Hannah Styles
hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com
This month’s regularly scheduled Swain County Board of Education meeting took place Monday, July 19, and began by honoring the Swain County High School girls track team for their accomplishments at the state competition. With the multiple challenges they faced, like having no proper home track to practice on and COVID-19 restrictions, these girls overcame the odds and their hard work and dedication paid off.
Superintendent Mark Sale asked the team and coaches to come up to the front of the room and speak about their season.
Head coach Ian Roper said he was very proud of what the team had accomplished, especially in such a difficult year. Among the present individuals were Kirsten Smith, Reah Dingle, Jenna Marr, Amelia Rogers, and coaches Roper, Landon Hunt, Keith Payne and Jen Chatham.
The board gave the athletes and coaches custom T-shirts that read “character counts.”
School board member Cody White said, “Character counts, and it obviously counted for you, what you were trying to do and what you were able to accomplish. The trials and tribulations in your life are only going to get harder, and they’re going to continue, so remember that character counts and the effort you put forth in track and remember that in every adversary you face.” After honoring the track team, the board moved in to closed session to discuss personnel. Upon returning to open session, the board made the following personnel actions: they accepted the resignation of Brianne Bramlet, Cameron Baines; and employment of Julie Bennett, Kelly Walls, Barbara Sneed, Vickie Bailey, Driver Blithe, Derrick Ledford, Dennis Jones, Michael Turner and Evan Clapsaddle.
The board has still not received final word from the state about mask requirements in school, but at this time are still operating under the mask mandate. Recently, the US CDC released guidance stressing in-person learning this fall and that people who are not vaccinated should continue to wear face woverings while those who are vaccinated (12 and up) don’t need to.
Sale said they will most likely hold a special meeting to discuss this issue closer to the start of school, which begins for students on Aug. 16, when more information is known.
The COVID-19 vaccine clinic held at the high school July 19, was a success according to Sale. “There was a vaccine clinic at the high school today. Seventy-two people signed up, 66 of them were students and they served every one of them,” he said.
The next regularly scheduled school board meeting is Monday, Aug. 16.