02/17/2021
Highlights of the Cherokee County Board of Education Meeting held at Central Office on Thursday, February 11, 2021
• Beginning at 5:30 pm Mr. Arnold Mathews called the meeting to order.
• Mr. James Ellis led the pledge of allegiance.
• Dr. Jeff Martin read the mission statement.
• The Agenda stands.
• The Minutes from the regular meeting of January 14, 2021 and the Specially Called meeting of January 28, 2021 stand.
• Mr. Mathews called for public comment. There was none.
• Ms. Julie Higdon congratulated Kary McClure, Melissa Reid, and Kendra Gibson for achieving their NBCT renewals and certification. Ms. Higdon went on to provide an overview of the NBCT program
and the dedication needed to achieve the designation. Next, Dr. Jeana Conley spoke about the challenges she faced when going through the initial process and what it means to be a NBCT teacher.
Following this, Dr. Conley read a statement from Ms. Chanda Bias regarding Kendra Gibson and her dedication to teaching. Next, Ms. Patricia Mathews spoke about Kary McClure and her impact on
education at Peachtree Elementary. Dr. Conley then spoke of the many achievements and impact made by Melissa Reid, and invited Ms. Tiffany Clapsaddle to speak; she echoed those comments made by Dr. Conley in regards to Melissa Reid’s dedication to education. After each teacher had been recognized, Dr. Conley thanked Ms. Julie Higdon for her support of the NBCT program.
• Ms. Higdon next presented the Beginning Teacher Support Plan for consideration. Ms. Higdon addressed the amendments made to the BT program then asked Mr. Jason Forrister, Principal of TCEC to explain the progression of the BT program and key components. Mr. Forrister demonstrated the plan using a basic slide that represented each facet of an educator’s career and how key educators and administrators play a part in early development of a beginning teacher.
~The Beginning Teacher Support Plan is approved.
• Mr. John Higdon presented the Facilities update. He began by proposing capital projects for approval, those being:
▪ MES sidewalk to playground access
▪ Raxter’s Concrete Finishing: $4,280.00
▪ NOC Cisco SmartNet renewal wireless LAN controller and switch
▪ Shi $8,595.00
▪ NOC Licenses to provide virtual environment for select servers
▪ Shi $1,341.00
▪ MES playground fence
▪ Western Carolina Fence $4,098.00
▪ AHS softball field outfield fence
▪ Western Carolina Fence $2,996.00
~The capital projects proposed by Mr. Higdon was approved.
• Ms. Stephanie Hass presented a budget request. She began by proposing budget amendments for:
▪ State Public School Fund
▪ Federal Programs Fund 2
Cherokee County Board of Education Bullets of February 11, 2021
▪ Capital Projects Fund
~The budget amendments were approved.
• Mr. Joe Wood presented several policies for 2nd reading:
▪ 4040-7310 Staff-Student Relations
▪ 4400 Attendance Policy
▪ 4600 Student Fees
▪ 5015 School Volunteers
▪ 5020 Visitors to the Schools
▪ 5070-7305 Public Records-Retention, Release, and Disposition
▪ 7430 Substitute Teachers
Prior to approval of the policies presented, Mr. Wood asked there be discussion about policy 5020 'Visitors to the Schools'. He asked that language be included in the amended section “Temporary
Restrictions on Nonessential Visitors to School Facilities”; that being that the first paragraph be amended to read as shown below in bold text: “In order to secure the health and safety of school system students and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the requirements of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), nonessential visitors will not be allowed access to school buildings before,
during, or after the school day when school is in session, except as approved by the school’s principal or superintendent.”
~The policies presented for second reading to include the amendment to policy 5020 were approved.
• Next, Mr. Wood presented the following policies for first reading:
▪ 1610-7800 Professional and Staff Development
▪ 4326 Student Drug Testing
▪ 6305 Safety and Student Transportation Services
▪ 7232 Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace
▪ 7335 Employee Use of Social Media
▪ 7510 Leave
• Dr. Conley delivered her Superintendent’s report. She began by speaking of Mr. Gary Chamberlain who passed away recently. Dr. Conley talked about how very important of a person he was to our
community; she addressed how he came into our schools and led clean-up days and how powerful of a personality he was and that he is someone that we are going to really miss. She then informed the Board that to honor Mr. Chamberlain, we are planning an annual clean-up day with schools and that she is meeting with principals to coordinate an appropriate day so his memory can live on and we can forge ahead with doing the things that he always encouraged us to do.
She next informed the Board of the issues being faced by Mrs. Keesha Curtis and asked that they remember her and her family in their prayers. Dr. Conley next congratulated Ms. Jennifer Rayfield, our School Nutrition supervisor who has written a grant and received $10,000 that will go towards dry food storage. Following this, she gave a big “shout-out” to the school nurses and lead nurse, Heather Watson, and David Badger of the Health Department and his team; she informed the Board that during two vaccination clinics they held, more than 400 people were vaccinated to include 250 employees. After this, Dr. Conley spoke of making a calendar change to make March 16, 2021 a face-to-face learning day and change February 18, 2021 to a remote learning day. This change will give those receiving their second COVID shot time to recover because the district really struggled finding substitutes today to accommodate those who received the vaccination yesterday. Following this, Dr. Conley began discussion about House Bill 37. She stated it has passed the 1st Reading in the House and there is every confidence it will pass the Senate. Dr. Conley informed the Board that the Bill gives districts the option of going back to Plan A—which is all students on campus all the time with minimal social distancing. She added that we should still be doing the best that we can to space out as close to 6-foot as possible; and in many classrooms this is still achievable. Dr. Conley went on to state that as a result of the specially called meeting of the previous week, many of our schools are already on the front end of this measure. She added that MHS had over 200 students attend face-to-face today. Dr. Conley stated this shows that
students are wanting to come back and that she believes if we can get our students back 5-days a week and full time that we will see more of them come back than remain remote. She next proposed the Board empower her with the authority to move the District into Plan A if HB 37 is passed and becomes law. After this, there was much discussion about moving into Plan A, concerns were
discussed as well as benefits. In the end the Board agreed: Dr. Jeff Martin made a motion which was seconded by Mr. James Ellis & Mr. Joey Shore, to authorize Dr. Conley to move the District into Plan A in the event HB 37 passes with the support of Principals and after having informed each board member of the plan.
~The Board granted Dr. Conley authority to implement Plan A as stated in the motion. Lastly, Dr. Conley asked if approval was needed to affect the calendar change proposed earlier in her
brief. It was concluded that upon adoption of the original calendar approval was granted to the superintendent to move the built-in remote-learning-days as needed, accordingly no motion is needed.
• Mr. Joe Wood read the motion to adjourn to break and closed session.
~The motion was approved.
• When the Board returned to open session, the following actions are taken:
• The Board approved the following retirements & resignations:
Name Position Assignment Type of Request Effective
Catharine Brown, Teacher, MMS Retirement 01/29/2021
James West, Custodian, MMS Resignation 01/29/2021
• The Board approved the following leaves of absence:
Name Position School Inclusive Dates
John Crosby Teacher, MHS 01/25/2021—04/19/2021
Shannon Duffek Teacher, REMS 02/02/2021—03/31/2021
Jessica Ennis Teacher AES 01/19/2021—04/01/2021
Debbie Ledford Teacher MCEMS 03/15/2021—05/03/2021
Lona Taylor Cafeteria MES 02/18/2021—04/08/2021
• The Board approved the following personnel hiring recommendations:
Name Position Assignment Employment Effective Date
Thristen Bailey SRO District 02/15/2021
Betty Jean Jones ECTA HDHS 02/01/2021
Jessica Kohner Nurse MHS 02/08/2021
Brooke Muzik Teacher (Long-term Substitute), MCEMS 03/15/2021—05/02/2021
Lindsey Skeens PT Cafeteria, MMS 02/01/2021
Sandy Zielepuza Teacher (Long-term Substitute), AES 02/01/2021—04/01/2021
• The Board approved the following Substitute Teachers:
▪ Theresa Allen
▪ Taylor Hamby
▪ Cieara Guffey
▪ Lauren McGuire
• The Board approved the following 21st CCLC Program employee:
▪ Hannah Larson, MCEMS, PT Tutor
• The Superintendent announced the following personnel transfers:
Name From To Effective
Cheryl Barry, Speech MES, Speech HDEMS 01/25/2021
Chanda Bias, Principal, AMS Dir. Payroll & Personnel 03/15/2021
Ruby Cutshaw, Principal HDEMS, Principal AMS 03/15/2021
Chastity Davis, Manager PES. Manager MHS 02/01/2021
Donna Farrow, FT Cafeteria HD, FT Custodian HD 02/15/2021
Randy Glass, Custodian PES, Custodian, MES/MMS 02/08/2021
Joanne Griffin, PT Cafeteria MHS, PT Cafeteria MMS 02/01/2021
Susan Guffey, Counselor AMS, Counselor AHS 02/15/2021
Taishaly Jurado-Martinez, FT Cafeteria PES, Interim Manager PES 02/01/2021
Alaina Ledford, MS CDC Coordinator, Dist. Teacher AHS 02/04/2021
Blake Landry, PT Cafeteria, MES FT Cafeteria, MES 02/01/2021
Paige McNabb, PT Cafeteria HD, FT Cafeteria REMS 02/01/2021
Darla Owenby, Manager HD, Manager REMS 02/01/2021
Jonnie Paneto, PT Cafeteria MES, PT Cafeteria PES 02/01/2021
Brandy R***r, AP REMS, Principal HDEMS 03/01/2021
Christopher Roberts, Custodian AHS, Custodian PES 02/04/2021
Melissa Roberts, PT Cafeteria MMS, PT Cafeteria PES 02/01/2021
Jodi Robertson, FT Cafeteria HD, FT Cafeteria District 02/01/2021
Marcia Sabatula, FT Cafeteria MMS, FT Cafeteria MHS 02/01/2021
Tamara Stewart, FT Cafeteria REMS, FT Cafeteria HD 02/01/2021
Emily Thompson, Counselor AHS, Counselor TOA 01/25/2021
Lisa Wood, Manager REMS, Manager HD 02/01/2021
• Mr. Mathews announced the next regular Board Meeting to be held at Central Office on March 11, 2021 beginning at 5:30 pm.
• Following this, Mr. Mathews announced subcommittee appointments; those being:
▪ Policy Subcommittee
▪ Chair, Mr. Joe Wood
▪ Mrs. Keesha Curtis
▪ Mr. James Ellis
▪ Financial Planning Subcommittee
▪ Chair, Dr. Jeff Martin
▪ Mr. Jeff Tatham
▪ Mr. Joey Shore
▪ Academics Subcommittee
▪ Chair, Mr. Jeff Tatham
▪ Dr. Jeff Martin
▪ School Safety Subcommittee
▪ Chair, Mr. Joe Wood
▪ Mr. Joey Shore
▪ Mr. James Ellis
▪ Parent Student Subcommittee
▪ Chair, Mrs. Keesha Curtis
▪ Mr. James Ellis
▪ Mr. Arnold Mathews
• Having dispensed with the foregoing business and having no further business to conduct the Board of Education adjourned at 7:49 pm.
