School board briefs
Hedrick to retire as superintendent

• The Cherokee County School Board voted Tuesday to accept the retirement of Dr. Jeanette Hedrick as Superintendent of Cherokee County Schools effective June 30, 2008.

• Parent John Coffee told the board (the meeting was held at Marble Elementary School) that the local little league can't play basketball in the community center next to the school when it rains. Coffee asked about the future of the gym and the Marble school. School Board Chairman Dr. David Ackerman said no decisions have been made.

• The board voted to approve "Mustang" as the official mascot for Marble Elementary.

• The board approved the request of Marble Elementary Principal Ron Ledford to grant $500 so that a tree crowding other trees and damaging paint on cars can be cut down and made into a "nice, rustic bench outside".

• Dr. Hedrick reported on good news items, including the following:

* An educational tech grant has been received which will provide for video streaming at all schools.

* The school system has been awarded a Literacy Coach position for Andrews Middle School, a permanent position.

* At Martins Creek School, 25 additional volunteers have been trained and there will be a Literacy Carnival where prizes are books.

* Murphy High School received a 100 score on sanitation grade, the second school to receive that score.

* Colton Mathews, a graduate of Murphy High School, has enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and started the year with 42 semester hours of AP credit. After this semester, he will have enough hours to be a junior.

* Murphy High School student Nicole Sellers won the NC DOT Certification for welding, the first female to certify in all positions.

* A calendar for the Early College that will align with the Tri- County Community College calendar was approved.

• The board voted to hire the following based on a clear criminal record check and proper credential effective immediately:

* Leigh Morris, HOSA/nurse at Andrews High School.

* Dorothy Wheatley, interim Spanish teacher at Andrews High School.

* Elizabeth Conley, Career Exploration teacher at Murphy Middle School.

* Amanda Gebel, Teen Tobacco Prevention coordinator.

• The board approved the proposal and contract with Architectural Design Studios for the Murphy High School roof.

• The next meeting of the Cherokee County Board of Education will be October 11 at Tri- County Early College beginning at 6 p.m.