Iotla Valley to open in June

Thursday, 16 February 2012 Written by Brittney Parker – Staff Writer

New school still on schedule, despite setbacks.

After a few small delays, the new Iotla Valley school is expected to be completed in early June, right on schedule.

The project is the culmination of a long process which began back in December of 1996 and was executed by the joint efforts of both the Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Macon County School Board. The new school is being funded and constructed through the utilization of the interoperability compact between the two boards, and the debt for the cost of the school, which is rounded to about $14 million, will fall solely on the county.

Macon County Schools braces for shortfall

Thursday, 16 February 2012 Written by Brittney Parker — Staff Writer

School Board discusses budget for next year.

In anticipation of continued funding cuts to public education next school year, the Macon County Board of Education spent much of their annual planning retreat discussing the 2012/13 budget.

During their meeting, which was held Feb. 2 and 3 at the Boiler Room, members of the Board of Education reevaluated the school system’s annual goals in order to revise them as the district’s needs required. While school system officials revisited the school’s strategic plan and received summaries on to-date operations from individual departments, generally the conversation kept finding its way back to money.

Rachel’s Challenge comes to Macon County

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Because of a joint effort between the Macon County Sheriff’s Office and Board of Education, the internationally respected antibullying program, Rachel’s Challenge, was presented to students throughout the district.

Bill Sanders presented the program and used pieces of Rachel Scott’s, the first person killed in the Columbine Tragedy, diary, along with testimonies from her friends and family to teach students the importance of kindness and compassion.

New Dean of Macon Southwestern Community College Announced

Thursday, 09 February 2012

Cheryl Davids retired as Chief Transfer Officer and Chair of the Mathematics Department at Central Carolina Technical College Jan. 17 and on Jan. 23 she plunged right into her new position as Dean of Southwestern Community College’s Macon Campus.

“I feel like I left one family and joined another,” said Davids, who immediately liked the feel and atmosphere of the Macon Campus. “In a way, it’s like coming home, too, because my family has owned a house in Maggie Valley for more than 30 years, and it’s always been our second home.”