New SMHS cafeteria remains on schedule

By Lynn Hotaling

Smoky Mountain High Assistant Principal Alex Bell told members of the Jackson County Board of Education that contractors are making good progress, and the new dining room and kitchen should be ready for occupancy by fall.

All masonry walls are complete, the roof decking is on and the mezzanine concrete has been poured, Bell said. Construction of the front facade is under way, and crews were scheduled to start laying decorative block and brick this past Monday, he said.

Parking remains a concern during cafeteria construction, Bell said, and numerous directional signs are in place to facilitate vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

General contractor for the $2.1 million project is Western Builders of Dillsboro.

County commissioners awarded contracts in June for the new cafeteria and kitchen currently under construction in the parking lot adjacent to the existing dining room. Plans call for the new cafeteria to be on the same grade as the gymnasium in order to allow handicap access from the school's lobby area into the gym. Also Nov. 25:

- Board members approved the school system's yearly Title I plan, which brings almost $700,000 in federal funds to local schools.

Aimed at addressing the needs of children in poverty, Title I helps create a "safety net for kids who lack all the advantages," said Superintendent Mack McCary.

- In personnel action, school officials hired the following:

Blue Ridge - Gale Garrett, art teacher; and Sabine Evitt, after-school student assistant.

Cullowhee Valley - Laura Stewart, Suzanne Willard and Lera Chitwood, part-time Title I reading tutors; and Carly Dunlap and Patrick Trantham, after-school program assistants.

Fairview - Jonathan Clark, after-school assistant; and Amy Nations, child nutrition assistant.

Smokey Mountain Elementary - Gary Case, night custodian.

SMHS - Iris Morris and Lona Strawn, child nutrition assistants.

School board members approved retirement with interim contracts for Diana Fisher, music teacher, Cullowhee Valley; and Sandy Miller, school social worker at Scotts Creek. They also approved the retirement of Fitzallen Eldridge, art teacher at Fairview.

Resignations were accepted from Dana Fountain, after-school program, Fairview; Angela Flaxman, exceptional children's teacher assistant, Fairview; Tawn Bubacz, after-school program director, Fairview; and Chan Chandler, agriculture education teacher, SMHS.

Approved as bus drivers were William Collins, Gary Case, James Extine, Judith Kebe, Donald Biddix and Amber Nicholson.

Approved as substitute teachers were Shannon Ayers, Jonathan Harris, Clarence Hubbell, Annette Parris, Yvonne Wintermeier, Henrietta Bentley, Kerry Hall, Elena Jones, Sara Perez, Helen Haupt, Dennis Patenotte and Kitty Taylor.

Approved as non-staff coaches were Willie Freeman, men's basketball assistant, Lena Watson, lifeguard, and Sandy El Bayadi, swimming assistant, all at SMHS; Natalie Cowart and Stacey Spires, girls softball, Fairview.

The school board recessed their Nov. 25 meeting until 4 p.m. today (Thursday) at board member Mary Jane Dillard's private family retreat on Grassy Creek.

The board's next regular meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at the school system's Central Office on Hospital Road.

Back to Archive: 12/06/02.