A staff report
The Bladen County Board of Education convened for its regularly scheduled meeting on November 20, 2023, to address various vital matters related to education and administration. With a full slate of board members and administrative staff present, the meeting covered a range of topics and decisions. Following are the key highlights and actions from the meeting, according to minutes reported by Crystal Johnson, Executive Assistant with Bladen County Schools.
Meeting Attendees:
– Mr. Tim Benton, Chairman
– Mr. Glenn McKoy, Vice-Chairman
– Mr. Dennis Edwards
– Mr. Chris Clark
– Mr. Harfel Davis
– Mr. Steve Kwiatkowski
– Mr. Gary Rhoda
– Mr. Mackie Singletary
– Member absent: Mr. Keith Locklear
– Administrative staff members, including Dr. Jason Atkinson, Superintendent, and various executive officers and directors.
Meeting Commencement:
– Chairman Benton called the meeting to order at 6:09 pm, expressing gratitude to all attendees.
– Mr. Edwards delivered the Invocation, followed by students from Tar Heel School leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
– Approval of the meeting’s agenda was sought and unanimously granted.
Consent Agenda:
– The Consent Agenda included approval of meeting minutes, memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with BCC for Early College and Dual Enrollment/CCP programs, a budget resolution for 2023-2024, and a Needs Based Capital Distribution Request for the Tar Heel School Project.
– Approval for the Consent Agenda was unanimously granted.
Spotlights and Recognitions:
– There were no spotlights and recognitions during the meeting.
– No citizen participation was reported.
Information Items:
– Mr. Burriss and Mr. Ferris provided an update on the Tar Heel Construction Project, reassuring the board that everything was on schedule for the school’s opening on the projected date.
Action Items:
– Approval for the House/storage Building Plan was tabled until the December meeting.
– The School Improvement plan for Elizabethtown Middle School was tabled for further review.
– Approval was granted for the High School Interior Painting Project for both schools.
– The provider for the required Conflict of Interest Training, NCASA, was approved.
– Approval was granted for the Student Attendance Zone for the 2023-2024 school year for Dublin Primary School, Bladen Lakes Primary School, and Tar Heel School.
– The Tar Heel School Surplus Property Proposal was approved.
– The Fall 2023 Custom Policy Updates were tabled for review and consideration at the December meeting.
Closed Session:
– A closed session was held to discuss personnel matters, consult with an attorney if needed, and address student reassignment/discipline, in accordance with NCGS 143.318.11.
Personnel Action:
– Personnel actions, including new hires, resignations, and other staffing matters, were presented and approved.
Matters of Interest to Board Members:
– Mr. Davis inquired about updates on digital school signs and the East Arcadia Pre-K class. The abatement process for East Arcadia Pre-K was discussed, with hopes for students to return after the holidays.
Superintendent’s Updates:
– Dr. Atkinson provided updates on the district’s progress in meeting required actions for the Parents’ Bill of Rights, the holiday schedule, remote learning plans, and updates regarding BCC and the BTW building.
Meeting Adjournment:
– Mr. Rhoda motioned to adjourn, with unanimous approval.
The Bladen County Board of Education meeting on November 20, 2023, addressed crucial educational and administrative matters, including construction updates, personnel actions, and policy considerations. The above highlights have been extracted from the most recent agenda published for the Bladen County Board of Education.
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