Dr. Jason Shook, Robbie Caldwell, Reba Beck, Kelly Crawford and Danny Jones
By Marcia Barnes
Staff Writer
An announcement that Quarter 2 report cards will go home this week from all the Hayesville schools and recognition given to Clay County Board of Education members were the first order of business at the meeting on Monday, Jan. 23.
January is National School Board Appreciation Month. Superintendent Dale Cole took the opportunity to recognize board members saying that being in community and public service is not always easy.
“I’ve been so impressed with the way this board works together and with the county commissioners to meet the needs of the community. We recognize the work you guys put in,” Cole said.
Further recognition was given to the board members by Principal Heather Plemmons Primary School in a musical video with students thanking the board. Principal Melissa Godfrey presented the members with a piece of clay art made by students at Hayesville Elementary School. The work and effort of the board will be recognized again on Friday night, Jan. 27 during the boys and girls basketball games.
Career and Technology students who completed internships during the fall semester were commended for their achievements and introduced by CTE Director Revonda Palmer. Each of the students gave a brief, interesting account of what they had learned from their experience.
Five high school students received training with separate entities within the greater community and Palmer thanked the internship sponsors for allowing the students to have these real-life, real-world experiences.
Jackson Lance completed his internship with the Clay County Chamber of Commerce and Cameron Gray with Blue Ridge Mountain EMC. Nimci Lopez interned with Big Bear Veterinary Clinic and Addison Bunch with Remax Realty in Murphy.
Not present at the meeting, Dakota Hyatt also completed an internship with Sage Ground Works.
Hayesville High School Fall Sports All-Conference Athletes received applause and recognition at the meeting. Hayesville High School Principal Stacey Overlin pointed out that at Hayesville High School sports aren’t an extra-curricular activity, they are a co-curricular activity.
Athletes in cross country running, volleyball, football and men’s soccer received awards from Overlin and their coaches.
Reporting on the audit results from fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, Alan Thompson, CPA presented an overview, and a nine-page presentation of the audit results were available to board members and the public.
Thompson said the records are in great shape. The financial data included the four previous years as a comparative.
Reporting on the Hayesville High School Fall State Exam, Overlin said that in English 2, they scored 55.8 proficient; Math I, 59.1 proficient and Math 3, 69.3 proficient.
Biology results showed 70 proficient; Accounting I, 87.5 proficient. Scores for Business Essentials (a new class), 91.6 proficient; Project Management, 100 percent proficient.
Overlin said, “We’re never satisfied, but happy.”
Hayesville Middle School Principal Missy Rich reported on iReady test data for the mid-year showing Tier I students growth in reading. Rich presented “Next steps” aimed to implement greater growth for students in math.
• Purchase math intervention materials.
• Visit other schools in the district to see small group and intervention time.
• Change instructional delivery methods during blocks.
• Continued work using data to drive what teachers do in the classroom.
• Raise the rigor in our classroom as well as the expectations of our students.
• Continue to motivate students to perform their best on iReady work.
• Fidelity checks during instruction and intervention time.
Godfrey said, “All grade levels show reading growth and there is a 81 percent pass rate in reading in the elementary school.” Godfrey said that last year Grade 3 had the second highest math scores in the state. Middle of the Year iReady test scores show a 96 percent pass rate in math this year.
Plemmons pointed out in the Primary School Report that the kindergarten’s 112 to 115 students showed 37 percent growth. First grade students are showing one of the biggest increases in phonemic. Plemmons said they have just received math materials for second grade students and are evaluating them for a pilot program.
Testing for K through 2nd grade differs in reading assessment. “There are two reading assessments because we had iReady in place and mClass was state mandated,” Cole said.
As academic reports concluded, discussion was introduced on giving local control of the school calendar back to local school boards. A two-page “Resolution by the Buncombe County Board of Education Supporting Local Control of School Calendars” was presented for review.
Cole said, “We think it’s in the best interest of each school system. In order for this to happen in Clay County Schools the law has to change. We should be able to do what is best for our school district.”
There was a discussion regarding a request for a raise in local supplement funding for teachers and classified staff which will be included on the February agenda. The request for a raise for teachers is from 1.5 percent of salary to a flat $1,500 supplement per year and $500 flat supplement for classified staff.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb.27.