Superintendent Thomas Cole takes the helm Nov. 1
He does not officially start for a few weeks, but new school superintendent Thomas Dale Cole attended the Thursday, Oct. 17 Clay County Board of Education meeting. Cole had been in town all week to shadow acting school superintendent Scotty Penland.
“Thank you for the time spent with me,” Cole said. “I don’t think every superintendent would be willing to do that. He has been so gracious walking around, spending his time and introducing me to everyone and helping me understand the community.”
Cole said knowing the community leaders will help him do his job better.
“Looking forward to the future,” he said. “I have had a great few days. The students are fantastic and I may not remember all the names of them and staff I have met, but I have tracked down some yearbooks and that’s my weekend project. I look forward to tomorrow and the football game tomorrow night.”
Penland replied, “I have ulterior motives.”
Exciting news was shared about a $25,000 private donation made to the 4-H Fly-Tying and Fishing Club. It is not a school club, but it meets at the school administration building and is taught by Clay Schools IT employee Greg Charles. The donation was made by someone calling himself, "Uncle Zane."
The principals’ reports came next. Hayesville High School assistant principal Stacey Overlin announced HHS student, Travis Rutledge, was the first high school student in North Carolina to certify in Microsoft. Since then, others have.
“In addition, the Hayesville Marching Band has had two big Saturdays,“ Overlin said. “They swept superior honors in all six categories.”
Other HHS highlights included:
• About 12 to 15 students attended Construction and Career Day.
• More than 100 students attended the Clay County Career Day.
• HHS Health Occupations Students of America officers attended the regional officers’ training workshop at South West Community College.
• Health students led a blood drive in the parking lot. Their goal was 30 units of blood, but they received much more.
• Health science students helped with HES and HMS health screenings.
• Four HHS teachers attended a teacher leadership training.
• Financial aid workshops were held this week.
• Mr. and Miss HHS have been announced — Caz Anderson and Lilly Brown.
• HHS Women’s Golf has regionals.
• HHS Cross Country will be in conference championships next week.
• Three teachers and 13 students will be going to Denmark in November for the annual exchange program.
• The final attendance numbers for September were 95.71 percent, compared to 91.22 percent for the same time last year.
Principal Tommy Hollingsworth reported for HMS. “First of all, our HMS cross country girls won the conference championship,” he said. “Good thing is they are sixth graders so we will have them a few more years.”
He also reported assistant principal Heather Plemmons’ husband, Chad, has come home from the hospital. “It will be a long, hard road,” Hollingsworth said.
Other HMS items included:
• The volleyball team had its last game and winter sports will start soon.
• Like HMS Facebook page to see more HMS info.
Hayesville Elementary School principal Lindsey Waldroup was out so there was no HES report. Penland spoke instead. “I will say this about the elementary school, the middle school and the high school,” he said. “All is going well based on the number of complaints by parents and teachers showing up in my office. I have not had many, so you all are doing a great job.”
Penland said the old shop building is coming down and there will be an auction of excess equipment. Jackie Allison presented a two-page list of some of the items to be sold. The list included air powered nail guns, a six-inch planer, children’s bicycles, a three-phase commercial table saw and much more. An auctioneer will be handling the process to sell these items most effectively. The board approved the auction.
The board also approved making Tuesday, Nov. 26, a half-day of school. Penland said the schools have a workshop available which could be done that day. Students are out of school Wednesday; therefore, it will give them an extra half day of
Thanksgiving break. Other topics were:
• The roof of the new primary school is partially installed. Furniture options are being researched.
• The new sports complex ballfield facility is out for bid.
• MOUs were signed with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Tri-County Community College.
• The Appalachian Day Treatment program has not begun. Angel Owens said HMS really needs treatment options so help will begin there.
Penland said the Oct. 15 Alcohol Awareness Town Hall held by People of Clay C.A.R.E. went well. He did not realize the National Guard did free counterdrug work as their representative reported. The National Guard and Kelly Teague, of Community Impact NC, are willing to return and do more work with the coalition, the schools, the commissioners or any organization.
During closed session, the board approved employment of Alicia Gentry to teach HHS English as Marianne Leek's replacement.
The next regular meeting of the Clay County School Board is Monday, Nov. 25.