The Jackson County Board of Education held a work session on Feb. 11 to hear the opinions and questions of students, staff and community members at Jackson Community School. School Superintendent Dana Ayers brought up the future of the school two months ago, citing decreased enrollment and financial needs. For JCS to remain at its […]
Archives for February 2025
Work session brings students and staff to speak up for the Jackson Community School
February 20, 2025 by
Executive orders from Trump have shaken LGBTQ community at WCU
February 20, 2025 by
While some changes came as no surprise after President Trump took office, others have been put in place more quickly than anticipated. Executive orders are impacting the LGBTQ community and the queer community at Western Carolina University has something to say about it. Ash Haight, a creative writing graduate student at WCU shared her thoughts […]
JCPS sports complex to get a face lift
February 13, 2025 by
The Board of Education included all around improvements to athletic facilities around Smoky Mountain High School as one of their priorities in the meeting. The improvements include an expansion of the track from six lanes to eight lanes, a new field house with weight rooms and locker rooms for both male and female athletes, construction […]
Fairview renovations top priority for Jackson County Board of Education
February 13, 2025 by
Ayers kickstarted the joint meeting of the Board of Education and the County Commissioners with discussing the board’s number one priority being a new cafeteria and kitchen area for Fairview Elementary. The 52-year-old school’s cafeteria and kitchen area service 300 students at one time. A problem arises when there are currently 811 students enrolled in […]
New traditional middle school sparks excitement
February 13, 2025 by
The second priority of the board is to build a new middle school that would combine the 6th through 8th grades from Cullowhee Valley, Fairview, Scotts Creek and Smoky Mountain Elementary. It is estimated the roughly 700 to 900 students will be consolidated to the middle school from across the county. Roughly $60 million has been set […]
Blue Ridge to receive new gym, classrooms and cafeteria
February 13, 2025 by
Although not included in the top five priorities of the board, the Blue Ridge Elementary in Cashiers was acknowledged as needing a gymnasium alongside additional classroom and cafeteria space. “We are happy to have our County Commissioners recognize that there are needs there but I don’t think we can really do anything else at this […]
