New school project on track

By Marcia Barnes

Staff Writer

Funds for the new Hayesville Intermediate School are available and a called meeting to select an architect firm to design plans for the school will be held in the boardroom at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8.

This was confirmed at Monday evening’s school board meeting. The 2022-2023 North Carolina state budget awarded $8 million additional dollars to Clay County Schools for the new project. CCS have been awarded the maximum funding available from the state with no local match requirement to build the new school.

In other good news, the Clay County School Board recognized three Hayesville High School seniors who attended the Empower Teen Leadership Summit. Lorrie Ross, of Mountain Projects, introduced Lyndsey Evans, Dallyn Rhea and Jacob Christiansen who were three of six seniors selected to attend.

Each senior spoke about what the experience meant to them and what they wanted to bring back to others at Hayesville High School. Superintendent Dale Cole said, “What is most effective is positive peer pressure.”

The announcement of Ginger Scerri as the 2022 Clay County Teacher of the Year was made by Cole who said Scerri was unable to attend the meeting.

Cole gave an update on Clay County Schools maintenance, but said he didn’t want to present all of the list of projects going on. “The flooring project is the big thing we are doing right now," he said. "We’ve installed a new HVAC system and replaced fencing around the football field because the current one is falling in places and unsafe. A third scoreboard is being added in the gym.”

Cole also said the much needed awning for the elementary school is going up at the traffic circle and pressure washing will be completed on the exterior of buildings where needed.

Lisa Burch, Pre-K director and Heather Plemmons, Hayesville Primary School principal gave presentations on their respective students. Burch said 63 children were served in the 2021-2022 school year at Clay County Schools Pre-K and all teacher assistants now have a two-year degree.

Plemmons reported on a child assessment, titled “Gold Assessment,” which is given by the teachers. Plemmons said the assessment of Pre-K students will allow the kindergarten teachers to know where these students are academically at the beginning of the year. “This school year we will have an interventionist, we’ve built-in intervention time for additional help,” she said.

Theresa Waldroup, Clay Community for Schools director gave a 2021-2022 final report in a video highlighting the remarkable and on-going work of mentors, tutors and community volunteers. Waldroup said, “In my heart of hearts our children were so alone and the social support given has made the difference. Students have made really great gains.” She thanked all the school principals for the opportunity to work alongside them.

Angel Owens, director of Exceptional Children Programs asked approval for a new provider, “Beautifully Intertwined,” to provide physical therapy and occupational therapy for exceptional children in the coming school year. The provider is based in Cherokee County and both the occupational therapist and physical therapist live in Clay County.

Owens said, “This will put live people on our campus, this is not a virtual service. There will also be an occupational assistant.” She emphasized that therapists and assistants must have North Carolina certification. The new provider would be at a savings of $9,000.

In the 2021-2022 school year, 17 students received physical therapy and 54 students received occupational therapy. The board approved the request.

The next regular board meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 22.