Board Hears of Top Needs from Schools Tim Reaves [email protected]
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The FranklinEstablished 1886 Pre## Volume 132, Number 17 Friday, February 26, 2016 www.thefranklinpress.com Franklin, North Carolina 28734 $1.00 Board hears of top needs from schools Tim Reaves [email protected] After a day of hearing capital outlay requests from the county’s 11 public schools, the Macon County Board of Education whittled a $9.38 million wish list down to a more realistic amount at its annual retreat on Tuesday. The school board expects to vote on a list of the most needed improvements at Monday’s regular meeting. The requests at the end of the day Tuesday stood at $1.16 million, but Macon County Schools Superintendent Chris Baldwin cautioned that the figure likely will change. “Those dollar amounts, some of those are just best-guess estimates,” he said. “They probably won’t be exactly what Press photo/Tim Reaves The Heritage Village sign on Porter Street blew over during strong winds sometime early Wednesday morning. we’re asking for.” The school board will forward the requests to county commissioners, who made plain their desire to increase capi- tal outlay funding for the school system at a January meeting. High winds whip across Macon Baldwin said the exact amount of funding from the county is not clear, but he’s hopeful. Tim Reaves street from the flea market on “I think that the board’s goal is to address the needs of [email protected] Highlands Road, caused more our students,” he said. than half of the total outages Strong winds downed and forced Macon Middle System-wide trees and knocked out School and Mountain View power to thousands of peo- Intermediate School to close The school board decided to move forward with a tech- ple in Macon County on Wednesday, Leatherman said. nology request estimated at $518,060. That request includes Wednesday. As of Wednesday after- the replacement of 260 iPads, 338 desktops, 50 laptops, 10 A powerful low pressure noon, Macon County Macintosh computers and 47 projectors. system brought storms, heavy Emergency Service had The county gave MCS about $1.5 million in 2012 to rain, high winds, then snow to responded to 38 calls related replace aging technology, and commissioners expressed a top it all off. to the storm, ranging from desire to meet future needs incrementally instead of all at More than 4,000 people trees blocking roads and once, Baldwin said. lost power at the height of the power lines down to minor So the school board decided Tuesday to send the full list storm, Duke Energy District crashes and alarm systems to the county. Manager Lisa Leatherman going, said 911 communica- “Anything less than that would not be giving them the full said. About 390 Macon tions supervisor Todd Seagle. picture,” said school board member Stephanie McCall. County customers remained “It’s been spread out “The replacement of our technology is a priority,” said without power Thursday enough that one department school board Chairman Jim Breedlove. “It’s got to be.” morning, according to a Duke has not been overwhelmed,” The board also plans to request about $28,000 for a new outage map. he said. box truck and about $88,000 for a school activity bus with a Photo submitted One tree, which fell on a High winds toppled this billboard on US 441 in Otto. three-phase line across the See Weather on page 2A See Schools on page 2A Workshop’s goal: Plot bike paths in Franklin Tim Reaves involved in developing the Bike Walk [email protected] Franklin plan, said Town Planner Justin Setser. Tuesday night’s bike and pedes- “You’re getting people thinking trian plan workshop was all about about how they would go about their connections. daily business without driving,” he Participants sat down at tables in said. Tartan Hall to plot courses from Point Citizen input will help the town A to Point B without using a vehicle. know what kinds of connections are Organizers asked attendees to plan needed where, he added. routes that could accommodate dif- Workshop participants placed ferent scenarios – a child, a mother stickers on town maps that corre- with a stroller, an 80-year-old man sponded to places the commonly go. and more. They had to plot routes that includ- “If we make our communities safe ed bike lanes, sidewalks, pedestrian for 8-year-olds and 80-year olds … if walkways, greenways and other non- Press photo/Linda Mathias Candy and puppies are among the dogs transferred from the county’s facility to the no-kill shelter we design to meet those two popula- vehicular structures. at Appalachian Animal Rescue Center. Candy and her puppies are available for adoption. tions, the rest of us can take care of “I’m learning how very few ourselves,” said Kristy Carter, a trans- options we currently have to get by portation planner with Waynesville- bicycle to destinations that I want to based J.M. Teague Engineering, one use,” said attendee Craig Berry. “We New partnerships saving lives of pets of the consulting agencies working do have options, but they’re not in with the town. place.” Ryan Hanchett Section Administrator Jim Villiard may not seem like a huge number, She led the group through differ- Pam Forshee, a Bike Walk [email protected] updated the board of health on the it’s 11 animals that found perma- ent types of pedestrians and cyclists, Franklin steering committee member progress that the staff has made in nent homes and are no longer in a from the brave and adventurous to the agreed. The ongoing transforma- the months since animal control shelter.” cautious to those who walk and bike “I believe it’s going to be harder to tion of Macon County Animal was shifted from under control of Villiard added that the expand- purely out of necessity. adapt our roadways to accommodate Control into the Macon County the county manager to the control ing relationship with AARC has “People want to be able to walk bicyclists in a safe manner,” she said. Public Health Animal Services of the health department. been beneficial for both sides and bike more, but it doesn’t seem like “But for most bicyclists in general Department has led to improved “Recently we joined with as the groups continue to work the pieces are put together enough,” who have ridden in Macon County, outcomes for dozens of animals Appalachian Animal Rescue toward finding homes for lost, she said. “How do we make those we’re used to having very limited since the program was restruc- Center and held a Valentine’s Day surrendered and stray animals. connections so people can get where ability to ride on certain roads. I tured in October of last year adoption event, and I am happy to The animal services department the want to go?” don’t know if our expectations are according to public health offi- report that event was very success- recently transferred eight animals The purpose of the workshop was cials. ful,” Villiard said. “There were 11 to get the community more directly See Bikes on page 2A On Tuesday, Public Health animals adopted, and while that See Pets on page 7A Online Survey Index Subscribe Today! Poll question: Last week’s results: Classifi ed....................3C Do you plan to vote Do you take advantage Deaths.........................7A for or against the $2 bil- of early voting? Yes Legals..........................4C Opinion......................4A lion Connect NC bond 67% Sports..........................1C package? To vote: Yes: 67% No Log on to The No: 33% 33% Franklin Press online at: I don’t vote: 0% www.thefranklinpress.com Total votes: 13 © 2016 The Franklin Press/Community Newspapers Inc. Page 2 Section A — Friday, February 26, 2016— THE FRANKLIN PRESS Schools: Requests heard from each facility regarding capital needs continued from 1A Nantahala School a $750,000 multi-use facility. But the school board accept- DIRECTORY handicapped lift. Nantahala School ed his $40,000 request to Baldwin said the activity Principal James Bryan asked tear up the exterior basket- bus would go to Highlands HOURS & LOCATION the school board for funding ball court and replace it with School, and Highlands to expand concessions in the a practice football field. 40 Depot Street in Franklin School would send its bus to gymnasium lobby at a cost of Maslin said large cracks Open Monday through Friday Franklin High School. about $23,500, but the school are forming in the blacktop, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday’s preliminary board didn’t move forward and kids could get hurt. request also would ask the “That whole court is CONTACTING US with his request. county for around $114,000 The board will con- starting to get treacherous,” By telephone: for furniture and equipment sider $4,000 to fund exte- Breedlove said. 828.524.2010 to serve all the schools on rior speakers at Nantahala, The school also asked to By fax: 828.524.8821 the basis of average daily as well as at Iotla Valley receive funding for a speaker By mail: P.O. Box 350 membership. Elementary School. system in the gym. Franklin, NC 28744 The board also looked Franklin High School at improving the school’s Mountain View Press photo/Tim Reaves By email: fire suppression system, but Franklin High School Principal Barry Woody, right, speaks Rachel Hoskins, Publisher Principal Barry Woody passed on a $150,000 sewage Intermediate while Mountain View Intermediate School Principal [email protected] made numerous requests to treatment plant. Mark Sutton listens during the Macon County Board of the board, including $3 mil- MVI Principal Mark Education’s annual planning retreat on Tuesday.