What's happening in our schools?

On Tuesday, March 21st the High Country Republican Women enjoyed an informative evening featuring speaker, Marla Morris, a newly elected Haywood County School board member. Marla spoke to HCRW regarding the status of the Haywood county schools. 

The schools have gone ahead and repaired some of the damage caused by the August 2021 Flood caused by T.S. Fred, but have not been reimbursed by FEMA.  The Canton Paper Mill’s imminent closing has added additional stress to the school budget due to projected loss of tax base.  Also, Marla stressed the need for additional funding as 500 students left the public school system during Covid due to the masking policies mandated by North Carolina.  Marla said the board is currently voting on allowing the homeschoolers to attend a half day of classes, so they can join in the sports which should help with the loss of 500 students. 

All these events have left a “shortfall” of over a million dollars in the schools’ budgets. Marla wondered if a new and expanded jail should take priority and, though she supports parents’ rights on school choice, she said the Charter schools are proposing Bill 219 Charter School Omnibus in the general Assembly to gain access to a pool of funds the public schools have been using and need for extracurricular activities.

Marla handed out several sheets of information; regarding school funding and school performance, parental rights, and the dates the schools were built and renovated.  

All this information is available to the public on the Haywood County schools’ 
website:  haywood.k12.nc.us.  Marla encouraged everyone to go on the website, then type in even a single word for a subject and the relevant information would come up.  

We thank Marla for covering many topics of concern about the schools and her gracious offer to get back to folk with specific questions.  We know Marla and the school board and administration will continue to do their best for the school-age children and their families in Haywood County.

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