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Grissom is named SMHS principal
By Justin Goble
Jay Grissom, School of Alternatives principal for the past two years, was unanimously named the next Smoky Mountain High School principal by members of the Jackson County School Board on July 17.
A former SMHS assistant principal, Grissom replaces outgoing Principal Alex Bell.
“I’m delighted about the decision,” Grissom said. “It’s good to be back at Smoky Mountain and I think we’re going to have a great year.”
Coming back to SMHS from the School of Alternatives won’t be too drastic a change, Grissom said.
“I’m familiar with the school, and I know and have worked with all the staff members that were here when I was assistant principal,” Grissom said. “That will definitely make this an easier transition.”
According to Assistant Superintendant Steve Jones, Grissom was given a four-year contract extension earlier this year while at the School of Alternatives. That contract went into effect July 1, and Jones said it would carry over to his tenure at SMHS.
“We’re really happy with the decision,” Jones said. “It was a tough decision. The selection committee met a lot and in the end we went with the best choice.”
Grissom’s salary will be $61,775.28 a year, which includes a local supplement totaling $1,211.28, Jones said. His duties at SMHS will begin Aug. 1.
“That will give him and Mr. Bell some time to overlap, which will make for an easy transition before school starts,” Jones said.
Bell announced his retirement in May, stating he enjoyed his job but it was “time to do something different.” He said he would stay on until Aug. 20 to oversee the recently-funded second phase of construction at SMHS.
He was awarded a four-year contract as principal April 1, 2004, after serving as interim principal since the start of the 2003-04 school year. That contract would have expired next April.
Grissom served as a physical education teacher at Aycock Elementary School in Vance County for six years prior to coming to SMHS in 2003. He received his undergraduate degree from The Citadel in 1990. He has also taught P.E. at Vance County’s Rollins Elementary and Henderson Middle schools.
He also served as offensive coordinator for high school football teams at both Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools during his 13 years with Vance County Schools.
Officials will begin advertising for the School of Alternatives opening in the near future.
In other business July 17:
– Jones discussed the “Learn and Earn Early College” high school initiative with board members.
The program, which is sponsored by the governor’s office, allows students to attend school for five years, after which they will graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree.
Jones said the governor wants to set up the program at 100 schools, one for each county in the state, and measure its performance to see if it is worth expanding.
“It’s supposed to reflect the demographics of our school system and community,” Jones said. “It will be a different school altogether, with the students being housed at Southwestern Community College.”
When asked if the program would create any logistical problems, Jones said officials would have to figure out ways to transport students to SCC and provide lunch while they are on campus.
The program would also require specialized staff, Jones said.
“We’ll need a good counselor for the program,” Jones said. “They’ll be dealing with the high school and college administration aspects of it.”
Officials will spend this school year planning for the program and are hoping to enroll 50 students for the 2008-09 school year. If all goes well, Jones said 50 more could be added the next year.
– A change in the community use of facilities policy and facility use fee schedule was approved unanimously.
According to Jones, the revised policy allows for the school board to require security at any events it deems necessary. Security will be provided by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Another change requires all user groups using school facilities to provide a certificate of insurance for general liability with total limit coverage of $1 million for each claim made. In the past, the total limit coverage was $500,000.
The revised fee schedule for facilities use includes an increase in payment for custodial and cafeteria personnel. Groups will be charged $30 per hour for their services. In the past, that number was $25.
– Board members approved expenditures for school improvements throughout the county,
Officials allocated $15,000 each to Cullowhee Valley and Smokey Mountain elementary schools for gym floor repairs. Also approved was a $30,000 expenditure to replace the gym floor at the School of Alternatives.
Officials approved $200,000 to be used to upgrade the computers and other infrastructure at all schools.
_ Requests for three field trips were approved unanimously.
They were Cullowhee Valley School’s seventh- and eighth-grade media productions students to year book camp in Mars Hill; Fairview’s Summer Camp to Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tenn; and Fairview’s seventh-grade students to Camp Greenville in South Carolina.
– Ken Henke was unanimously re-elected as the school board chairman, and Ali Laird-Large was re-elected vice-chairman. School board policy indicates officers should be elected annually.
– School board members approved employment of the following:
Blue Ridge – Meryl Band, exceptional children; Kimberly Triebe, English as a second language.
Cullowhee Valley – Ashley Miller, school counselor; Peggy Pagan, exceptional children assistant.
Fairview – Caitlen Aiello, summer camp/after school program; Ashley Miller, school counselor.
School of Alternatives – Aliesha Taylor-Meade, special education.
Scotts Creek – Anna Blakely, fourth grade; Tina Powell, third grade.
SMHS – John Douthit, exceptional children and “one-on-one” teacher assistant; Jillian Harper, English; Jennifer Oliver, English.
Summer Academy – Julie Mathis, teacher’s assistant.
– Board members accepted resignations from the following:
Cullowhee – Angela Jeffery; Linda Wilkes, exceptional children program bus monitor.
Fairview – Ken Walker, physical education.
Scotts Creek – Justin Novgrod, physical education.
SMHS – Scott Hartbarger, physical education.
SMES – Donna Cox, academically/intellectually gifted children; Karla Phillips, physical education.
Bus driver – Karissa Henson.
– Approved bus drivers were Blair Spangler, Miranda Spangler and Beverly Van Hook-Schrey.
Personnel items listed for information purposes with no board action required included:
Jimmy Cleaveland, SMHS athletic director; Todd Drum, Blue Ridge athletic director; Bill Collins, transferred from the School of Alternatives to the SMHS English department; and Natasha Wilson, SMHS head volleyball coach.
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