to get into the group,” Ayers says. Students can request services confidentially, without drawing attention, and clinicians connect families with additional community resources when needed. The tiered system ensures no student falls through gaps between universal support and crisis intervention. This structure recognizes mental wellness as a prerequisite to academic achievement in a region where economic pressures and geographic isolation compound typical adolescent challenges. BUILDING ON TECHNOLOGY, FROM EARLY INNOVATION TO MODERN STEM Long before the pandemic forced school districts nationwide to scramble for devices and internet connectivity, Jackson County Public Schools had already solved those problems.The district laid fiber optic cable to all its schools more than 20 years ago and secured T1 connections when most institutions had never heard of them. The infrastructure proved so robust that Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College asked to connect to the school system’s network, reversing the typical relationship between higher education and K-12 institutions. “We were the first district west of Buncombe County to go true one-to-one with high school, middle school, and even our elementary school kids, well before COVID,” says Jacob Buchanan, Deputy Superintendent. “This was totally funded as an initiative from our community.” Every classroom received smart boards or Promethean panels, and every student gained access to a device. The investment came entirely from local tax dollars and a Golden Leaf grant, revealing a level of community support uncommon in rural districts where property tax bases typically limit capital expenditures. That foundation now supports advanced programming that distinguishes the district statewide. At Blue Ridge Early College, students can earn an FAA 107 drone license through a second-level course in drone technology. “I think there are nine school systems in North Carolina right now that are offering that credential going into this year,” Dills notes. The comprehensive high school Smoky Mountain High School, runs a First Robotics team that has competed for years, while media coordinators at every school 278 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
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