Legislative Calendar for November 15, 2017

This is Macon Media's attempt to cover the North Carolina General Assembly in a manner that provides the public with as much information as possible. If you want soundbites or a biased interpretation of the actions of the state legislature, this is not the place for you. Coverage of yesterday's committee meeting is available. [LINK]

TODAY

The state legislature will not convene today. The next session is currently scheduled to convene at noon on January 10, 2018.

There is one committee meeting today. The Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Finance Reform (2017) is meeting at 9:30 am. Links to where you can listen to live audio and obtain documents the legislators will be speaking about are below. Macon Media will be recording the audio and will add it below the calendar as time allows.

Legislative Calendar for November 15, 2017

09:30 AM	Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Finance Reform (2017) [Agenda] [School Funding Report]	544 LOB [LIVE AUDIO]

Additional updates will be posted below this point.

The Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Reform met today to discuss, of course, reforming the way the state funds education. Michael Griffith, School Finance Strategist from the Education Commission of the States gave a presentation. Audio of the presentation is posted below. You can download a PDF of the presentation slides here. Part 1 of the audio takes you through page 18 and part 2 takes you to page 26 and the end.

Part One




Part Two

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Back-to-School Safety Tips for the 2017-2018 School Year

The first day of school in Macon County is today. So, be on the lookout for slow moving school buses and for children on the side of the road. To help you with when to stop and when not to stop when a school bus is stopped, or displaying a stop arm, here are some graphics provided by the NC DOT:












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Also, here is the law in North Carolina regarding when drivers are required to stop for school buses:

When a school bus is displaying its mechanical stop signal or flashing red lights and the bus is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers, the driver of any other vehicle that approaches the school bus from any direction on the same street, highway, or public vehicular area shall bring that other vehicle to a full stop and shall remain stopped. The driver of the other vehicle shall not proceed to move, pass, or attempt to pass the school bus until after the mechanical stop signal has been withdrawn, the flashing red stoplights have been turned off, and the bus has started to move. 

If you see someone violating the North Carolina School Bus Law (NCGS 20-217), please download and use these documents after you have called *HP on your cell phone.  Report of violation of School Bus Law (G. S. 20-217) (MS Doc file) or (PDF file)

Since 1999, 13 North Carolina children have been struck and killed while getting on or off a stopped school bus. There have been 2,552 convicetions statewide for a failure to stop for a stopped school bus in the last five years, and in 2015 alone, there were 2,271 convictions for speeding in a school zone.


Here are some safety tips for Drivers, Children, and Parents:

Drivers

•When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.

•When driving in neighborhoods with school zones, watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking of getting there safely.

•Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.

•Slow down. Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.

•Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
Learn and obey the school bus laws in your state. Learn the "flashing signal light system" that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions:

•Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.

•Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.

Children
•Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

•When the bus approaches, stand at least three giant steps (6 feet) away from the curb and line up away from the street.

•Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says that it's okay before stepping onto the bus.

•If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least five giant steps (10 feet) ahead of the bus before you cross. Be sure that the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver.

•Use the handrails to avoid falls. When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing with draw strings and book bags with straps don't get caught in the handrails or doors.

•Never walk behind the bus.
Walk at least three giant steps away from the side of the bus.

•If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up because the driver may not be able to see you.

Parents

Teach children to follow these common sense practices to make school bus transportation safer.

Keeping our children safe takes teamwork and together we can make a difference!

For more information on North Carolina’s Stop Arm Law, please go to the following link:http://www.ncbussafety.org/SchoolBusSafety/SBSWlaw.html

For more information, visit the Watch for Me NC campaign website to learn more about what you can do to keep roads safe for everyone.
 

Download the Back to School Safety Tips PDF for more information.

CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.


You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at >> https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia

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Macon County Board of Education May 2017 Regular Meeting Updated with Video of Meeting

The Macon County Board of Education will be meeting tonight at Nantahala School. A copy of the Mini Agenda that is shared with the news media has been embedded here for public information and to promote transparency. If a good enough internet connection can be established, a live video player will be posted. If that is not possible, a recorded version of the meeting will be published in the article in the next day or so.


6:06 pm A live blog is being posted below the Mini Agenda in reverse chronological order.





MEDIA ROLL CALL
(media outlets with reporters/photographers present)

Macon Media
The Franklin Press 
WNCC-FM/WFSC-AM
The Macon County News and Shopping Guide

ELECTED OFFICIALS
(other than those serving on the board)

Gary Shields (County Commissioner and one of two liaisons to the board)

May 2017 School Board Mini Agenda by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

LIVE BLOG

3:03 am The video has been added.

7.42 pm They've changed the June meeting to the 27th of June. Tuesday at 6 pm.

7.40 pm They're wrapping the meeting up and will be adjourning in a few minutes. Shutting down. I will try to have a video online in the next couple of days.

7.21 pm They're on Section IX, Business and Finance. Angie Cook is presenting this information and budget amendments. 

7.10 pm They're discussing Building and Grounds, Section VIII of the agenda.
they've allowed Highlands Recreation to use school buses and for the Chamber of Chamber to use buses for the Fourth of July and a BBQ Festival. Tim Burrell is providing an update on the SIPS Phone Systems.

6:52 pm They're now on Section VII - Curriculum and Instruction.

6.47 pm They're now discussing policy. (These items are in section VI of the agenda above.

6.46 pm The board has approved the personnel report 5-0.

6.45 pm The bioard has approved the fihing tournament 5-0.

6.42 pm Nantahala School is requesting to do a Fishing Tournament.

6.41 pm The board is reviewing overnight and out of district trip requests from the various schools. The items are approved by a unanimous vote.

6.39 pm The board has come back into open session.

6:36 pm They're coming back into the room.

6:08 pm The Board has gone into a closed session.

The reporters for The Franklin Press, Macon County News and Shopping Guide and WNCC-FM/WFSC-AM arrive.
6.07 pm The Support Person of the Year for Nantahala is Kim Bateman, Guidance Counselor.

The Teacher of the Year is Diane Raxter, 2nd and 3rd grade teacher.

CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia


Published at 1:01 Pm on May 23, 2017

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Regular February 2017 Meeting Macon County Board of Education

The Macon County Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting for February 2017 at the Central Officers on February 27, 2017.

The video of the meeting has been embedded below so you can see and hear exactly what happened at the meeting.




MEDIA ROLL CALL
(media outlets with reporters present for the meeting)

Macon Media (me)
The Franklin Press
WNCC-FM/WFSC-AM
The Macon County News and Shopping Guide


OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT

Gary Shields, Macon County Commissioner



DAY SPONSOR

Carrion Tree Service is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718. They are located at 120 Depot Street.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.




CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at >>
https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia

















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February 9, 2017 Budget Work Session Macon County Board of Education

The Macon County Board of Education met this morning for a budget work session to prioritize a list of items produced by school principals. The full video of the hour and a half meeting is posted below, as well as supporting documents provided to the media. The next meeting of the board is scheduled for Monday, February 27, 2017 at 6 pm in the same location.





MEDIA ROLL CALL
(media outlets with reporters present)

Macon Media (me)
Macon County News and Shopping Guide


The Capital Outlay request for the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year totals $2,885,614 of $14,651,852.50 the school principals and department heads had identified as needs.



Capital Outlay requests from the Board of Education to the Macon County Commissioners are in the leftmost column below.

Copy of Capital Outlay Requests for FY 2017-2018 by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

The list below was for informational purposes only. It is what school principals indicated their personnel needs.

2017-2018 Prioritized Principal Budget Request Macon County Schools by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at >> https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia

Published at 4:03 pm on Feb 9, 2017



Be kind to one another.

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