Paris, Tenn.–Troy Barrow was elected the new chairman of the Paris Special Schools District board of education at its May meeting Tuesday evening.
Barrow will replace long-time Chairman Richard Edwards while the other officers will remain the same: Vice Chair Bill Jelks and Secretary Amy Cathey. Edwards indicated he did not want to continue in the role as Board Chairman.
After being nominated, Barrow said he would defer to other members who had been on the board longer if that was the pleasure of the board, but his nomination was seconded and approved unanimously.
Edwards told Barrow, “I will do anything in any way that I can to help you.” Edwards has been a board member for 29 years and had been chair for several terms.
Barrow will begin serving his term as chairman at the June meeting.
Tuesday’s meeting was conducted at the Rhea School cafeteria, following social distancing guidelines with board members seated two to a table at four tables.
Upon recommendation of Director of Schools Dr. Norma Gerrell, the board unanimously approved tenure for:
Kristin Nickell, English as a Second Language teacher for all three schools.
Ginger Oliver, Speech/Language Pathologist for Rhea School.
Holly Peale, Rhea second grade (will be moving to Inman Middle School as special education inclusion teacher).
Melissa Ridgeway, Paris Elementary School counselor.
Donna Thompson, PES 5th grade math.
Shanna Watkins, Inman 6th grade English.
Jordan Williams, Rhea kindergarten teacher.
Dr. Gerrell said the newly-tenured teachers will be feted properly at a future meeting.
In other business:
Dr. Gerrell said the PSSD feeding program will end Friday for this year and the Henry County Schools’ feeding program begins June 1.