By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The Family Resource Center has achieved its goals for the year—and then some, Co-Director Becky Holland told the Henry County Schools board of education Thursday afternoon.
In her annual report, Holland said, “What a year this has been”, noting the program continues to serve hundreds of students with the weekend backpack program, provision of free school supplies, case management with individual attention for the students, benevolence fund for children’s emergency needs, such as medical needs, rent, electric bills and the food bank which served over 1000 students. “We didn’t realize how many families we really had in need here,” Holland said.
She said the program did not provide as many backpacks and other school supplies during this year’s Back to School Blast as it has in the past, due to other programs also providing the supplies, namely The Shed and Trinity United Methodist Church. “And that’s wonderful,” Holland said. “If they want to help out, too, that works out for us.”
Holland said the local staff also was one of only three Family Resource Centers in Tennessee invited to meet with Tennessee Commissioner of Education Dr. Candice McQueen “and I just want to brag on that. I’m so glad I went. I’ve been with the Family Resource Center for 23 years, from the beginning, and they asked me to speak last and I advocated for our program and for other programs to start in the state.”
Board President Doug Braden said Family Resource Center staff “does a marvelous job and we’re certainly privileged to have you.” He encouraged the public to donate to the Family Resource Center.
Curriculum Director Betsy Allison announced the school system has been granted $106,000 for health science, computer programming, information technology and to upgrade health science programs.
In other business:
–The board passed a policy on second reading which adds a student representative to the board. The student will be a rising high school senior in good standing, with at least a 3.0 GPA, and who will attend all board meetings. It will be a non-voting position on the board. High School Principal Dr. Michele Webb will select the representative over the next month and they will begin attending meetings in September.
–Maintenance Supervisor John Akers said progress is being made on several facilities projects. Work on the softball outfield is 100 percent done, he said, and work on the new transportation facilities is progressing.
–Director of Schools Dr. Brian Norton reminded everyone of Monday’s work session with the county commission at 5:15 p.m. at the courthouse. School officials will once again present their high school building project proposal.
He also reported that district enrollment is down by 75 to 80 students.
Photo: Becky Holland presents Family Resource Center’s annual report (McFarlin photo).
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