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County schools may soon be tobacco-free
By Derek Hodges
If Jackson County School Board members approve a proposal they received during their April 27 meeting, the school system will soon be tobacco free.
Board member Ali Laird-Large introduced a draft policy that would ban the use of all types of tobacco on all school properties.
Current policy allows faculty and staff members to use tobacco on school premises, though students are prohibited from doing so during school hours. Those attending athletic events who are at least 18 years old, including students, may also use tobacco on school campuses.
The policy under consideration would eliminate the use of all smoking and smokeless tobacco on school property at any time, including athletic contests. It also would keep educators and volunteers from using tobacco products in the presence of students on school trips.
According to Laird-Large, the county’s School Health Advisory Council, which drafted the policy, recommended the school system provide support to system employees who want to quit smoking before the policy takes effect. The proposal obliges school officials to “provide information about and opportunites for smoking cessation classes and support services to those who want to quit.”
“We are probably one of the last counties in North Carolina (to adopt such a policy),” Laird-Large said.
In other business April 27:
Public comment
Smoky Mountain High School football Coach Dale Galloway asked board members to consider installing a sprinkler system for the team’s practice field.
“It was the number one concern our players had, and I completely understand their requests,” he said.
The field currently has a tendency to dry out in the summer, making practice difficult, Galloway said.
In addition to serving the team, the field could be used for physical education classes if it were better maintained, Galloway said. That would keep those classes off stadium grass and preserve it for athletic contests, he said.
Board members suggested Galloway work with Superintendent Sue Nations in drafting a formal proposal.
Administrators
Several administrators were granted new contracts.
According to finance officer David Steinbicker, Blue Ridge Principal Carol Rector’s contract is for $75,756, funded by the state; Gary Safrit, assistant principal at BRS, is in a 12-month position for $47,309, all from local funds; and SMHS Assistant Principal Raylene Bryson will receive $40,800 from state funds and $8,160 from local monies in another 12-month position. Those contracts are all for four years.
Board members voted last year to make schools health and physical education coordinator Larry McDonald’s contract good for one year because he works in the Central Office, Steinbicker said. His salary, funded by the state, is $40,775.
School foods
Donna Bommer, coordinator of the county’s school nutrition program, presented changes to the board’s policy on “Nutritional Standards for Food Selection” mandated by the General Assembly.
The changes would limit the amount of soft drinks sold in school and reguire bottled water to be sold in all school drink machines. They will also require the superintendent to approve all snacks available in school vending machines.
Board Chairman Ken Henke expressed some concerns about governmental controls on school vending.
“We use these snack machines and drink machines to fund other programs,” he said. “Where is the money going to come from?”
Audit contract
At Steinbicker’s recommendation, board members approved a contract with Johnson, Price & Sprinkle of Asheville to complete the system’s annual audit. Scott Hughes, who has handled the audit in the past, merged his firm with the Asheville accountants two years ago. He will again be in charge of the work, Steinbicker said.
The contract is for $24,750 (plus lodging for the audit team) for the audit, and $5,175 for the preparation of financial statements.
That fee is considerably higher than last year’s amount, in part because of rising gas prices, Steinbicker said. Though the auditing firm was paid $24,825 last year, they put in $42,000 worth of work on the audit including travel to and from Asheville, he said. This year they have decided to house the audit team in local hotels to save driving, he said.
Another part of the increase is from new rules the system must meet. In order to show compliance with initiatives like No Child Left Behind, auditors must look at different areas in the audit every year and supply that information to the school board, Steinbicker said.
Some board members questioned the high cost.
“That’s one (employee) position in the county if you stop and think about it,” Henke said.
Capital projects
School officials acted on two capital projects.
It was agreed to call for bids on replacing the air conditioning system at the School of Alternatives at an estimated cost of $22,240. Of that money, the county would pay $5,560 and the state will pay the rest.
On the second project, school officials will contract with Morton Buildings to construct a concession stand with rest rooms and a storage area at Blue Ridge School. That project will cost $59,200.
Policy changes
Board members approved two policy changes.
Changes to the policy on alternative schools eliminates requirements on the number of years staff members must have worked for the school system before working at the School of Alternatives. The previous policy required employees to have three years experience before working at the school. That requirement has now been eliminated
A change in the policy on personal identifying information defines the way those records are handled to protect them. At a time when more personal information is required from those in the schools, school systems must enact strict rules on confidentiality, Nations said.
Field trips
School officials approved several field trips, including New Century Scholars to SOAR headquarters in Balsam May 4-5; School of Alternatives students to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., June 2; Smokey Mountain Elementary fifth- through eighth-grade honor roll recipients to Dollywood May 13; Cullowhee Valley SOS Program participants to Dollywood June 6; SMHS 11th-grade English students to Old Salem in Winston-Salem May 18; and School of Alternatives high school students to Carowinds in Charlotte May 19-21.
Personnel
Board members approved the following personnel decisions.
Retirements requests from Joe Cowan, School of Alternatives; and Ann Buchanan and Janice Burnette, both of Scotts Creek School.
Resignation of Sherry Franks, Blue Ridge School business teacher.
Employment of Jennifer Strohmeyer, curriculum assistant, and Laura Brown, teacher’s assistant, both at the School of Alternatives; and Mark Cagle, mechanic at the bus garage.
Scott Dolbee, Catherine Cerne, Owen Armstrong, Melanie James, Carrie Fugate, David Snell and Jeremiah Wolfe were approved as substitute teachers.
Joe Hoyle was approved as a bus driver.
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