with broccoli and twice-baked potatoes. To
top it off, cheesecake was served for dessert.
* Houston County Schools faculty and staff members were in charge of the food.
HCHS’s own Rhonda Nolen, Beth Patterson, and Daryle Wright served as cooks. The
three also sang the praises of Pam Stanfill, who had worked for days preparing,
along with Faye Bryant.
* Faculty members from other schools also helped. Dee Richardson, Susan Lewis,
and Tami Patrick assisted from Erin Elementary School, and Susan Williams, a
teacher at Houston County Middle School, also helped.
* More than 30 HCHS students served the meal, refilled drinks glasses, and even
brought to-go boxes to some members who really enjoyed the meal.
* HCHS student Lindsey Black seemed to oversee the student selection, which she
said was based on dependability.
* Helping out, along with Lindsey, were: Susan Miller, Jamie Holland, Bradley
Self, John Jay Wilson, Shane Bennett;
* Tiffany Self, Cassy Lill, Brittany Deason, Paloma Villarruel, Laqueeta
Turner, Tekia Brown, Luke Tyler;
* Tara Smith, Kayla Hooper, Kristin Cleghern, Brian Adkins, Trevor Beard,
Jarrod Clark, Bethany Bailey;
* Trenton Cleghern, Brad Averitt, Andrew Carter, James Lill, Casey Shires,
Sarah Taylor, Lindsey Lewis;
* Paige Clark, Kayla Brooks, Kayse Rivers, Matt Hill, Jamie Blair, and KaLynn
Mahoney.
* After the meal, TSBA Executive Director Tammy Grissom stated, “Thank you,
Houston County, for a wonderful job [of catering the seminar and dinner].”
* She also recognized several school board members with Boardsmanship Awards.
* From neighboring Humphreys County, Dwayne Ross received an award for Level 1,
and Johnny Whitfield was recognized for Level 2.
* From neighboring Dickson County, Don Armstrong received a Level 1 award and
Carl Buckner received a Level 4 award.
* Bro. Bob Mitchell, of Houston County, achieved a Level 3 award as well.

Programs that work...
* After dinner, school board members heard from three school systems about
parent involvement programs that work.
* Houston County High School’s theater arts teacher Nancy Nave gave a
presentation on the extensive community support given to the theater arts
program here. She said school employees, parents, and students work together
with the community to make the theater arts program a wonderful success;
* Parents with Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools shared a “PIN” program
that has grown through the years and provides information to parents on issues
and topics related to public education; and
* Members of the Franklin Special School District presented a community-based
program entitled “Friends of Franklin Special School District and the Story
Bus.”
* To conclude the seminars, Mark Beal and Vickie Hall discussed salary equity
issues. In 2004, the Tennessee General Assembly adopted a new salary equity
plan based on a finding from the Tennessee Supreme Court that the previous
funding method was unconstitution.

Off the record...
* I couldn’t help asking TSBA Executive Director Tammy Grissom what it was like
having Mark Beal on staff as Associate Executive Director.
* Smiling, and pausing for effect, Grissom said, “Let’s see...”
* Then, very calmly, she stated, “He hit the ground running.” Grissom said Beal
is a very dedicated employee who works very hard.
* She mentioned how well-spoken he is. “And he’s got a great sense of humor.”
* But we already knew that, didn’t we?!
* Which reminds me of a joke.
* This guy gets up in the morning, grumbling to his mother. “I don’t want to go
to school today,” he says.
* His mother calmly says, “Give me two good reasons why you don’t want to go to
school today.
* “The teachers hate me, and the students hate me,” he replies. “Give me two
good reasons why I should have to go to school.”
* Her reply: “Well, for one thing, you’re 40 years old, and for another, you’re
the principal!”

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