Education

The Hopkins County School District is a step closer to hiring a new superintendent after the board ended a second round of interviews last night in Madisonville.

A screening committee recommended four finalists last week. Board members questioned the first two candidates Tuesday.

People who want to sell food products in Tennessee made in home kitchens can become certified on May 20. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and UT Extension have a day-long course at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville. It costs $100 and requires pre-registration. For information, phone (865) 974-7717. Certification covers such food as baked goods, jams and jellies and candies. People who cater birthday and wedding cakes are not required to take the course.

Five of six Christian County School Board redistricting plans include closing Lacy Elementary School. The proposals discussed at a school board meeting last night aim to control facility costs while attempting to zone students closer to their homes.

Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill said that the board did not vote on the proposal and redistricting discussions are not included in the board's next meeting agenda. Communications director Heather Aubin said the proposals include closing one to four elementary schools including Lacy, Belmont, Indian Hills and Holiday and restructuring middle schools.

The University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo program has received a $100,000 donation to fund scholarships for the state's only college rodeo. A charity founded by former Allegro Fine Foods chairman Dave Wilcox has pledged $20,000 a year in scholarships for the next five years. Wilcox was a fixture on the local rodeo scene until his death in 2011. The Betsy Ross Foundation, the charity he named in honor of his late wife, is donating the money.  The donation is the largest gift to rodeo in UT Martin's history.

 "The Wonder of Learning - The Hundred Languages of Children" is an exhibition of the infant-toddler Centers and Preschools of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, Italy, at the Henderson Community College Fine Arts Center. This Thursday through Saturday there's a conference featuring speakers from the schools of Reggio Emilia, and it's still open for attendance. Kate Lochte asked Murray State College of Education's Dr. Jo Robertson, Chair of Early Childhood and Elementary Education to explain what the Reggio Emilia philosophy of Education is about. See more about The Wonder of Learning.