Rotary Club of Franklin New Generations co-eirector and Macon County School Board member Gary Shields (L) presents Franklin High School Students Amber Sellino (C) and Cole McCauley the recognition of Rotary Students of the Month for January.

The teachers and staff of Victory Christian School announce the A and A/B honor roll.

View the full listing of all recognized students after the jump!

Governor Pat McCrory's gubernatorial campaign stood firmly on the platform that as governor he would be a proponent of vocational education. With the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 14, McCrory signed the bill into law on on Feb. 18. The law directs the State Board of Education to develop career and college endorsements for high school diplomas, increase access to career and technical education teachers in public schools, and to work with the State Board of Community Colleges to increase the number of students enrolling in career and technical education in high need employment areas.

“North Carolina needs today’s students and tomorrow’s skilled workers to be able to compete in a national and global market. The new law that I signed this morning, will provide multiple choices and equal pathways to success,” McCrory said.

Under the new law, the State Board of Education will develop curriculums with increased emphasis on career and technical courses with the intentions of increasing the number of students pursuing vocational programs such as auto repair, welding, and health care technology. When students graduate they will have an endorsement of career ready, college ready, or both. Licensing requirements will also be reduced for the teachers of these courses.

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Members of the Macon County Board of Education are faced with arguably the hardest decision the school system has had to make in years. With continued cuts from the state level, increased operational costs and a zeroed out fund balance, the school system will likely not have enough funds to finish out this year, and will inevitably have to make serious cuts in order to be able start school next fall.

During a budget work session Monday night, members of the Board of Education were given some surprising figures.

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