Hayesville has ‘smooth’ first day of school

Policy set for out-of

county student enrollment

  • Gracie Taylor • Clay County Progress Noah Swope is all smiles after fi nishing his fi rst day in the sixth grade and marking a new beginning at Hayesville Middle School from elementary. Swope was among more than 1,300 students to return to the classroom on Monday.
    Gracie Taylor • Clay County Progress Noah Swope is all smiles after fi nishing his fi rst day in the sixth grade and marking a new beginning at Hayesville Middle School from elementary. Swope was among more than 1,300 students to return to the classroom on Monday.

    By Marcia Barnes

    Staff Writer

     

    The first day of school was reported on Monday evening to be a good start in the Clay County School year. Superintendent Melissa Godfrey said that enrollment was 1,327 students and that number increased by 30 students from the previous year.

    “Everyone is happy to be back,” Godfrey said. “Excited to have our kids back.

    The new traffic patterns went well. There was help from the Clay County Sheriff’s Department and the State Patrol. The bus loaded the last child at 3:20 p.m. and the goal is 3:15 p.m.”

    Recognition of baseball athletes and Coach Joe Jack Sellers was first on the meeting’s agenda. Sellers has been named Smoky Mountain Conference Coach of the Year.

    Athletes receiving SMC Honorable Mention were Cade Caruso and Dawson Devane. Chance Hughes and Kyle Shaheen were recognized as SMC All Conference. Michael Mauney was recognized as SMC All Conference, SMC Player of the Year and NCHSAA All-State Team. Tate Roberts was recognized for SMC All Conference and NCHSAA All District 8 Team. Jackson Sellers, SMC Co-Pitcher of the Year, was recognized SMC All Conference and NCHAA All-State Team. Baseball trophies, framed certificates and award plaques were handed to each athlete by Sellers with recognition for their individual and team effort. A huge round of applause followed the presentation.

    An update was given by Godfrey on residency and admission of students who reside in another county and Godfrey said that she had received calls over the summer on the issue. Godfrey explained that beginning in 2016 there has been a policy of discretionary admission and tuition admission. Now, an application has been created for anyone who applies to the school. Tuition for an out-of-county student is set at $1,583 for this school year. It is based on the Average Daily Membership Fund which comes from the State of North Carolina for each student in attendance.

    “Families do have to show residency when students are enrolled and we are conducting a residency audit from the third grade up,” Godfrey said. “This data will be provided to the board.”

    Angel Owens, Chief Officer for Federal Programs reported on the Consolidated Federal Program Plans for Clay County Schools. The funding applications are for the grant cycle from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2025 and the federal programs are authorized by the Every Student Success Act.

    Clay County Schools apply for:

    • Title I - Education for the Economically Disadvantaged and Homeless Students

    • Title II - Improving Teacher Quality

    • Title IVA - Student Support & Academic Enrichment

    • RLIS - Rural, Low-Income Schools

    There are representatives of the school who make-up a School Improvement Team and there is district leadership composed of the Superintendent, Chief Officer of Federal Programs, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Officer of Testing & Accountability, School Administrators, Technology Director and School Nutrition Director.

    The Clay County Schools Consolidated Federal Programs Goals are student growth in reading and the language arts; student growth in math; increased family engagement and to improve student classroom behavior and academic outcomes.

    Hayesville Primary School and Hayesville Elementary School are served by Title I funds. The planning allotment for 2025 is $412,702 with a reduction of $23,501 from the previous year. The Hayesville Elementary School 2025 planning allotment, Rural Low Income School, is $32,269 with an increase of $4,568.

    Clay County Schools Title II Budget for the 2025 planning allotment is $55,204 with a reduction of $5,377 from the previous year.

    Title IV-A has a new flexible block grant providing students with a well-rounded education, supporting safe and healthy students and supporting effective use of technology, but no more than 15 percent on infrastructure. That 2025 planning allotment is $31,745 with a reduction of $2,324 from the previous year.

    Owens made a complete presentation to the board and public. The budget was approved.

    Steven Lyvers, director of maintenance gave details of Clay County Schools maintenance during the summer months, installations and cost-savings. Only a few projects remain to be completed. That report will be continued.

    The next regular board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23.