| By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Purple and gold pride ran deep at Monday evening’s Union City School Board meeting.
With two weeks until the end of the 2012-13 school year for the Union City School System, the school board took time out Monday evening to reflect on some of the recent accomplishments of some of its students.
The board formally recognized the remarkable achievements of this year’s Union City High School girls’ basketball team during its meeting Monday evening.
Players, coaches, cheerleaders and sponsors were all praised for a memorable 2013 season in which the UCHS girls’ basketball team went 32-4 and finished the season winning second place in the TSSAA tournament in early March. The UCHS cheerleaders earned the school spirit award at the state tournament.
“They represented us extremely well this past March in the state basketball tournament,” Director of Schools Gary Houston said about the basketball team.
Members of the basketball team, cheerleaders, coaches and sponsors packed the city courtroom, most of whom were decked out in purple and gold.
“Congratulations … for the fine work that you did,” Houston told the group. His comments were followed by a round of applause and a standing ovation by the board.
Coach Eddie Suiter followed up the recognition of his team with a few remarks as he reflected on the current school year.
“We’re having a really good year at the high school with athletics,” he told the board.
He said when he came to UCHS to coach the girls’ basketball program, his goal was to have a “competitive team” but he has far exceeded that goal and is looking forward to the challenges of coaching next year.
Several cheerleaders and members of the girls’ basketball team were unable to attend Monday’s board meeting since they are still involved in softball and tennis action.
From sports to academics, the school board was briefed on other student achievements from this school year. The board was given a report on the recent SCOPE (Student Congress on Policies in Education) and heard from UCHS principal Wes Kennedy during its brief meeting.
SCOPE delegate Halle Kennedy told the board she was “so grateful for the opportunity” to attend the recent SCOPE conference. She said it was “an amazing experience.”
Fellow delegate Hailey Clendenin echoed her remarks and Molly Maclin described the conference as “an eye-opening and amazing experience.”
Houston praised the girls’ report, describing them as very articulate. “They did an outstanding job,” he said.
As he introduced Kennedy, Houston informed the board, “This has been a banner year in many ways.”
He began with a report on the high school’s success in athletics and then discussed academic achievements at UCHS.
Kennedy provided the board with a detailed rundown of the high school’s success in terms of spring sports. There are high hopes for UCHS to have a strong delegation competing in individual and team events at the upcoming Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
“Things are going really good for sports right now,” he said.
Then Kennedy announced that 19 of the 88 students who took the ACT test scored over 27 on the test and nine scored higher than 30.
He said those numbers are the highest in the history of the Union City School System.
He went on to praise this year’s student body at UCHS, saying there hasn’t been a single reported incident of bullying or any fights at the school.
In other action during Monday’s meeting, the school board:
• Approved a consent agenda that included accepting a low bid of $16,200 for 500 cases of copier paper from JD Distributors, spending $69,052.08 for new furniture for the Union City Middle School library and approval of a surplus sale of equipment from the discontinued Family Consumer Science class at UCHS. The UCMS furniture will be bought under a state contract.
The consent agenda also included approval of the school system’s 2013-14 federal project application.
• Was given a personnel update by Houston. He informed the board Brittany Kendall will be teaching at UCMS in the fall, Preston Martin has been reassigned to the special education program at the middle school and Jamie Pardue has been reassigned to the special education program at Union City Elementary School.
Houston also informed the board that his wife, Marsha Houston, has retired from teaching at the middle school. She and other retirees from the current school year will be honored at a retirement dinner planned for later this month at the Hampton Centré.
• Was given a report from Houston on the success of the recent Top Ten Academic Banquet at UCHS and the very popular UCES Spring Musical held recently. “It was an excellent program,” Houston said. “It was outstanding; it was a great night.”
• Was reminded that graduation ceremonies are scheduled for 8 p.m. May 26 at War Memorial Stadium on the UCHS campus.
Before the meeting officially began, board member Wesley Conley led a prayer. Once the meeting officially began, board member Karl Ullrich led the Pledge of Allegiance. At the close of the meeting, board member Curtis McLendon issued high praise for the administrative staff for its work during Houston’s recent sick leave.
“You didn’t miss a beat,” McLendon said. “We are so grateful.”
He went on to say the school system’s staff is “second to none in the state.”
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com. Published in The Messenger 5.14.13 |
