For the second year, sixth grade students from Mountain View Intermediate travelled to Washington, D.C. to learn about the nation's capital. A group of 110 students, and 60 adults left Macon County at 9 p.m. on March 13 and stayed in Washington until 5 a.m. on March 17.

After selling 1,400 donuts, washing 100 cars, and participating in multiple other fundraisers, the sixth graders raised enough money to pay their own way to Washington, D.C..

Following a closed session during Monday night's Board of Education meeting in Highlands, Barry Woody, an assistant principal at Franklin High School, was selected as the school's new principal.

Woody will be replacing Dr. Chris Baldwin, who will assume the role as Macon County Superintendent on July 1. The applicant pool for FHS' next principal started with about 15 resumes, and the selection committee narrowed that down to six individuals who were interviewed for the position.

For decades, students have taken part in foreign exchange programs that allow American students to experience life in countries around the world and have brought students from the far reaches of the earth to experience life in America.

Ayusa International, a non-profit organization, has been placing students at local high schools for years, and is dedicated to giving students the opportunity for new life experiences. For more than 30 years, Ayusa has been placing international exchange students with families and is regulated by the U.S. Department of State.

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Macon Early College, Union off the chopping block.

During a special called budget work session on Monday in Highlands, the Macon County Board of Education discussed possible funding cuts for next school year. Last month, the school board released a list of proposed budget cuts totaling $1,950,393 for next school year, which was intended to balance the budget after an anticipated $2 million shortfall in the 2013-14 budget.

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