Early figures indicate school enrollment is up from last year

Administrative changes announced for SMHS, BRS

By Lynn Hotaling

Seven county schools have reported a total of 3,605 students in grades K-12 through Tuesday, said Sarah Davis, student information systems manager for the local school system. That's 64 students more than were enrolled last year on the 10th day of school, and 125 more than were enrolled on the final day of school last spring, she said.

The biggest change in numbers is at Scotts Creek, which moved into its new facility this year and reports 481 students - an increase of 42 compared with last fall. Fairview has 738 students, down 21 from last year, and Cullowhee Valley has 605, up nine from one year ago. Smokey Mountain Elementary has 471 enrolled for an increase of 19 since last fall.

The county's largest school, Smoky Mountain High, has 1,016 students this fall, up 19 from last year. Jackson's smallest traditional school, K-12 Blue Ridge, reports a total enrollment of 263, which is an increase of eight students over last fall's 255. Of those, 175 are in grades K-8, and 88 are in grades 9-12 as compared to 182 in K-8 last fall and 73 in grades 9-12.

The county's alternative school, the Comprehensive School, has a total of 31 students enrolled currently, a drop of 12 when compared to last year's figures.

Final enrollment figures for county schools last May were as follows: Comprehensive School, 41 (one midyear graduation); Fairview, 767; SMHS, 918 (18 midyear graduations); SMES, 470; CVS, 584; and Blue Ridge, 191 (grades K-8) and 72 (grades 9-12).

With the opening of the school year, several administrative changes have occurred at SMHS and Blue Ridge.

Kenny Nicholson remains principal at Smoky Mountain, but the other members of the school's administrative team have changed. Alex Bell, who has been at the high school for the past two years, has been named an assistant principal, Superintendent Mack McCary said Monday night. Bell's $57,168 salary will be paid mostly from state funds; $1,272 will come from local money, said David Steinbicker, school system finance officer.

Veteran teacher Tinnie Salzano, who was approved by the Board of Education as a lead teacher at SMHS last spring, will also have the title of assistant principal, McCary said. Salzano's salary, $53,184, includes $39,940 in state money and $13,244 in local funds, Steinbicker said.

The fourth member of the SMHS administrative team is former social studies teacher Mary Ann Barker, who has been named a lead teacher. Barker's annual salary, $37,596, will consist of $31,330 in state funds and $6,266 in local funds.

Bell, Salzano, and Barker are all employed for 12 months, Steinbicker said.

At Blue Ridge, veteran teacher Freddie Frizzell has been named a lead teacher. She will be paid based on her teaching certificate, Steinbicker said, and will be employed for 10 months with her $43,020 salary coming entirely from state funds.

Steinbicker indicated that salaries for all four could increase if the state authorizes local systems to figure in last year's experience when computing the administrators' compensation.

Back to Archive: 08/16/01.