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Hindsman, Powell recognized for service on board of education
"Mr. Penland, you have worked to make Clay County Schools one of the finest school systems in our state." And to fellow board members, Hindsman commented, "It has been an honor to serve and work with you." "This has been a most rewarding 10 years," she added. "They have been years of growth and learning." Superintendent Penland thanked Hindsman for her service to the school system and the children of Clay County. "Having a good board is so essential to having a good school system," Penland commented. Penland told Hindman and fellow board member Michael Powell, who is also leaving the school board, that it had been a pleasure working with them. "It's a pleasure to sit with you each month," Penland told school board members. Powell and Hindsman were both presented with plaques for their service by School Board Vice-Chairman Charles Penland. Superintendent Penland and Hindsman greeted newly elected school board member Israel Rogers, who was in attendance at the November school board meeting, and welcomed him to the school board. "I have some big shoes to fill," Rogers commented to the board. Hindsman assured Rogers that he would do a fine job saying that they had faith in him. In business at the November meeting, Superintendent Penland update the board on the property to be purchased by Clay County Schools. Penland said the survey of the property is almost complete and that as soon as surveyors wrap-up their work the purchase of the 17-acre lot located across from the current campus will take place. Penland added that the land purchase will be the easy part in making preparations to expand the school system. The difficult part lies ahead, he said, as the board makes decisions on what to construct on the property and tries to find the funds with which to do it. One possible funding option was brought to the board's attention as Penland shared a letter he had received from the North Carolina School Board Association and the NC Association of School Administrators. The letter asks that a team from each school district comprised of administrators, school board members, teachers, county commissioners, and parents attend a public forum in Asheville "in an effort to enlighten lawmakers to the magnitude of (the) need" for new construction at schools across the state. The letter outlines the "unprecedented growth in some areas" of the state - like the growth Clay County schools have been experiencing over the past several years. The letter, which Penland received from the NCSBA and NCASA, also states that over 7,000 mobile units are now in use across the state housing more than 178,325 NC students. Based on these and other growth facts, and the need for additional monies to help fund school construction needs, the open forums are being planned across the state to help "legislators see that their constituents care personally about the specific facility needs in their region." The forums will be held across the state prior to the convening of the NC General Assembly on Jan. 24. The public forum for the Western Region will be held in Asheville on Jan. 10. Penland asked that board members attend with him to support the request which would help Clay County Schools with funding for the construction of a new school. The school board is considering the option of a fourth school, a primary school, to handle continued growth in the Clay County School System. The addition of a fourth school would help with overcrowding at Hayesville Elementary School by moving Pre-K through 2nd grades, or approximately 400 students, to a separate school. This option would also allow for 5th Grade to be moved out of the middle school building and placed in the elementary school, which would then house grades 3rd through 5th. Moving 5th grade students out of the middle school will allow for more space for grades 6th through 8th. A statewide bond referendum requires legislative approval. The last state bond issue was passed in 1996 for $1.8 billion. A letter was also presented to school board members addressed to Matt Rogers, Principal of Hayesville Elementary, from the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health. The letter praised Rogers and school nurse Ms. Joanna Atkinson for their efforts in immunization of kindergarten students at HES. The local elementary school had 100% compliance with the North Carolina Immunization Law, which requires all NC kindergarten students to have up-to-date shot records within the first month of the school year. "I was pleased to note...that your school was 100% in compliance with the NC immunization Law. Congratulations on this fine achievement!" the letter reads. "The NC Immunization Branch appreciates very much your good attention to detail." The letter specifically praises the efforts of the school nurse, Ms. Atkinson. "You indicated that a lot of the credit for your good record goes to your school nurse, Ms. Joanna Atkinson, R.N.," Charles Philbeck, from the NC Immunization Branch, wrote to Mr. Rogers. "It does appear that she has taken a lot of pride in this part of her work and we thank her for all her efforts in this regard." Rogers thanked Atkinson and all the teachers, who he said worked diligently together to make sure all the kindergarten students had their immunizations.
The school board and Penland thanked Rogers and his staff for their outstanding efforts.
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