A Western Carolina University initiative to support beginning teachers in Western North Carolina systems has received a $30,000 grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

The grant was awarded to Janice Holt, executive director of teacher recruitment, advising and career support at Western Carolina University, for a project titled “Support and Professional Development for the Enhancement of the 21st Century Professional Standards.”

East Franklin Elementary and Franklin Kiwanis recently recognized East Franklin Elementary's Terrific Kids. This month's highlighted character trait was Caring.

School board splits on 2011/12 calendar option

Macon County schools have applied for a waiver from the State Board of Education that would allow them adopt an alternative calendar for the next school year which would include two, week-long periods for students to catch up or brush up on school subjects. In addition, the alternative calendar moves the school start date to earlier in August, allowing the district to finish the first semester before the beginning of the end-of-year holidays.

If the waiver is approved and the alternative calendar accepted, the 2011/12 school year will begin on Aug. 4, three weeks earlier than the traditional calendar preference which the school board has approved as a back-up in case the waiver is denied.

At the prompting of the North Carolina School Boards Association, the Macon County School board has adopted a resolution in opposition to the proposed N.C. Senate Bill 8, known as the Charter School Bill. SB 8 would redefine the funding process for charter schools and could allow funding for private schools that would take away from current revenues for public schools.

“I hope everybody realizes how serious this is,” said Gary Shields at the Board of Education’s Monday meeting. “If the monies are taken away from the public school sector and put into the private school sector, we are in trouble.”