School safety, prank, Back to School Bash on Ayers’ mind

Jackson County Public Schools continues to work collaboratively with the Sheriff’s Office to ensure every school is safe and drug-free. Last week, we used canines to sweep both Cullowhee Valley and Scotts Creek schools. These sweeps will routinely take place at all schools.

Our spring sports teams have completed their season and made us proud! Sports banquets across the district have been planned so that we can celebrate the accomplishments of our student-athletes and coaches. 

Prank out of hand

This past week, Smoky Mountain High School Principal Evelyn Graning, her administrative team and School Resource Officer Jamie Ashe investigated the actions of students at SMHS on the evening of May 16. A senior prank began as a harmless, “have-a-little-fun” prank and went according to plan. 

Students were directed to leave campus but they returned and re-entered the building without permission and trespassed on campus. It is the actions after leaving the building, and it was secured by staff, that are irresponsible and illegal. Those actions have resulted in law enforcement pressing charges with my full support.

The investigative work consumed an exorbitant amount of time that should have been spent focusing on instruction, school safety and preparing for testing and graduation ceremonies. I am disappointed by the actions of students and disheartened by the community uproar surrounding the illegal incident.

However, I do not believe students should be excluded from graduation. Each student involved will be held accountable with the legal charges filed but will be permitted to participate in graduation ceremonies. My hope is that a lesson has been learned from this incident.

I want to remind everyone that the second annual Back to School Bash is Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. We are currently collecting monetary donations for school supplies. You can donate by visiting jcpsnc.org/give or dropping off donations at the Board of Education. For additional questions or information, please call or email Emily Buchanan at 586-2311 ext.1952 or ebuchanan@jcpsmail.org.

Thank you to the community for being so very supportive of Jackson County Public Schools!

Dana Ayers is superintendent of Jackson County Public Schools.