At a specially-called meeting on March 19, the Yancey County Board of Education made the decision to close and consolidate Bee Log Elementary School into Bald Creek and Clearmont Elementary Schools.
After reviewing the impact study as presented by Superintendent Tony Tipton on March 8, the school board voted 3-2 to close and consolidate Bee Log Elementary School into Bald Creek and Clearmont Elementary Schools for the 2018-19 school year. Chairman Angie Weatherman, Vice-Chairman Jeanne Tyner, and Board Member Edwin Fortner voted in favor to the close and consolidate Bee Log Elementary School, Board Members Mike Orr and Norb McKinney carried the dissenting vote.
The Board then voted to amend a resolution passed on September 19, 2016. This resolution stated that Bald Creek, Bee Log, and Clearmont Elementary Schools would all close and consolidate into one new elementary school at the end of the current 2017-18 school year. The expected completion date, however, for the new elementary school is not until the end of the 2018-19 school year. Therefore the Board voted to amend the September 19, 2016 resolution to postpone consolidating Bald Creek and Clearmont Elementary Schools until the end of the 2018-19 by a 3-0 vote. Ms. Weatherman, Ms. Tyner, and Mr. Fortner voted in favor of the resolution, whereas Mr. Orr and Mr. McKinney abstained from voting.
In addition, the Board voted unanimously to allow Interim Principal Marshay Huskins to finish the 2017-18 school year as principal of Clearmont Elementary School. The principal position recently became vacant following the retirement of longtime Yancey County Schools employee Stuart Jolley. The interim position was determined to last the month of March, allowing the Board time to consider options to fill the vacant position.
Families living in the Bee Log community will receive a survey to determine which students have the intention of going to Bald Creek or Clearmont Elementary School. Information collected will be used for school and class size planning. Families should expect to receive the survey within the coming weeks.
