County takes ownership of Murphy High School
Frank Bradley Sentinel Writer

TOBACCO: Teens Against Tobacco Use made a presentation to the board asking for greater enforcement of the tobacco policy, especially during sporting events.

Terelle Beaver calls it a formality and it is, a necessary formality. A way for Cherokee County schools to get the money for two building projects: one is an addition to Ranger school and the other is the reroofing of Murphy High School.

The school board can't borrow the money, but the county can because it has taxing authority. So to work the deal, the school board turns the title of Murphy High School and the ground it sits on over to the county, which the county offers as collateral to the financial institution making the zero interest loan to the county in order to get the two projects done.

How can the financial institution afford to make a no interest loan to Cherokee County? Well, they can, I am told, because in doing so the federal government gives them a significant tax break. Sounds a bit crazy, but it works out in the best interest of our schools and the county.

Hey, the loan principal has to be paid back and it will be done over the next 14 years.

Last week, the school board passed a resolution authorizing the transfer and agreeing to lease the school back for $10 a year. No extended vacation for Murphy High School students. There will be school in the MHS building this fall.

The school board recognized the accomplishment of Andrews High School, which was recently recognized by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as the recipient of the Annual NC Graduation Project Coordinator Recognition Award. That award had been presented to Dorothy Davis, an English teacher. Her student, Katie Truett, was recognized for her work as a senior projection on the construction of a solar water heater for home use. Andrews High School was also recognized with Mr. Williams, the principal accepting that award.

"We are proud of Andrews High School," Board Chairman David Ackerman said. "It just goes to show if we have high ex- pectations of our students, they will rise to those expectations."

Teens Against Tobacco Use made a presentation to the board asking for greater enforcement of the tobacco policy, especially during sporting events. They pointed out that the greatest number of violations against the "No smoking policy" was by the public attending these events. Another problem concerned the use of "spit tobacco" on some of the school buses. The board directed Superintendent Stephen Lane to implement a publicize the problem and hold a workshop to create increased public awareness about the problem.

The board got an update on the installment of high speed internet in all the county schools. It expressed its appreciation to Eric Brinke of Blue Ridge Mountain EMC for working so well with the school in bringing this project to completion.

The board approved amendments to it policies on Attendance and rules concerning email. The change noted that as the computers are property of the Cherokee School system, personal email accounts are subject to the school's rules.

The board also heard a first reading of four other amendments, including Personnel Files, Public Records, News Media Relations and Free & Reduced Price Food Service.

Superintendent Lane told the board that his staff and teachers are undergoing a lot of staff development during the summer. He also announced that even with the tight budget, teachers would get a 3 % raise this year; principals and assistant principals would get a raise about a half to a quarter of a percentage point below that. All of course with the legislature's approval of the budget.

Land said Cherokee County was down by 38 students, which means the loss of two teacher positions.

After coming out of closed session, the board announced the following changes:retirement of Teacher Assistants Rebecca Hoilman and Nancy Bristol of Andrews Elementary School; resignation of Kelly Cowan of Marble Elementary.

Hired, based on a clear criminal check and funding the following teachers for 2008-2009: Sara Abel, Counselor, MHS; Dr. Linda Kemerer, Counselor for MCH and HDES?MS; April McConnell, part-time tutor and Nova Net Facilitator for MYS; Brooke Slaughter and Cathy Latulip as teacher assistants for AES; Randy Bryant, Computer Tech I Interim _Tech Department; Jessica Wilson, interim for Susan Kissel, MES for 8/18 to 11/18/08; Betty Moore, part-time custodian, MYS; Mary McGaha, permanent, part-time at ME Cafeteria; Sharon Dockeery, Child Nutrition Manager at Ranger.

Also, Dr. Lane announced the following transfers for 2008-2009: Kim Allison from half-time social studies and half-time Nova Net Facilitator at MYS to half time social studies at MYS and half-time social studies at Tri-County Early College High School.

An ingtensive ingtervention class is being set up at Ranger School with Sonya Short as the teacher.

Volunteers were also approved subject to a records check including: Brandy Phillips and Tasha N. Coward --AHS Cheerleading; Cody White and Jason Johnson--AHS Football; Jackie Brooms-- MMS Volleyball.

A special-called meeting regarding personnel is set for July 24. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the BOE will be August 14th at 6 p.m. at the Central Office