Superintendent: Land purchased for new middle school; board to pick name at May meeting

Superintendent Dr. Harris told the Jackson County Board of Education that the district has purchased land for its new middle school and that the board will be asked to select a name at its next regular meeting on May 27.

“Final decisions on the renaming of the school facility shall rest entirely with you all as a board,” Harris said, adding that community input sessions in January produced several popular suggestions, including Tuckasegee Middle, Smoky Mountain Middle and Jackson County Middle. Harris said she is “very fond of the name Tuckasegee Middle School because I think it honors the river that runs through the entire community and is a nod to the rich Cherokee history here.”

Harris also updated the board on capital projects: architects are working on renderings for a new bus garage in Fairview and for athletic projects at Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain High School; draft drawings are expected next week. She noted prior administrative changes and principal searches, and she reminded the board that there are five weeks remaining in the school year and that end-of-grade testing begins May 13.

Harris framed the announcement as a milestone for the district’s long-term facilities plan and said the naming decision will be made under the district’s policy that the superintendent submits recommended names or a limited list to the board for approval. Board action to select the school name is scheduled for May 27; Harris invited board members to attend community events and review proposed renderings when available.