THE SHELBY INDEPENDENT

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent A sign outside the CC Board of Elections, pointing the way to the main entrance. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent As the Friday Dec. 19 deadline looms for candidates to file for the 2026 primaries, the Cleveland County Commissioner race is crowded with seven hopefuls running for two seats, and a board of education race that so far has five republicans one democrat, and an unaffiliated candidate all running for four chairs. On t

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Marion isn’t going anywhere, one way or another, at least for now. On Monday night, the Cleveland County School Board was originally supposed to finalize the approval to sell the old Marion Elementary School to a nonprofit group, One More, One Less. In an unexpected move, Board Member and Vice-Chair Aaron Bridges made the motion to remove Marion from the agenda; Bridges stated he felt more discussion was needed before a decision coul

By Ron Humphries | Guest Opinion Humphries North Carolina's school calendar law, established in 2004, required public schools to start the academic year no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26. The original aim was to support tourism in the coastal counties. However, as time has passed, it has generated much debate about its adverse effects on education and community needs across the state, particularly in economically challenged rural counties with greater workforce

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent courtesy file photo Next year’s school calendar could potentially be decided at the next Cleveland County Schools Board of Education public meeting, Monday, Nov. 10. On the decision block are three different calendars, which vary in start dates, teacher workdays and end of semester before the holiday / winter / Christmas break. Option A, which is the popular choice among parents, violates state law and is considered illegal. A viola