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West Carroll Special School District Named National Beta District of Distinction

ATWOOD — National Beta announced West Carroll Special School District as a 2020-2021 National District of Distinction. This award is given to those deserving districts who offer National Beta in all schools in their district, and who induct qualifying students in all eligible grades (4-12). WCSSD is one of only 24 districts to receive this award nationwide. more

8/17/21

Elementary Beta Students — Front Row (L to R): Marissa Mueller, Callie Bryant, Sasa Lane, Chloe Rimmer, Noah Corss and Leah Cherry. Back Row: Sponsor Brittany Fowler, Wade Keymon and Ava Pinson, Brayden Arnold. Not Pictured: Carson Cooper and Aubrey Hammett.

West Carroll Special School District Beta Club, Members Place in National Competition

ATWOOD — The last few months, National Beta members from West Carroll Elementary and West Carroll Junior-Senior High School have been working hard to prepare their entries for National Beta Convention. In June, they were able to celebrate that hard work when announced as winners of the following competitions: more

8/11/21

Vera Tippitt, Tripp and Neyland Hollowell, and Ronan and Willow Stenberg.

McKenzie, Huntingdon, West Carroll Release Preliminary Enrollment

Three Carroll County schools released preliminary enrollment numbers for the first week of school. The three directors noted enrollment often changes during the early weeks of a new school year. more

8/10/21

Lynn Watkins, school director, and school board members Jon Davis and George Cassidy look at the proposed multi-use sports practice complex proposed for the high school campus. No action was taken on the drawings during the meeting.

McKenzie School Board to Decide COVID-19 Policy on August 17

McKENZIE (August 3) — What is the school’s policy for COVID for the 2021-22 school year? That will be discussed and decided during a special meeting on Tuesday, August 17, 5:30 p.m. at the Board Office, located on Bell Avenue. more

8/10/21

West Carroll School Board reviews the 2021-22 budget before passage. Pictured (L to R) Kimberly Smith, Misty Mitchell, Jeremy Jackson, William Robinson, Christopher Hayden (attorney), Patrick Lindsey and David Hilliard.

West Carroll Approves Budget, COVID Plan

ATWOOD (August 5) — West Carroll Special School District Board of Education approved a $9,051,084 budget for the fiscal year 2021-22, beginning July 1, 2021. It is funded by a local tax rate of $1.2207 per $100 assessed value on real property within the district. more

8/10/21

McKenzie’s Braulio Vega Recognized During UT Martin Honors Day

MARTIN (July 28) — Braulio Vega, of McKenzie, received the William H. Baker Scholarship Award on May 2 during the University of Tennessee at Martin’s annual Honors Day Ceremony. The award is given by the College of Business and Global Affairs. For more information about UT Martin, visit utm.edu. more

8/4/21

James Derek Jones Named Director of Bethel Renaissance Regiment

McKENZIE (July 22) —James Derek Jones is the new director of the Renaissance Regiment at Bethel University. more

7/28/21

Weakley County Schools Set to Return August 9

Weakley County students begin the 2021-22 school year with a full day of school on Monday, August 9. more

7/27/21

Two-Week Camp has Marching Rebels Ready to Compete

McKENZIE (July 23) — The McKenzie High School Marching Rebels wrapped up their annual two-week camp Friday with a performance for family and supporters in the MHS Theatre. more

7/27/21

What to Expect in the Upcoming School Year

As the first day of the 2021-2022 school year approaches, students of the McKenzie Special School District can look forward to a mask-less, almost normal school year. more

7/27/21

McKenzie School Board to Meet

The McKenzie Special School District’s first school board meeting for the 2021-2022 school year is August 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the McKenzie Board of Education building. more

7/27/21

Huntingdon School Approves 2021-22 Budget

HUNTINGDON (July 22) — There is no tax increase to fund the 2021-22 fiscal year budget for the Huntingdon Special School District. The Board of Education approved the new $16.6 million budget with a tax rate of $1.1211 per $100 assessed value - the same as last year. more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 7/27/21

Principals Kelly Spivey from McKenzie High School, Dorothea Royle from McKenzie Middle School and Tanya Brown from McKenzie Elementary School are pictured with Director of Schools Lynn Watkins.

McKenzie Schools Kick Off Inservice With Breakfast

McKENZIE (July 26) — The McKenzie Special School District School Board hosted its annual breakfast, catered by Mallards, Monday morning for all McKenzie Special School District faculty. The school board and administrators met in the McKenzie High School cafeteria at 8 a.m. more

By Lyndsey Summers
wlsummers@mckenziebanner.com | 7/27/21

Clayhill’s Lone Star Rodeo Provides Funds for West Carroll

West Carroll School program benefited from the Clayhill, Inc. sponsored Lone Star Rodeo. School organizations received a total of $2,039 from parking at the event. The funds benefit Project Graduation, Football and BETA Club. more

7/20/21

Bethel, Chamber to Welcome New, Returning Students

Bethel University and the McKenzie Chamber of Commerce & Industry will welcome new and returning students and their families with a Welcome Weekend August 13-14. more

7/20/21

Brad Hurley, Chairman of Hollow Rock-Bruceton School Board presents a plaque to Theresa Scott upon her retirement.

Theresa Scott Retires from Hollow Rock-Bruceton

BRUCETON (June 28) — The Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District Board of Education recognized Theresa Scott for her 28 years of service as a teacher in the system. more

7/13/21

First Baptist Church of McKenzie sponsored the annual Back-to-School Jumpstart on Sunday, July 11 at Mulberry Park.

Back-to-School is Just Around the Corner

Though it feels like summer just began to students and educators enjoying their break, the start of the 2021-22 school year is just weeks away. more

7/13/21

Pictured are students Gracie Moore of South Carroll, West Watson of McKenzie and Alexis Stone of West Carroll. Mandy Drewry, Carroll County Coordinated School Health Director, stands behind the students.

Carroll County Teen Health Council Students Attend TTI

MARTIN — Students from Carroll County joined close to 400 youth leaders from across the state at the Tennessee Teen Institute (TTI) on the University of Tennessee at Martin campus June 13-17. The Tennessee Teen Institute is a five-day youth leadership and prevention camp sponsored by the Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (JACOA). more

7/7/21

Alyssa Butler and Jack Barrow received plaques from Director Preston Caldwell in recognition of their leadership, commitment to academic excellence and their athletic success.

West Carroll School Board Approves Bids, Introduces New Hires

The West Carroll Special School District Board of Education met Thursday, July 1, at 6 p.m. in the West Carroll Junior/Senior High School Cafeterium. more

By Lyndsey Summers
lsummers@mckenziebanner.com | 7/6/21

Lilly Ruesken (left), a Gleason High School graduate, visited the University of Tennessee at Martin on May 26 to participate in Summer Orientation and Registration. She is pictured with her mother, Candy Lowe.

New Skyhawks Attend SOAR at UT Martin

Every year, the University of Tennessee at Martin holds Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) for incoming freshmen. This year, SOAR sessions began May 24 and will end August 6. Sessions can be in-person or virtual beginning June 23. more

6/30/21