No masks required at CCS for now
News August 9, 2021
HAYESVILLE, NC – Clay County students will be returning on August 23, 2021, and this year masks are optional for students and staff for now.
During the July 26, 2021 board meeting, the members voted to not require masks for the upcoming year. However, parents can send their children to school masked if that’s their preference.
83 percent of teachers were in favor of optional masks for this school year. School nurses recommended following NCDHHS and CDC guidance, which requires masks for K-8 for all staff and students. They cited masks’ effectiveness last year.
Only 1 percent of 12–17-year-olds in Clay County have been vaccinated and 34 percent of residents are fully vaccinated.
Current CDC guidance asks that everyone, including vaccinated individuals, wear a mask indoors if in an area of substantial or high transmission. Clay County is listed as a high transmission community by the CDC. Case data demonstrated a 22 percent change in 7-day totals in the area. Many southern states are seeing COVID-19 cases rise as the Delta variant works its way across the region.
Since Clay County Schools (CCS) aren’t requiring masks, online learning will remain an option for families who don’t want to potentially expose their children to COVID-19. However, this year, the school system will be using an online academy. CCS teachers won’t be providing in-person and remote learning to students.
Parents who wish to participate in online learning must inform their child’s principal by August 18.
Any student moved to fully remote instruction during Semester 1 must remain on fully remote instruction through December 22, 2021.
The parent must notify the principal that the student will be returning for Semester 2 by December 17th.
Cautionary measures such as quarantine and isolation for students and staff who are exposed, experiencing symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19 will remain in place.
CCS board applied for grant funding for onsite COVID-19 during the board meeting as well. If received, the $100,000 grant would connect them to a vendor for rapid tests, in-depth testing, and the hiring of either a nurse or nurse’s assistant.
Parents still have the option to refuse the testing of their child for COVID-19.
The in-house testing should help CCS isolate COVID-19 cases within the school system and hopefully prevent quarantining of entire classrooms.
Clay County Schools Outlines Summer Learning Program
Clay County Schools May 5, 2021
HAYESVILLE, NC – At the April board of education meeting, the basic structure of the 2021 Summer Learning Program was presented.
Clay County Schools opted for 30 days of instructional learning with the first half running through June 14 to July 2. The week of July 5 to 9 will be a vacation and the second half will be from July 12 to 30. The timetable provides a little break until the new school year begins.
Bus transportation will be provided. Breakfast and lunch will be provided free of charge.
The summer program was mandated by Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina General Assembly earlier in the year. It will work in conjunction with the summer Read to Achieve Program. Funds for the classes will come from Federal CARES Act funds and the $35,000 for Read to Achieve.
Students at-risk for retention will be the first to be contacted about entering the program. Later if any spots are still available, then other students can sign up. Currently, it’s difficult to determine how many students will be at-risk because class is still in session and state testing hasn’t begun. Those numbers should be available next meeting.
Also, licensed teachers capable of face-to-face instruction must agree to work over the summer.
The goals of the Summer Learning Program are to close the achievement gaps caused by the pandemic, give students a chance to catch up to the next grade level, provide social and emotional support, and offer food security to those enlisted.
The focus for kindergarten through eighth grade will be on reading, math, science, physical activity, and one enrichment class.
As for the high school, an in-person licensed instructor must teach students who failed biology, English 2, and/or math 3. Credit recovery courses will also be available for other classes, but an in-person instructor isn’t required. High school students will also have a physical activity class.
Certified staff will be paid $40 per hour and those with the National Board Certification will be eligible for a $1,200 bonus as required by law. A high-growth teacher identified by student testing will also be eligible for the bonus. Classified full and part-time staff will receive $20 per hour. 12-month staff are on normal salary because they report whether students are there or not.
Clay County Board of Education members sworn in
Clay County Schools, Community, News December 28, 2020
HAYESVILLE, NC – The two reelected board of education members, Danny Jones and Reba Beck took their oath of office during the December 14, 2020 meeting.
District Court Judge Tessa Sellers administered the oath. Jones and Beck swore to uphold the Constitution of the Unites States and North Carolina. They also promised to uphold their offices as board of education members.
Superintendent Dale Cole attended the meeting virtually after being advised to quarantine by the health department.
Meeting business
Cole thanked the Clay County Historical and Arts Council for bringing culture and enlightenment to students.
The school district is also looking to consolidate technology used between teachers and parents by moving to Edlio Engage App. It’s a source of two-way communication between teachers, parents, and students. Edlio can also translate from English to Spanish, eliminating some of the lost in translation issues. A new website is also in development to provide a more user-friendly experience for visitors.
The board implemented a new school mental-health policy that was required by the state. The focus of the policy is on the whole child, not just education, but physical, mental, environmental, and education. The district previously hired four counselors for each school and a social worker. With the extra stressors of 2020, students greatly benefited from having counselors to speak with.
Hayesville High School graduation scheduled for July 24
Clay County Schools, Community, News June 30, 2020
HAYESVILLE, N.C. – In the June 25 Clay County Schools Board of Education meeting, Hayesville High School (HHS) Principal Jim Saltz discussed graduation plans for July 24 at 6 p.m.
Each HHS graduate can bring four guests to the ceremony at Frank R. Long Football stadium. Seniors will sit socially distanced on the football field, and guests will receive assigned seating in the stands. All students and guests must wear masks. The students’ masks will feature the HHS logo.
The school opted for a balloon release instead of throwing caps, and a parade around the square will take place after the ceremony.
Students who cannot attend will have a personalized ceremony that will live-streamed. The hybrid baccalaureate, awards, and scholarship service were all previously broadcast.
Saltz gave graduation and end of year update over a live stream meeting.
Clay County Sheriff’s Office provided Senior yard signs and the large signage on the square. HHS Journalism class created the senior spotlight features.
71 percent of the 2020 seniors earned at least one job certification through the Career Technical Education Program. 34 percent received more than one nationally recognized job certification.
80 percent of the class earned a Silver level or better on the ACT WorkKeys exam. The exam focused on career-readiness of students and trainability.
“Really great job of our seniors showing that they are career-ready,” said Superintendent Dale Cole.
College-ready seniors accepted over 95 scholarships. 29 percent graduated with honors, 25 percent were N.C. scholars, and 17 percent were Presidential scholars.
The 2020 graduating class earned the largest number of college degrees ever at HHS. Five students graduated with a two-year degree and a high school diploma. Also, 41 percent graduated with at least one college credit.
“We’re going to see that number continue to grow each year. I also think we’re going to see the number of nationally recognized job certifications grow each year because really, they need both. It’s college and career ready, not college or career ready,” stated Cole.
Cole presented the 2020 senior statistics.
The rain dates for the graduation ceremony are July 25 and July 26. Prom’s currently on hold, but the school plans to hold it at a later date.
HHS 9-11 Students
As for the 9-11 students, the Tiger Team contacted most of the individuals to discuss options for 2019-2020 grades.
“A student was allowed to choose a COVID-19 grade that would not affect their GPA or a traditional grade, which would affect their GPA,” explained HHS Principal Jim Saltz.
Also, 90 percent of the 2020-2021 students have registered for classes. TCC advisement and intern placements are also underway.
All six CNA students passed their CNA certification examination on June 25, 2020.
Two FBLA students Tia Proctor and Virginia Sumpter came in 14th place in the national competition.
Rep. Meadows moves on to November, Palmer to remain sheriff
Election 2018, News October 29, 2018
MURPHY, N.C. – Tuesday’s primary election yielded two tight local races and decided several other local races with no Democratic opposition moving into the November general election, according to unofficial results from the county Board of Elections.
Nationally, incumbent Mark Meadows won in a landslide over challenger Chuck Archerd both at the county level and district-wide in the Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives District 11. In Cherokee County, Meadows took 3,221 votes for 88.17 percent compared to Archerd’s 432 for 11.83 percent. Across the 16-county district, Meadows took 86.35 percent of the votes for a total of 35,438 votes while Archerd took 13.65 percent for 5,600 votes.
In the Democratic primary U.S. House District 11, Phillip G. Price edged out candidates Steve Woodsmall and D. Scott Donaldson. Within the district, Price garnered 13,403 votes for 40.58 percent while Woodsmall and Donaldson took 10,286 votes (31.14 percent) and 9,342 votes (28.29 percent), respectively. In Cherokee County, Price won with 204 votes (39.84 percent) compared to Woodsmall’s 162 (31.64 percent) and Donaldson’s 146 (28.52 percent). Price will go on to face Meadows in the November general.
With no Democratic opposition coming in the fall election, the sheriff’s race was decided last night as Republican incumbent Derrick Palmer defeated challenger Dan Sherrill. Sheriff Palmer received 2,732 votes for 71.50 percent while Sherrill picked up 1,089 votes for 28.50 percent.
The two closest races of the night were both for Cherokee County Board of Commissioners seats. Republican incumbent Dr. Dan Eichenbaum narrowly defeated Winfield Clonts by 40 votes for the Board of Commissioners District 4 primary. Commission Chairman Eichenbaum took a total of 1,919 votes for 50.53 percent while Clonts received 1,879 for 49.47 percent. No Democrat qualified to run the November election; therefore, Eichenbaum will retain his seat on the Board of Commissioners.
Another close commissioners race was for the District 1 seat. Republican incumbent Cal Stiles edged out challenger Tim West 1,938-1,863 (50.99 percent to 49.01 percent). Stiles will face Democrat challenger Gary James, who ran unopposed in the primary, in November’s general election.
The District 3 Board of Commissioners seat was also on the ballot last night as Republican incumbent Gary “Hippie” Westmoreland faced challenger Corey V. Bailey. Westmoreland won with 2,686 votes for 72.52 percent while Bailey took 1,018 votes for 27.48 percent. Westmoreland will also retain his seat on the board as there is no Democratic opposition in November.
Four seats on the Cherokee County Board of Education were also on the primary ballot. An At-large race featuring Republican candidates Keesha Curtis and Tylor J. Dockery saw Curtis win with 1,707 votes (51.59 percent) to Dockery’s 1,602 (48.41 percent). Curtis will face Democrat incumbent Tim Coffey, who ran unopposed in the primary, in the general election for the At-large seat on the board.
The District 3 Board of Education Republican primary saw three candidates vying for two seats from the district. In this race, the top two candidates received seats on the board. Overall, Joe Wood received the most votes with 2,481 and 42.47 percent while Mark Patterson took second with 1,767 votes and 30.25 percent. Incumbent Paul H. Brown lost his re-election bid as he finished with 1,594 votes and 27.29 percent. No Democrats qualified to run in the November general election; therefore, Wood and Patterson will assume seats on the Board of Education.
Rounding out the Board of Education races, Jeff Martin defeated Jeannie Gaddis in the Republican primary 2,397-1,175 (67.11 percent to 32.89 percent) in the District 2 race. Martin has no Democratic opponent in the general election and will take the District 2 seat on the board.
Overall, for the county, 4,391 out of 22,959 potential ballots were cast for a voter turnout of 19.13 percent.
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