Politics & Government

School Board Will Discuss Personnel Moves, Class Sizes

The Cherokee County School Board will take action on proposed transfers of principals and submit a local resolution to continue its exception on the maximum class size set forth by the state.

When the Cherokee County School Board meets at the historic Canton High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday, it will officially transfer several principals to other county schools, schools in other counties, and positions within the administration of the School District itself.

If approved, seven principals or assistant principals will be swapping schools over the summer of 2013, including several from the Canton area.

Canton Elementary School Principal Gwen Lince would take over the reins at Clayton Elementary School, while Clayton's principal Beth Long will transfer to Canton.

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Cherokee High School Assistant Principal Shelia Grimes is getting a promotion to principal when she moves to Freedom Middle School this July. Freedom Assistant Principal Cheryl Gould will become the new director of the Lee Roy Tippens Education Center.

Chapman Intermediate School's Susan McCarthy will become the new director of the district's educational programs. Johnston Elementary School's assistant principal Jennifer Landry will be the newest principal of Mountain Road Elementary School. She will replace Tammy Sandell, who will be taking over at Knox Elementary School.

Find out what's happening in Canton-Sixeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The board will also submit to the state its local resolution to continue to be excepted from maximum class size limits due to the budgetary constraints plaguing the school district.

On Feb. 20, the state school board decided to continue to grant exceptions to the maximum class size for the 2013-14 school year to school districts that need the flexibility.

The local resolution, which cites 11 consecutive years of budget reductions from the state and recognizes a, "substantial hardship...because of the continued State budget reductions,"  is mostly procedural, and will maintain the same class size exceptions that were in place last year. 

Despite the district's permission to go over the maximum class size limits set by the state, administrators at all levels will continue to try their best to ensure class sizes remain as small as possible.

During the school board's 6 p.m. work session, the assembly will get its first look at the projected 2013 budget. Although the budget is tentative due to the district yet to receive hard numbers from the tax digest, the early numbers will provide a springboard on financial discussions for the new school year.

The board will also look to approve overnight field trips and out-of-state travel for Cherokee students, a measure that was blocked during the Feb. 7 meeting by newcomer Kelly Marlow because the financial impact to the district had not been determined.

In the executive session that will conclude the meeting, the board will discuss a "student discipline matter."

The complete agenda of Thursday's meeting is attached to this article.


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