Press Release July 11, 2013
Post date: Jul 15, 2013 11:35:09 AM
At its regular monthly meeting on July 11th, the Yancey County Board of Education took several personnel actions which included the extension of Superintendent Dr. Tony Tipton’s contract an additional two years and employing Mr. Stuart Jolley as the new principal for Clearmont Elementary School.
Upon a motion by Norb McKinney and seconded by Bill Whiteside the Board extended the superintendent’s contract by two years. Dr. Tipton is currently in his third year of a four year contract and this move will extend his contract through June of 2017. In making his motion, McKinney stated, “It is our desire to maintain stability in a time of several retirements and the placing of employees in new leadership roles. This contract extension does not include any increase in pay for Dr. Tipton, it just simply assures continuity and stability for our system.” Chair Orr said, “We are simply assuring stability without any expense to the system.” This motion was approved 3-1 with Orr, McKinney and Whiteside for the contract extension and Weatherman opposing. Board Member Jack Tipton was unable to attend this meeting.
In response to this extension, Dr. Tipton stated after the meeting, “I am humbled by the responsibility but honored by the confidence the Board has placed in me. It is my desire to provide stability as we all work together for the betterment of Yancey County Schools.”
Stuart Jolley will immediately begin his transition from Mountain Heritage to Clearmont Elementary. Jolley has served as assistant principal for the last six years at MHHS and assistant principal at Cane River Middle School for the five years prior. Before entering into the administration of Yancey County Schools, Jolley was a geography teacher in the Social Studies Department at Mountain Heritage.
Jolley is replacing Ms. Angie Anglin who was approved at the June 27th meeting to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of long-time East Yancey Middle School principal Rick Tipton.
On her move to East Yancey, Anglin states, "I couldn't be happier to be returning as Principal to East Yancey Middle School. I taught English/Language Arts at East Yancey for fourteen years, and was EY's Assistant Principal for a year and a half before leaving to gain elementary experience. While the Clearmont School and community will always be near and dear to my heart - middle grade students are a special age group, and I love working with them, as well as the outstanding faculty and staff at East Yancey. I feel fortunate to return as Principal to the school where I began my career. To quote one of my favorite movies, "There's no place like home."
In other items during the meeting, Dr. Tipton provided an overview of the summer facility projects currently underway in the schools.
A couple of the bigger projects include the roof project at Micaville Elementary School which is approximately 50% complete and the bathroom renovation projects at Bald Creek and Micaville Elementary Schools.
The most exciting project for the school system this summer is the installation of new building access systems at each elementary and middle school. This project includes a new audio/video community system at the main entrance of each school that allows visitors to call the office to be admitted into the building. Also installed with this project are additional interior and exterior cameras at some school sites, smart card readers and live video access of school entrances from the central office.
Dr. Tipton stated, “I want everyone to understand that our schools will be safer and parents are always welcome. Our goal is to maintain our small community feel with the highest level of safety for our students.”
In other news, Architect Mike Cox of Architectural Design Studios updated the Board on the progress of the visitor bleachers at the football field at Mountain Heritage High School. Cox reported that the project is currently running ahead of schedule and should be complete, easily, by the end of this month. The new bleachers will increase the seating capacity from 350 to 770 and meets all ADA requirements for visitors with special needs.
Also approved during the meeting was the recommendation to continue with American Advantage Marketing Group as the provider of student insurance for the 2013-14 school year. Information for purchasing student insurance will be available to parents when students return to school on Monday, August 19th.