By Thomas Sherrill, The Franklin Press
Franklin – A presentation turned into a surprise midday on Feb. 6, when State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt presented Macon County and Macon County Schools with a grant for $62 million to build a new Franklin High School.
“It was a no-brainer,” Truitt said after the $62 million check was brought into the packed meeting room at the MCS Central Office. She added that the Career & Technical Education course offerings caught her eye on the application.
Macon County Schools got the maximum amount of $62 million possible from the Needs Based Public School Capital Fund grant. Truitt said MCS was the first school system awarded the grant this cycle. The Franklin High project is estimated to cost at least $100 million.
According to N.C. Department of Public Instruction Spokesperson Blair Rhoades, they received more than 100 grant applications from 52 counties. Typically, less than 10 projects get funded each year. Macon County had previously applied in 2022, finishing two spots short of being funded.
N.C. Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) said Truitt drove from Raleigh after knowing Macon County would accept the grant, referencing Cherokee County declining its $50 million grant to consolidate Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy high schools in late 2022.
“Since I’ve been on the board, one of the things I’ve strived for is to bring this opportunity to our students … it’s just incredibly exciting beyond words,” school board Chair Jim Breedlove said.
Macon County Board of Commissioners Chair Gary Shields thanked Truitt as the former 21-year principal of Franklin High, noting several of his former students were present.
Corbin credited Macon County and the school system for having a good plan ready for funding. Schools Superintendent Josh Lynch said he graduated from Franklin High, as did his parents.
“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,” Lynch said.
Before the 11:30 meeting, Corbin gave Truitt a tour of Franklin High. Truitt commented on the ADA issues and multiple points of entry she saw on the tour and in wrapping up, a staffer brought in the giant $62 million check, commenting, “I think you left this in the car,” leading to a happy outburst of applause.
Truitt heard from LS3P’s Emily Kite, Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Corbin, Franklin Mayor Jack Horton, Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor, N.C. Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin) and Corbin about how much the project would mean to the community. Many elected officials were present.
Truitt had one question after the presentation, centering around the Career & Technical Education offering at Franklin High. Macon County CTE Director Colleen Strickland explained the expanded course offerings and how a new school would bolster those offerings.
“Our rural counties do a better job of ensuring that there are multiple pathways for students to consider so we don’t have to tell all students that the only pathway to the middle class is through a four-year residential college degree,” Truitt said.
Kite said during her presentation that LS3P is halfway through preparing the construction documents. Once funding is approved, which has to come from the Local Government Commission, construction can start sometime between April and July, Kite said, pending county approval.