Strategies shared with WNC communities to rally support for schools - ‘Calling All Communities’ offers money for the most votes

Voting officially begins for U.S. Cellular’s ‘Calling All Communities’ Campaign on Sept. 9, but it’s not too early for people to start rallying and organizing their community to support their favorite schools. With a wider winner’s circle this year – 18 schools will win a share of $1 million as opposed to 10 in previous years – there is even more incentive to spread the word before the campaign begins. The top vote-receiving school will win $150,000, and the next 17 will each receive $50,000.

After viewing a presentation and witnessing testimony from teachers, parents and students who participated in the Lindamood-Bell Learning Process this summer, Macon County Board of Education members have decided to take time to review the information, visit a school currently implementing the program, and then reconvene to make a final decision on Sept. 6.

Superintendent Dr. Dan Brigman informed the board that as of 4 p.m. on Monday, a proposal of more than $200,000 had been drafted after a long negotiation process with Lindamood-Bell representatives. The summer program costs about $50,000 for materials and program fees and an additional estimated $80,000 in teacher pay for the 17 teachers that volunteered for the program.

Western Carolina University’s (WCU) new chancellor, Dr. David O. Belcher and his wife, Susan, visited Macon County on Wednesday as the third of 15 stops on their “Get Acquainted Tour.”

Belcher came to WCU from Arkansas and is finding the transition to be an easy one. “Susan and I absolutely love being in this part of the country,” he said. “It is an absolutely spectacular place, the people are wonderful and we love Western Carolina University. “

The chancellor only joined WCU’s staff on July 1, but has already begun demonstrating his leadership skills and introducing strategic goals to bring much needed improvements to WCU. “I didn’t just come here to praise the past. I came to raise the bar,” said Belcher.

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Macon Middle School deemed a ‘career exploration school’

Students entering Macon Middle School earlier this month for the 2011-2012 school year were not given the choice to take an art class. For the second year in a row, MMS has not offered art as an elective course. Instead, MMS is looking to begin offering an industrial arts class that will provide students with hands on carpentry, drafting and agriculture.