School board approves Woods hiring

By Myra Bean
In a special called meeting Friday, the South Panola School District Board of Trustees officially approved the hiring of Ricky Woods as the next high school head football coach.
After a 10-year absence, Woods returns to the place where he was instrumental in building a dynasty football program, amassing a 74-1 record and four consecutive state championships from 2002-2006. The team appeared in the state championship all five years Woods was at South Panola.
After board members went around the room and expressed how happy they were that South Panola was able to convince Woods to come back to Batesville, a unanimous vote sealed the deal.
Woods and his wife, Susan, expressed their gratitude to the board for asking them to come back.
Superintendent Tim Wilder gave effusive thanks to former head coach Willis Wright, Judge George Carlson (the radio voice of the Tigers on Friday nights) and principal Rodney Flowers for working so hard to secure Woods’ agreement.
-In other board news, Wilder updated the members on the progress of Batesville Elementary School. Wilder and the board took a tour of the building.
Wilder hopes to move the students into the building before the Christmas holiday break which starts December 16, but he said it may not happen.
As of Friday, there was a fire alarm sensor that is giving them trouble and two freezers in the cafeteria have not arrived.
-The board went into executive session to discuss a personnel issue, but no action was taken, according to attorney Ryan Revere.
The next school board meeting at the Parent Center is Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.