Collierville legislator gets award for education role

By Liz Alvey
Special to Collierville Appeal
February 26, 2004

Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) received the Tennessee School Boards Association Legislative Award in Nashville last week.

Each year, during its Day-on-the-Hill, TSBA recognizes a legislator who has made outstanding contributions to public education in Tennessee or has established a record of support for school board goals.

Norris represents Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale and Dyer counties in the General Assembly.

He was accompanied by superintendents and school board members from each county as the award was presented by Shelby County School Board member Ron Lollar, who praised Norris for his efforts to increase funding for public education.

Norris was elected to the state Senate in 2000 after serving as a Shelby County commissioner. He was chairman of Shelby County's education committee and is a recipient of the PTA's Lifetime Membership Award.

Norris passed legislation this session making it possible for school districts to crack down on nonresident enrollees. The measure could save Shelby County taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

He also fought for reimbursement of millions of dollars in federal Medicaid Administrative Claim funds due but unpaid to school districts across the state.


Liz Alvey is with the Tennessee state Senate office.