Notice:
Macon County Board of Education- Special Called Meeting/Budget Work Session- Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 1:00 pm
The Macon County Board of Education will hold their Regular Scheduled Meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024 beginning at 6:00 pm at Macon Middle School located at 1345 Wells Grove Road, Franklin.
The meeting will be live-streamed and can be accessed by visiting www.macon.k12.nc.us
2024-2025 PreK Enrollment Information:
Mark your calendars now for the 5th Annual UNIFY March Madness!
Macon County Schools is holding a series of facilitated focus groups to get student, educator, and community input as part of our process to develop and refine the district’s strategic plan. These focus groups will be held at Nantahala School, Highlands School, and Franklin High School. All members of our local community, including parents, business owners, and other stakeholders of Macon County Schools are invited to be a part of these important conversations.
Community Nights are as follows:
Monday, March 4- Nantahala School- 5:30-7:00pm
Tuesday, March 5- Highlands School- 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday, March 6- Franklin High School 5:30-7:00pm
For more information, please contact Macon County Schools at 828-524-3314 or email Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Renee Burt at renee.burt@macon.k12.nc.us
The Macon County Board of Education had a wonderful February Board Meeting. Thank you Macon Early College for hosting! Our food, fellowship and campus tours were outstanding. We can’t wait for our next visit.
For Immediate Release:
Congratulations Coach Brooks!
MCS February 19th, 2024 Board Meeting Live Stream
Live stream begins at 6:00 pm.
Click the link below to access the live stream.
https://vimeo.com/event/4102392
February 15 is National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day!
We are extremely appreciative for our School Resource Officers (SROs) across our district for their contribution to our students and the schools they serve. SROs bridge the gap between youth and law enforcement. They serve our students in counseling, educational and law enforcement roles. SROs are essential members of the education community and deserve the utmost respect and support as they help protect our students, faculty and staff.
Today and every day, we honor and celebrate the dedication and impact of our School Resource Officers!
Just a reminder, Monday, February 19, 2024 will be a teacher workday for Franklin area schools with the exception of Macon Early College. Students in the Franklin area will return to class on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
2024 Kindergarten Orientation Days--
Macon County Board of Education-Special Called Meeting Notification - Tuesday, February 13, 2024
On behalf of the Macon County Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools, it is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of longtime educator Mrs. Carol Arnold.
Carol Arnold was a product of Macon County Schools. She attended Iotla School and graduated from Franklin High School in 1973. Arnold continued her education at Western Carolina University where she majored in Early Childhood Education. In 1974, she married Jerry Arnold and they have been married for 49 years. Together they have 73 total years working experience in the North Carolina public school system, most of those serving the children and community of Macon County. The Arnold’s have one son, Jason Arnold, who is currently Chief Assistant District Attorney for the 43rd Prosecutorial District.
Arnold has dedicated her life to public education and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education, a Master of Arts in Education, Six Year Educational Degree, and holds the following Educational licenses: Early Childhood, Middle Grade, Mentor, Curriculum Specialist, Principal and Superintendent Licenses. Arnold has served as a teacher in both Swain and Macon County — receiving Macon County Teacher of the Year in 1984. She worked as the Exceptional Children Director for Macon County as well as in the Central Office Executive Program at the University of Chapel Hill. Arnold was an Ed/Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction serving Region 8 as well as an Education Mediator for Region 8. Arnold has worked to help the future of education serving as an Adjunct Professor at Western Carolina University. Arnold worked as the Associate Superintendent for Clay County Schools and finished out her educational career serving as a Contract Consultant for Macon County Schools advising the district on Federal Educational Programs. Arnold served on the Macon County Board of Education from December 1998-December 2002. In addition, Arnold was appointed to the Macon County Board of Education in 2020 after board member Fred Goldsmith resigned from his seat.
We will miss her tremendously, as well as her contributions to our school system and to our community.
Please remember Carol’s family and our school families in your thoughts and prayers in the very difficult days ahead.
https://www.maconfuneralhome.com/memorials/kathryn-arnold/5373056/index.php
The American Counseling Association (ACA) is proud to celebrate school counselors and their work in schools across the nation during National School Counseling Week, Feb. 5 – 9, 2024. School counselors today are at the center of the problem-solving process and can help safeguard the mental and emotional well-being of students and parents alike. We are thankful for our counselors throughout the Macon County School System.
The Macon County Board of Education will hold their Regular Scheduled Meeting on Monday, February 19, 2024 beginning at 6:00 pm at Macon Early College located at 77 Siler Farm Road, Franklin.
The meeting will be live-streamed and can be accessed by visiting www.macon.k12.nc.us
The Macon County Board of Education had a wonderful January Board Meeting! Thank you Iotla Valley Elementary School for hosting! When we arrived, we were greeted by the Iotla Valley Elementary School Student Lighthouse Team. We even had our very own escorts as we toured the school. A very special thank you also to Iotla Valley’s School Nutrition Team for the delicious meal and to Iotla Valley Choir for the best performance! It was truly a special night!
Below you will find a link to our 2024-2025 school calendar. This calendar will serve Highlands School, Nantahala School and Franklin area schools with the exception of Macon Early College. MEC calendar approval will be forthcoming.
https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3129/MCS/3926101/Macon_County_Schools_2024-2025_School_Calendar.pdf
“We know the impact a school facility has on students’ ability to learn. Many schools that were built decades ago lack the safety infrastructure, code compliance, programmatic requirements, and other modern features that are needed for education today. This is the case with the existing Franklin High School. I’m proud to award a Needs-Based Grant to Macon County Schools for the design and construction of a new Franklin High School and Bartram Academy. This new comprehensive high school campus will create a state-of-the-art educational facility to serve the students of Macon County for generations to come.” --North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt
January 23, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Macon County and Macon County Schools have invested significant local financial resources and time to prepare the Franklin High School project for construction. Beginning in December of 2021 with thorough due diligence to support the replacement of Franklin High School, careful design and collaboration with district and county stakeholders continues. In May 2023, the Macon County Commissioners and Macon County School board jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming their commitment to the Franklin High School Project, expressing their intent to use funds received from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund for the Project’s construction and assuring the county’s elected representatives in the NC General Assembly of both board’s ongoing partnership to continual growth and improvement of Macon County Schools.
A new facility will align the learning environment with the excellent variety of courses and instruction available at Franklin High School, offer expanded pathways and opportunities for career ready and alternative high school students, enhance teacher recruitment and retention, and will strengthen community pride in these growing, life-long citizens of Macon County.
Today, Macon County Schools was awarded $62,000,000 for the construction of a new Franklin High School. The grant monies will ensure that Macon County students have access to high quality educational resources, ADA accessible facilities and 21st century learning opportunities.
“We could not be more excited to award you this grant. We know that the Franklin Panthers will be so excited to have their new school and thank you to all of you that worked so hard.” – North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt
“I am extremely excited for the Macon County School System and the Macon County community! The Macon County School Board along with Macon County Commissioners have done a wonderful job preparing for this project. Our kids and community deserve this!” -North Carolina Senator Kevin Corbin
“I have been on the Board for fifteen years, and this is the ultimate! Since I have been on the Board, this is one of the things we have strived for is to bring this opportunity to our students and we’re here. This is incredibly exciting and beyond words!”- School Board Chair Jim Breedlove
“As Superintendent of Schools, I am a product of Macon County Schools and I had the opportunity to go through Franklin High School and graduate from Franklin High School as did my mom and dad. As I look to the future and the impact this will have. I have my own kids who are in this great system and they will be impacted by this and their kids will be impacted by this. We are grateful for the opportunity and I am just thankful. Thank you so much.” – Josh Lynch
To view the full video from today's special called meeting and presentation, please click on the following:
https://vimeo.com/905620418?share=copy
MCS January 22nd, 2024 Board Meeting Live Stream
(live stream begins at 6:00 pm)
Click the link below to access the live stream:
https://vimeo.com/event/4036466
Remote Learning Update:
Our district has implemented a plan to conduct remote learning days when school may be cancelled. On these days, students are given assignments which are the equivalent of the work they would have done if they had attended class in person. By implementing these remote learning days, our district is hopeful that we can prevent makeup days or an extension of the school year. Not every cancellation will be a remote learning day. However, if a remote learning day is called, parents and students will be prepared.