Schools will switch to natural gas; Easton hired as assistant principal

By Rose Hooper

"The price is right," Arlin Middleton, vocational director and maintenance supervisor, told the board of education at its June 20 meeting.

"While PSNC Energy is putting natural gas lines through our county to Cullowhee, they have offered to bring it in free to the schools... if we agree to switch over now during the construction phase," Middleton said.

If the schools switch to natural gas after the construction phase is completed, there will be a charge, Middleton said.

Switching from propane to natural gas would require only the change of an orifice, he said, noting there are boilers at Smoky Mountain High School, Scotts Creek Elementary, Cullowhee Valley and the board of education building.

Although Middleton said he had no efficiency comparisons between the energy sources, the board did agree to the natural gas switch.

The natural gas expansion to Jackson County is made possible through the N.C. Natural Gas Expansion Act which was enacted in 1991. It provides funds to expand natural gas service into areas otherwise uneconomical to serve.

The cost of bringing nearly 60 miles of gas transmission lines to Jackson and Swain counties and building four distribution systems is estimated at $31.4 million.

In personnel action, the board approved Loretta Easton as assistant principal at Fairview and renewed contracts for Scotts Creek Principal Wanda Fernandez, principal of Scotts Creek, and Blue Ridge Assistant Principal Roy Douthitt.

The board approved the following employee recommendations: Mildred Wilson, business education teacher, Blue Ridge; Tammy Harrold, special eduction teacher, Blue Ridge; Nina Wright, first-grade teacher, Fairview; Melissa True, special education teacher, Fairview; Teresa Walawender, middle grades language arts teacher, Fairview; Staci Wood, middle grades language arts teacher, Smokey Mountain Elementary; Margaret Emmanuel, special education teacher, Scotts Creek; Linda Rockel, child care provider, Scotts Creek; Edward Renz, math teacher, Smoky Mountain High.

Retirements were approved for Dave Waldrop, counselor, Cullowhee Valley; and Ellen Hunter, assistant principal, Smokey Mountain Elementary.

Resignations were accepted from Mary Slagle, middle grades social studies teacher, Fairview, and Melissa Hill, math teacher and head softball coach, Smoky Mountain High.

Sandra Shuler received an interim contract as teacher at Smoky Mountain High School. Nathan Hooper was dismissed as a teacher there.

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