Teacher supplement is not part of budget

By Lynn Hotaling

The proposed amount reflects a 22.68 percent increase over last year's school system allotment of $4,635,617.

School leaders plan a number of improvements if Jackson County's Board of Commissioners grants the requested increase, Superintendent Mack McCary said, including the addition of five locally funded teachers.

The school system's capital outlay request is expected to be $698,350, a 24 percent increase over last year's allotment of $564,850.

If the proposed capital outlay budget is fully funded, school officials plan to spend some $169,000 on technology improvements, $28,000 on new band uniforms at Smoky Mountain High and $65,000 on an activity bus.

School officials didn't try to hold their budget request to a certain percent increase, McCary said, but tried instead to identify needed school improvements. School leaders understand that they might not receive the entire amount requested and will fund as many improvements as possible with the money allocated, McCary said.

County Manager Ken Westmoreland said he expects to present a draft county budget to commissioners Thursday, May 16.

One item the proposed school system budget does not include is a teacher supplement, McCary said, despite repeated appeals to both county and school officials for additional compensation for educators.

"One very important thing is not in the budget," McCary told school board members April 18. "Other counties on our border are offering supplements to teachers." Instead, school leaders will request that commissioners designate part of the local option sales tax to fund a supplement and implement an incentive-based reward system beginning in October 2003 when the current tax expires, the superintendent said.

Commissioners at that time will have the option of renewing the tax, McCary said, and school officials hope county leaders will do so and earmark a portion of it for a teacher supplement.

Jackson County is facing a 27 percent turnover in teachers and administrators, McCary said, and is losing the "best and brightest" teachers to other counties. He reminded school board members Haywood County already offers both child care and a teacher supplement.

In other action Thursday, school board members approved a school calendar for the 2002-03 school year. Teachers will report on Thursday, Aug. 1; the first day for students will be Wednesday, Aug. 7.

School is starting earlier in order to include several work days requested by teachers, said Assistant Superintendent Nancy Sherrill. The calendar includes 11 teacher work days and four early dismissal days.

Also Thursday:

- Board members approved a revised community relations policy they had been considering for several months.

Included in the policy are provisions that require criminal background checks for school volunteers who come into contact with students. This requirement includes both paid and unpaid non-staff coaches.

- Board members also approved an amendment to their school assignment policy. It provides that parents who make application to the superintendent by June 1 will receive priority with regard to transfer requests.

The amended policy states that students who attend a school outside their designated attendance district are "expected to arrive and depart on the regular schedule" and are also expected "to behave according to the Student Code of Conduct."

If a student fails to observe the school's regular schedule or is a continuing behavior problem, the principal has the authority to make a recommendation to the superintendent that the student return to the school in the attendance area in which he resides.

The amended policy also gives the superintendent the authority to revoke transfers "if there is reason to believe the school is too overcrowded to adequately serve the needs of students who live in the district assigned to that school."

- School officials again tabled the education program policy series that deals with such matters as evaluation of student progress, conflict resolution, school improvement plan, class rankings, graduation requirements and alternative schools.

- Board members tabled a proposed policy to establish a district-wide student dress code for action at a later date.

North Carolina's General Assembly passed legislation last year that requires each school system in the state to establish a dress code, McCary said. Local officials expect to have an approved policy in place in time for the beginning of the 2002-03 school year.

Under the proposed policy the guiding principle for the county's high school dress code would be "Would this dress and appearance be commonly accepted in the workplace?"

The high school policy states that all clothing must cover the student's torso from the shoulder to the thigh without exposing bare skin; shorts, skirts and dresses must come to the student's fingertips when arms are extended downward; and clothing will be free of "inappropriate and suggestive slogan and pictures including any depiction of drug, alcohol or tobacco products."

The same prohibition on clothing with inappropriate or suggestive slogans or pictures also would apply to elementary students under the proposed policy. In addition, grade school students would be asked to avoid see-through, midriff, narrow-strap (less than 2 inches) bareback or cut-off shirts, and all skirts, dresses and shorts should extend below the student's longest finger when rested against the leg when in a normal stance. Caps, hats and head coverings will be prohibited inside building, and large or heavy chains, which could be used as weapons, may not be worn on school grounds.

- Board members approved up to $4,000 in matching funds for a library grant for Blue Ridge School.

The K-12 school has applied for a $10,000 grant to purchase new library books, said Assistant Principal Roy Douthitt. The school expects to raise the other $6,000 in matching funds from community donations, he said.

- After recognizing health occupations students who recently placed in the top 10 at state HOSA competition, board members voted to provide the funds necessary to send all the students who qualified to the national competition in Anaheim, Calif., in June.

In addition to student fund-raisers, the Sylva Rotary Club and several local businesses have made contributions to help fund the trip, McCary said.

- Board members commended Smoky Mountain High Athletic Director Si Simmons on being named Region 8 Athletic Director of the Year.

In return, Simmons thanked board members for their support of athletics and said he is proud of his school's program and its athletes.

"I think this award is a reflection on our county and our programs - and our improved athletic facilities," Simmons said. "I appreciate the school board allowing (Principal) Kenny (Nicholson) and me to do the right things and get the right people."

- Board members set a policy work session for Wednesday, May 15. Time and location were not available at Herald press time.

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