School board sets consolidation hearing

    Murphy – The Cherokee County Board of Education has set a public hearing to discuss school consolidation for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, at Murphy High School.
    Superintendent Jeana Conley said Thursday night the meeting, which was proposed for May 7 at Central Office, could not be delayed any longer due to budget planning time for the 2020-21 fiscal year approaching for the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. School board members decided to hold the hearing at Murphy High since more people could attend in person under
Gov. Roy Cooper’s Stay-at-Home Order, which he extended earlier Thursday until 5 p.m. Friday,
May 8.
    The board plans to have a variety of other options for public input available, so local residents who feel it is still best to remain home may do so and still have their voice heard. People may submit their opinions through an online survey or contact Greg Chapman at Central Office. Chapman will compile phone numbers of those interested in speaking via phone, then call the individual when it’s their turn during the hearing.
    Due to concerns of technical issues, the board agreed to be flexible on time limits for speakers and allow the meeting to run until 9 p.m., if needed. After board member Joe Wood expressed concern that the meeting may start before some people can attend, Chairman Jeff Tatham confirmed with board attorney Dean Shatley that an additional hearing could be held if no one or hardly anyone attends the planned hearing in person or online.
    The long-range plan has three phrases. The schools are already in Phase 1 – the Schools of Innovation project – which puts Tri-County Early College High School, a new career vocational academy and The Oaks Academy alternative school on one campus adjacent to Tri-County Community College in Peachtree. This phase’s expected completion is fall 2022, with an estimated cost of $23-26 million.
    Phase 2 is building one new high school for Cherokee County, on the same campus as the Schools of Innovation. By 2025, total high school enrollment countywide is expected to be below 1,000 students at 964, according to enrollment projections. By 2029, it is expected to be at 809 students. This phase is expected to be completed by fall 2025, with an estimated cost of $36 million.
    Phase 3 is the consolidation of the elementary and middle schools to create a kindergarten through eighth grade school in each of the current high school subdistricts. The completion dates for this phase range from fall 2026 to fall 2028.
    The public hearing allows the community to voice their opinion on the board’s plans before members make a final decision. Since the plan includes the consolidation of some school campuses, by law a public hearing must also be held in the community of each campus before the school can be closed during that phase.