The Macon County Board of Education will be meeting tonight at 6:00pm in the Boardroom located at the Central Offices Building at 1202 Old Murphy Road. Macon Media will be there to record video. Since Verizon cellular reception has become very poor in that area over the last few months, the meeting will not be webcast by us. The live stream from the school has been embedded below and the player will be replaced by the Macon Media video sometime overnight or in the morning.
Recorded Video
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Play by play of meeting. (scroll down to see the newest comments)
5:45pm
The room has already started to fill with people. Please refresh the page (CTRL-F5) if on a desktop or laptop or desktop. If on a mobile device, pull down on the screen with your finger to refresh.
6:00pm
The start of the meeting is being delayed until the Highlands Board Member can arrive. She has been caught up in construction traffic on the Highlands Road. There are now more people than chairs in the meeting room.
6:05pm
The meeting has been called to order. Chairman Breedlove led those present in a Moment of Silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
6:08pm The Highlands member has arrived
6:09pm Public Comment
1st person, a mother, and a nurse is speaking out against students wearing masks in school.
2nd person, a mother, is also speaking out against masks.
3rd person, a father, is also speaking out against masks and social distancing in school.
4th person, an older female, asked about Critical Race Theory. The school attorney reminded everyone the public comment is not a question and answer time. The chairman gave his phone number to the lady so see could speak with him later. After that she, spoke out against the teaching of Critical Race Theory in the school system.
5th and 6th speakers, Danny Antoine and his wife. Danny spoke about the mental impact of the pandemic on the children he interacts with at his academy. He relayed that masks were optional at his facility and spoke out against mandatory mask-wearing in school. His wife added that they did not force mask-wearing and had no social distancing and their facility did not experience any outbreaks of COVID-19. He also spoke out against Critical Race Theory and the division it promotes.
6:25pm The chairman said he will adjust the agenda so those concerned about masks can hear a presentation from the superintendent.
7th speaker, a female from the Nantahala Community is speaking about the plan to move the Nantahala Public Library away from the school. She is against it.
6:29pm Spotlight on People and Programs
Dr Baldwin recognized another retiree from the school system. He also introduced the principals of Franklin High School. Macon Middle School, and the Virtual Academy.
6:32pm Dr Baldwin spoke about the Strong School NC Public Health Kit (K-12). Based on local transmission rates, if school started tomorrow, masks would not be required. They will be monitoring the situation and make adjustments as necessary.
6:34pm The meeting has been paused so the people who came for the public comment period can leave.
6:36pm Informational Items (Overnight/Out of District Trip and Fundraising requests.
6:40pm Policy Items The board attorney and other staff members are presenting the items in this section.
7:00pm Building and Grounds
Ed Trask, a member of the Public Library Board is discussing options for a new public library in the Nantahala Community. Karen Wallace, the Head Librarian, is with him.
7:12pm The board has approved a maintenance contract with Clark & Co at MVI.
7:13pm Business and Finance
+ 2021-2022 Capital Outlay Priorities
+ ESSER Funding Update
+ Summer School Update
7:37pm Chairman Breedlove has proposed to offer a bonus to all employees who took part in the Summer School Program, prorated based on the amount of time of participation. The board and staff are discussing. (This is part of the Summer School Update).
7:41pm The board approved 4-0. (Cabe is absent)
7:42pm Board of Education Information
Student Safety Update
- Threat Assessment and Suicide Ideation Protocols
- Social Emotional Learning and School Mental Health
- State Mental Health Initiative
7:52pm The next meeting of the board will be Monday, August 16th. The board has gone into a closed session. A video will be posted as soon as possible.
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Published at 4:15pm on Thursday, July 22, 2021
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