Marcia Barnes • Clay County Progress Hayesville High School student Riddge Lyvers, a CTE intern at the Clay County Sheriff’s Department and Sgt. Will Suggs, Special Services Supervisor, spoke at the Board of Education meeting.
By Marcia Barnes
Staff Writer
Clay County School Board of Education meeting on Monday, Jan. 27 was unhampered by the evening’s cold temperatures and Superintendent Melissa Godfrey reported that during recent snow days the schools have not been affected thus far to require make up days in the school calendar.
Godfrey said that some delays have occurred in the new Hayesville Intermediate School construction due to weather.
“This school year we missed one day for Hurricane Helene,” Godfrey said. That day had already been slated for students not to be physically present at the schools, so students were not counted missing instructional time.
“We missed three hours of school in an early release for a student funeral. Snow days in January led to one delay and six delay events. The question that comes up is ‘Do we have to make those days up?’”
Godfrey said that the schools are required to go by instructional hours for students, not days. One thousand and twenty-five instruction hours are required by the State of North Carolina. That is seven hours per day and one hour off for lunch.
“At this time we are not required to make up hours,” Godfrey said.
Regarding the decision to close schools due to snow, Godfrey said that most of that comes from just driving the roads. Sometimes Godfrey drives with Transportation Director Jimmy Moore and Cathy Moore has also helped out.
“We start anywhere from 2-4 a.m., driving the roads, if it’s a nighttime event. Jimmy has been doing this for a long time, he knows where to go,” Godfrey said.
The superintendent said that she wanted to make it clear she doesn’t make these decisions alone. Godfrey and Moore collaborate, then Godfrey consults with Jeff Ledford at Emergency Management, the Department of Transportation, 911 and dispatch, the sheriff’s office and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
“Also, the county has no control over how the roads are maintained, although I do want to say the DOT has done a great job. They are very collaborative with us,” Godfrey said.
Weather decisions do not impact funding. The North Carolina Legislature allows for five remote learning days for students. It requires 215 work days for staff.
Regarding weather decisions and to delay school or not to delay, this is what is factored in: road conditions, snow or ice; daylight and black ice; temperature, will a delay allow for an increase in temperature and wind. All these things are considered regarding a two-hour delay to a school day. On a two-hour delay the school is not able to provide breakfast for students.
“The delay or not to delay decisions are not as clear-cut or easy as some might think. Sometimes, it is choosing the lessor of two evils. We take every decision as it comes,” Godfrey said.
A report from Revonda Palmer, Director of Career and Technology Education also highlighted the meeting. Four CTE students recently completed internships: Cade Caruso and Isaiah Elrod with Jacky Jones Ford; Brittany Josh with the Clay County Department of Social Services and Riddge Lyvers with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.
Lyvers who interned with the sheriff’s office and his supervisor Sgt. Will Suggs, Special Services Supervisor spoke to the board and public present. Lyvers said that he started the internship in July, but officially in August.
“I did ride alongs with deputies, paperwork and helping them. I worked on dispatch several days, duties at the jail. Overall, a very educational experience and I learned a lot,” Lyvers said.
The internship cemented Lyvers interest in law enforcement. He plans to attend Southwestern College when he graduates from high school and aims for a career in law enforcement in a couple years.
Lyvers said that he was happy they had allowed him to do the internship and applause immediately followed his presentation.
Suggs, Lyvers’ supervisor during the internship said that it was a new experience for him. “I’ve never had an intern, it was awesome. Riddge did really well from day one. He worked with all of the different agents and departments. He did really well. We would love to have another intern,” Suggs said.
Future Business Leaders of America students were also recognized: Norashae Patterson, Josephine Anderson, Lily Anderson, Jocelyne Chastain, Kile Cunningham, Delaney English, Dylan Hall, Sky Harmon, Robert Manning, Olivia Ware, Olivia Grizzle, Amy Cervantes, Marlo Joyce, Emma Ashe, Maddox Rich, Dalton Hunt and Hailey Crosby.
Proposed Hayesville Middle School gym renovations will likely be postponed and Staff Wellness Day is set for Friday, March 7.
Hayesville Intermediate School progress and mid-year data results for the schools will be reported next week.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24.