The regular monthly meeting of the Yancey County Board of Education was held in the auditorium of Mountain Heritage High School on Monday, May 20, 2024.
Clearmont Elementary School
Real Estate agent Mr. John Webb gave an update on the current status of the listing for Clearmont Elementary School. Mr. Webb reported that while the listing has received numerous views, there have been few serious inquiries. Given the potential costs of renovating the property, Mr. Webb suggested lowering the price to $399,000. The Board voted unanimously to accept this change.
Facilities Updates
Facilities Director Derek Murphy provided the following updates on the ongoing major facilities projects this summer:
South Toe Elementary School
Summer work has been planned out and will include:
Electrical-Mechanical-Plumbing-Flooring, ACT Ceiling Tiles
Kitchen/Water Lines-Pressure/Restrooms/Library
East Yancey Middle School
Summer Work has been planned out and will include:
Electrical-Mechanical-Plumbing-Flooring, ACT Ceiling Tiles
Boiler/Chiller/Kitchen/Classrooms from Main Entrance to Gym/2 Restrooms
Burnsville Elementary School
Summer work has been planned out and will include:
Interior Renovations
Planning Electrical, Mechanical Controls, ACT Ceiling Tiles, and
Cafeteria Expansion
Addition New Construction – 14 Classrooms and 25,000 additional square feet
ECS Southeast retained to Engineer/Inspect Earthworks and Retaining Walls
Harper Office established and open on the backside of the school property
Pre-K Safety Entrance Constructed
Fencing, Gate and Construction Entrance Installed
Silt Fencing laid out for Addition and Borrow Pit
Some Tree Removal along Entrance Driveway for widening
Cane River Middle School
Summer Work has been planned and will include:
Electrical-Mechanical-Plumbing-Flooring, ACT Ceiling Tiles
Media Wing Classrooms/Lobby, Main Offices, Arts Rooms
Blue Ridge Elementary School – Future additional classrooms
Traffic Study has started and planning continues
Orr Building
Young and McQueen reports that the Schematic Design Review has been completed and submitted to NCDPI for approval.
AG Barn
Request for Qualifications period closed Friday 5-17-24
The Board will review them and choose an architect/contractor at the June 10th meeting.
Stadium Project
Concept has been submitted to the Engineer for comments
Change Orders
Mrs. Amos presented change orders for work being done at STES and EYMS. The cost of the change orders will be deducted from the allowance for each project. The Board voted unanimously to approve both of the change orders.
County Request for Wells at BRES
Attorney Donny Laws informed the Board that the Town and the County have been working on completing infrastructure on the west end of Yancey County. One of those projects includes research into tapping onto wells in the Bakers Creek area to supplement the town’s water supply. The inability to find consistently suitable water sources on Bakers Creek has caused the town to seek other properties owned by the County or the School System. The engineer has identified two potential well sites on the property of Blue Ridge Elementary. Mrs. Amos informed Mr. Laws that this section of the property may be protected land due to artifacts on site. The Board voted unanimously to authorize Mrs. Amos to enter into discussions with the County to determine whether this site is protected and/or would be a suitable site for a well.
Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance
Chairman Edwin Fortner welcomed everyone to the meeting. Students Jessica Wholters and Hannah Massey led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Good News
Mrs. Amos greeted the audience and presented the following awards along with Dr. Heather Cox and Elementary Curriculum Director Andrea Allen as well as related coaches, sponsors and teachers.
- YCS Teacher of the Year – Mrs. Leigh Davis, EYMS
- YCS Support Person of the Year – Mr. Ryan Ray, MHHS
- YCS Volunteer of the Year – Paul & Barbara Bradley, BRES
- Elementary Schools
- Battle of the Books – BRES “Blue Moon Readers”
- County Winners
- Placed 4th in Regionals
- Alexander Bole
- Maxxi Buchanan
- Maddy Burke
- Leighton Church
- Skylar Denley
- Jett Hollifield
- Frankie Kahn
- Helen Kiser
- Reese Kuhn
- Knox Rogers
- Allison Yumagulova
- Coaches – Carla Keener & Lisa Burlison
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- Cane River Middle School
- FBLA State Competition
- Largest Middle School Chapter Western Region
- Video Game Challenge – Jackson “JB” Banks, Shooter Fox & Andrew Remillard – 3rd Place
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- Elevator Speech – Madison Holt – 2nd Place
- Web Banner Design – Savannah Kahn, Dacolby McGee, Addison McKinney – 2nd Place
- Elevator Speech – Mallie Mae Buchanan – Top 10
- Public Speaking – Dowless Spears & Addison Bradford – Top 10
- Website Design – Abby Edwards, Lexie McIntosh & Jaedyn Harshbarger – Top 10
- Business Research – Maggie Burleson & Lyla McKinney – Top 10
- Mission & Pledge – Elliana Anglin – Top 10
- Impromptu Speaking – Vivian Kiser & Garrett Hill – Top 10
- Volleyball – Runner-up in Conference and Tournament
- Girls Basketball Team – Tied 3rd Place in Conference, WHC Tournament Champions
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- Wrestling – Runner-up for team
- 1st place in conference – Brayden Peterson & Max Watts
- Wrestling – Runner-up for team
- Softball – Runner-up in Conference and Tournament
- Baseball – Runner-up in Conference and Tournament
- Track – 1st in Conference
- Girls Golf – 1st in Conference – Mallie Mae Buchanan
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- East Yancey Middle School
- FBLA State Competition
- Community Service Presentation – Bella Hughes & Rileigh Huckabee
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- Multimedia & Website Development – Ava LaMotte & Ariana Lawrence – 4th Place
- Marketing Mix Challenge – Avalon Martens & Connor Robinson – 3rd Place
- FBLA Concepts – Payton Ray – Top 10 Finish
- Exploring Business Issues – Sophia Buchanan, Lydia Fox & Ezra McCurry – Top 10 Finish
- Annual Chapter Activities Presentation – Callie Bennett & Gracie Huskins – 2nd Place
- Fall Soccer Team – undefeated, conference champions
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- Volleyball Team – undefeated in conference, tournament champions
- Conference Wrestling Champions – Johnathan Robinson & Max Frazier
- Runner Up – Evan Ingram
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- Mountain Heritage High School
- TOY Scholarship Recipient
- NC State Kenan Fellowship Award – Sarah Laws
- NCSSM Attendees
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- Naomi Anglin – Morganton
- Cade Hartsell – Durham
- Bella Rizzuto – Durham
- Concert Band – Superior rating at the WNC Music Performance Adjudication Festival – Tyler Reese
- FFA Junior Horse Evaluation Team – 3rd in NC
- Bastien Clemons
- Chayan Capellupo
- Brianna Laws
- Bailey Whitson
- FFA Junior Dairy Judging Team – 10th in NC & 3rd in the West Region
- Jake Styles
- Hayden Wilson
- Melany Carabello
- Tanner McClure
- FBLA State Competition
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- Future Business Leader – Isaac Autrey – 1st Place
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- Introduction to FBLA – Kai’ana Stella – 1st Place
- Parliamentary Procedure – Couper Dale, Cadie Proffitt, Ava Gillespie, Hollie Hughes, Makenna Carroll – 2nd Place
- Partnership with a Business – Isaac Autrey, Chloe Deyton, Emmet Oesch – 4th Place
- Graphic Design – Riley Gouge, Sydney McCurry – 4th Place
- Community Service Project – Couper Dale, Sydney McCurry, Jennifer Rojas – Top 10
- Introduction to Event Planning – Jenna Blevins, Teagan Boyd, Brinley Fox – Top 10
- Introduction to Public Speaking – Abby Smith – Top 10
- Job Interview – Jacee Williams – Top 10
- Local Chapter Business Report – Olivia Cannon, Sarah Forbes, Kai’ana Stella – Top 10
- Visual Design – Fiorella Hidalgo, Jennifer Rojas – Top 10
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- Largest Chapter in the Western Region
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- T-Shirt Design – Alyssa Turner, Morgan Warren, Addison Turner – 2nd Place
- Cheer Chant & Slogan – Brinley Fox, Sydney McCurry, Jacee Williams – 3rd Place
- Gold Seal Chapter – Brinley Fox, Riley Gouge, B Tyner – State Recognized
- Western Region Vice President – Isaac Autrey
- SkillsUSA Regionals Representatives
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- Job Interview – 1st Place
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- Lawson Higgins
- Debate – 1st Place
- Branson Fox
- Dalton Ramsey
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- SkillsUSA State Competition
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- Debate – 1st Place
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- Branson Fox
- Dalton Ramsey
- Creed – 1st Place
- Riley Gouge
- Spelling Bee – 3rd Place
- Emily Capellupo
- Construction Tool ID – 2nd Place
- Jenna Blevins
- Pledge – 1st Place
- Kendal Bennett
- Health Occupations Professional Portfolio – 3rd Place
- Nevaeh Buchanan
- Job Skill Demonstration – 3rd Place
- Parker Burleson
- Job Interview – 2nd Place (Advancing to Nationals)
- Robbie McCurry
- Pledge – 2nd Place
- Brinley Fox
- Poster – 1st Place
- Sydney Styles
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- Teamworks – 3rd Place
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- Jackson Worley
- Maverick Gilley
- Connor Weatherman
- Sawyer Silver
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- Football – WHC Champions
- WHC Player of the Year – Brandon Quinn
- WHC Lineman of the Year – Hunter Hamlin
- WHC Special Team Player of the Year – Matty Newsome
- WHC Coach of the Year – Joey Robinson
- 1st Team ALL WNC – Matty Newsome & Cole McGee
- Boys Soccer – 4th Place Finish
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- WHC Player of the Year – Dylan Smith
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- JV Girls Basketball – WHC Conference Champions
- Varsity Girls Basketball – undefeated in conference play, WHC Conference Champions, WHC Tournament Champions, Sectional Champions
- WHC Offensive Player of the Year – Keira Wilson
- WHC Coach of the Year – Susie Shelton
- Coach Susie Shelton – 500 Wins!
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- JV Boys Basketball – 2nd in WHC
- Varsity Boys Basketball – WHC Conference Champions
- WHC Offensive Player of the Year – Jace Loven
- Swim Team – Conference Winners
- Lily Fender – All Conference 100 Backstroke, All-Conference 200 Freestyle, WHC Swimmer of the Year, State Runner-up
- Vari Yumagulova – All-Conference 200 IM, All-Conference 100 Breaststroke
- Wrestling
- Weight Class Conference Champion – Braxton Batchelor
- Regional Qualifiers – Braxton Batchelor, Elijah Pate, Bodhi Glover, Sawyer Silver, Thatcher Smith, Andrew Carpenter, Adam Pate
- Track – New School Records Set
- Dylan Dahlberg – Open 400 with time of 50.65
- Callie Capps – Pole Vault – 9 ft
- Matthias Newsome, Caleb Roy, Brandon Quinn, Dylan Dahlberg – 4×400 Relay – 1 minute 33.58 seconds
Superintendent Updates
Burnsville Elementary School
Mrs. Amos reported that site work has begun for the renovations and addition at Burnsville Elementary School. The 25,000 square foot addition will include 14 classrooms and is part of the $15.7 million grant from NCDPI for this school.
NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey
Mrs. Amos presented the Board with the preliminary results of the NC Teacher Working Conditions survey. We thank our teachers for taking the time to fill out the survey and share their ideas with the administrative teams as we work together on continuous positive improvements.
Cross-Program Consolidated Monitoring Review
Dr. Cox reported that YCS had two monitoring visits. The first was regarding federal programs. Four schools were selected at random for this review. Those schools were South Toe, Micaville, Burnsville and East Yancey. Dr. Cox reported that the visit went very well.
NCDPI Testing and Accountability Monitoring Visit at EYMS
Dr. Cox reported that for the second monitoring visit, EYMS was chosen at random to be monitored for their End of Grade test period. That visit also went very well.
YCS Summer Camps
Mrs. Amos reported that YCS summer camps will be starting soon. These camps will include CTE activities, reading and math for grades 3-12 as well as athletic camps at the high school.
YCS Testing/Exam Week
Mrs. Amos reported that the elementary and middle schools tested last week and the high school is testing this week. She thanked all the teachers, principals and staff for their hard work in preparing all the materials and administering tests.
New Business
MCHP
Meghan Graham from MCHP presented 33 Narcan kits to YCS to help ensure the safety of students and staff who may be exposed to an illicit substance. YCS is grateful for this continued partnership to meet the needs of our school community.
South Toe Fire Department
Mrs. Amos and Mr. Donny Laws spoke about the South Toe Fire Department’s request for the usage of an additional 1.5 acres of land on the South Toe Elementary School property. Mr. Laws described the legal process to fill this request. After discussion, it was determined that the next step will be to evaluate the survey of the property.
Yancey County CTE Program
Mrs. Amos presented the Board with a packet provided by CTE Director Cynthia Deyton which details the local CTE plan program. The Board unanimously approved this plan that Mrs. Deyton will now submit to NCDPI.
Facilities Study for MHHS
Mrs. Amos presented the Board with a list of companies from which to solicit a facilities study for MHHS. She requested direction from the Board on which companies to reach out to for interest. After discussion, the Board’s consensus was to allow Mrs. Amos to seek which companies may be interested and a better idea of the potential cost of this study then return with a smaller list of recommendations.
Public Input
None
Informational Items
The next regular meeting of the school board will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024 in the BoardRoom of the Yancey County Schools District Office. Work Session will begin at 5:30 pm, followed by the Regular Meeting at 6:00 pm.
PUBLIC INPUT – To sign up for public input, please call 828-682-6101 ext. 102 by 3:00 pm on the day of the meeting. A sign-up sheet will also be available at the meeting location from 4:00-5:50 pm prior to the meeting.
