The age-old rivalry between Franklin High School and Smoky Mountain High School has reached beyond the gridiron. Now, the two friendly rivals will be competing for a more charitable cause this holiday season.

The two schools intend to see who can collect more toothpaste and toothbrushes for Operation Christmas Child (OCC) — an arm of Samaritan’s Purse that sends shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, personal hygiene items and other supplies to needy children in the U.S., along with 100 other countries.

Although the donation drive is in essence a competition, Operation Christmas Child volunteer June Trull said that the event is all in good fun.

Under the advisement of Macon County Schools’ attorney, John Henning Jr., the Board of Education signed a letter of intent with the Lindamood-Bell Learning Process (LBLP).

At the beginning of the specially called Sept. 6 work session for the board, LBLP representatives presented Henning Jr. with a letter of intent that outlines Macon County’s intention to implement LBLP. The board unanimously voted to take the recommendation of Henning Jr. and voted to approve it.

The letter explains, “The purpose of this letter is to outline the conditions pursuant to which Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, Inc., a California corporation (“Lindamood- Bell”), will provide services to Macon County Schools, (the “District”) during the 2011-12 school year.”

Superintendent Dr. Dan Brigman worked with Tim Burrell to develop a voluntary survey to poll Macon County teachers about the possibility of implementing the Lindamood-Bell Learning Process (LBLP) through the district.

A link to the survey was sent in an email from Brigman to all Macon County School and central office employees as well as posted to Brigman’s blog on the school system’s webpage. According to Burrell, the survey was posted on Aug. 31 and remained open until Sept. 6.

Of the 105 participants of the survey, 75 were teachers from each school in the district and 30 were either central office or support staff.

North Carolina students maintained a 21.9 average ACT score in 2011, marking the fourth year that the state's average ACT score was higher than the nation's, according to the 2011 ACT results released today. ACT test scores are among the factors that colleges and universities use in their admissions process.

In 2011, the national average ACT score was 21.1.

“I congratulate the students in the Class of 2011 for continuing a strong showing on the ACT,” said State Superintendent June Atkinson. “I know that students are setting high goals and standards for their academic work and for their future careers. Today’s results are positive news for our state.”