Four-day week for K-5th

Sadly, the Clay County Board of Education began its September meeting by acknowledging the death of another longtime employee as they had done in August. “Sherry Rogers died yesterday,” Dr. Jason Shook, board of education chairman said. “She was a Pre-K teacher assistant for right at 15 years here. Obviously, we are saddened by this loss. She was a great asset to the community and the school system. We want the Rogers family to know we are thinking about them and praying for them during this time so we will pause for this moment of silence.”

On a positive note, during Monday's meeting perhaps the biggest news for the community was the student re-entry plan for kindergarten through grade five that would allow students to return on a four-day schedule. Superintendent Dale Cole said students have been on Plan A/B Cohort Plan B since school began in August. Gov. Roy Cooper is allowing school districts the option of moving students in kindergarten through fifth grade to Plan A because younger children are less likely to have symptoms, spread the virus or experience severe disease.

Some other reasons for allowing this age group to return to school include the hardship on parents with younger children and the community economic impact due to the hardship. Cole reminded the group that the decision to limit the grades who may return was a state mandate and not a local decision. Following the governor’s announcement, local parents were polled about their schooling intentions. “We had to know those numbers to plan,” he said. The projected numbers of students who will be fully remote are: • Kindergarten - 13. • First - 11. • Second - 14. • Third - 6. • Fourth - 11. • Fifth - 19. Teachers were also polled and procedures were reviewed. “Beginning Oct. 5, I recommend all kindergarten through fifth grade students be allowed to attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday,” the superintendent said. “Wednesdays will remain virtual for everyone, kindergarten through 12. This allows teachers planning time to put together virtual lessons, video recording and to carry out Google online meetings with virtual students.”

Cole explained Plan A details: • Social distancing in classrooms is recommended, but no longer required. • Masks always required. • Social distancing required during transitions and areas outside of classrooms. • Meals will be eaten in classrooms “As required by the state, buses remain on Plan B if they transport anyone over fifth grade as ours do. The rule is one per seat except siblings,” Cole continued. “We encourage all parents moving their students to face-to-face for the first time to provide transportation if they can to help us out with numbers. We may have to do double runs on some buses due to numbers. Hard to know until we run the routes for a week. Be patient with us and we will tweak and combine routes to make things better

as we go. This is still not going to be the way it was prior to last March, but it is a huge step.” Cole said there is a shortage of bus tires and other supplies nationwide. “We cannot run a bus with bad tires so we will gradually have to pull some off the road,” he added. “There is a supply chain problem across the board due to COVID.” In other matters, the new Hayesville Primary School is on schedule, according to Cole. “It is also under budget,” Cole added. “Barely under budget, but it is under. The furniture currently being delivered and installed by Young Office, Inc. of Asheville, who we are contracted with. Next steps are obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy; completing punch lists with the architect; civil engineer and food service consultant. That chain of events must happen in order so we are lining those up right now. The next thing people will be able to see is the playground equipment delivered on Thursday, Oct. 15. It will take about two weeks to install. This takes us right to Sunday, Nov. 1 when we aim to try to move in.”

To maintain proper social distance guidelines, only invited guests will be allowed to attend a special ribboncutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. The public will have an opportunity to see it during a later open event. Cole also provided an update on the security door project. He explained how multiple buildings common to older schools require frequent student use of exterior doors. Newer schools have one main entrance and students usually stay inside throughout the day except for physical education. “As you are aware, we have been working on improving the security of the school district over the past couple of years,” he said. “One of the main ways to do that is to secure exterior doors so only staff members have access to those doors.”

To ensure better student safety, Clay County Schools technology team has been working to install card readers on exterior doors. Having them do it has saved the schools about half the cost, which would have been about $3,000 per door. Rather than keys, staff will have access cards. Federal Title IV funds allocated for Safe and Healthy Students will pay most of the rest of the cost to complete the project by March 2021. Cole has worked out a contract with Tri-County Community College for an adult diploma program. “That will provide adults who have dropped out of Clay County Schools with a diploma which has Clay County Schools on it,” he explained. “I think it is important for folks who have had to drop out of school for whatever reason, to have the opportunity to have a diploma which has CCS on it if they are willing to do the work and that is what they are earning. Students have another option other than a GED. They do not get to walk with our graduation, but they get a diploma and come off our dropout rate.”

More good news was shared by Cole about renewal of the Gear Up Grant. “We received notification over the weekend the Gear Up Grant was renewed,” he said. “We will continue to partner with Appalachian State on the seven-year federal grant in the amount of $2,748,269 to be used in direct support of our students. We're excited about what that program can offer for our students.” Funds are to be used to support grades seven through 12 by helping increase college-going rates, particularly among first-generation college students and minorities.

Other business, including some from the consent agenda: • The budget resolution for 2020-2021 school year was approved after being presented by Shelley Hollingsworth. The total budget fund is $1,737,378. The county appropriation is more than $1,600,000 which is a $160,000 increase from last year. This was intended to pay a receptionist, nutritionist and custodian, as well as additional public utilities for the new school. • Approval to initiate foreclosure process on Bethabara Road property, which was a bond forfeiture. It does not belong to the schools unless there are no public auction bids. In that event, the schools choose what to do with it. • 2nd amendment to superintendent’s contract. • An administrative four year contract renewal for Angel Owens. • To ratify the superintendent’s selection of Becky Stewart as district contact for several roles specified in Policy 1710/4021/7230: Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying and Policy 1720/4015/7225: Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Complaint Procedure.

Per social distancing protocols in place since March, the Clay County Board of Education meeting was shown virtually via the school’s Facebook page while the board maintained social distancing within the board room. The recordings also remain on the Facebook page. The next Clay County meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 26.