By Marcia Barnes
Staff Writer
The written agenda for the Monday, Sept. 25 Clay County Board of Education meeting did not include the real need for school bus drivers, but Superintendent Scotty Penland spoke on the situation at the end of the open meeting.
Penland said that the biggest problem right now for the schools is the need for bus drivers. “It’s not just here, it’s statewide,” Penland said.
Currently, bus drivers for the schools may hold dual jobs. Some bus drivers are also teachers and staff employees. When a teacher who drives a bus route is expected to attend a meeting or conference, there may or may not be a substitute available to drive the route.
Assessing the current week, Penland said, “I think we have Thursday covered.”
Reports at the regular Monday night meeting included the status of the 2023-24 state budget. “The budget was approved last week by the House Committee, it goes to the governor and the governor has 10 days to sign it or not sign it,” Penland said.
“He says he’s not going to sign it. All that means is that at the end of 10 days it becomes law anyway. That’s what he says he’s going to do, let it become law without signing it. That’s where we are.”
Penland said that the document is 611 pages, 67 pages for education and 12 to 13 pages on money, the most important part. However, five million for this or that doesn’t translate to what Clay County is going to get.
Chief Financial Officer Shelley Hollingsworth said that pay raises are budgeted for 2023-24. Assistant principals and teachers should receive between a two percent and seven.seven percent increase in pay depending on their certification and years of service; principals, four percent, also based on their growth. Non-certified staff and central office staff are budgeted for a four percent increase in pay; bus drivers, six percent.
Hollingsworth said that there may be an answer in two weeks and everyone is waiting on the governor. Then, they will be waiting on the Department of Public Instruction for further guidance in disseminating the budget.
Following the 2023-24 budget update, Penland gave a quick update on the new Hayesville Intermediate School. Architects visited the school on Monday to discuss safety and lock-down procedures, then met with teachers in the art, music and science departments to ask them what they wanted the rooms to look like.
Penland said, “We are also hoping to get some extra funding. We’ve got the plans ready. We’re ready to start building as soon as we know how much money we have.”
There was a positive report on the 2022-23 test scores from Clay County Schools principals and Hayesville Primary School Principal Heather Plemmons reported test scores in reading for kindergarten were up by three percent; first grade, up 13 percent; and second grade, up 12 percent. Math scores were also up by iReady test results by an overall eight percent.
Hayesville Elementary School Principal Melissa Godfrey said that all grade levels scored in the top 25 percent in the state. Godfrey said hiring an Instructional coach and a full-time counselor has made a difference. She said that the special education team works well together and that there is an inclusive, fun atmosphere at the school for which she is thankful.
Hayesville Middle School Principal Missy Rich said that the story at the middle school was a little bit different than the other schools. Math scores were lower; the school did meet growth in reading. One of the steps for improvement is the purchase of 180 math intervention programs.
Hayesville High School Principal Stacey Overlin said that there is a lot to celebrate at the high school this year. Overlin said, “It’s a busy time, the first month and last month are always kind of hectic with senior portraits, grade-level meetings, homecoming voting, progress reports go out for the first time this Wednesday and we’ve started working on our accreditation. We’re in our accreditation year this year. That hard work has begun.” Overlin added that the theme for the 2023-24 high school year is “Show up, work hard, be nice.”
Overlin presented test scores to the board and public which emphasized the high school is the best in the west, referring to western North Carolina. ACT and Work Key were up from 73.7 percent to 93.9 percent.
Reporting on Career and Technology Education, Revonda Palmer, CTE Director announced the award of a $500,000 grant which will continue to feed the programs in place and expand the school to include the eighth grade.
There was a first read of seven policies. Penland said that a link has been added to the Clay County Schools website on a Parental Bill of Rights.
Following the approval of the Hayesville Intermediate School boiler replacement project, the board requested a closed session.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23.