03/28/2024
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The Bladen County Schools officials have received numerous questions over the past 12 months. Some have gone unanswered; however, BladenOnline was sent some answers on Friday, April 23, 2021.

Charlotte Smith with BladenOnline sent an email to the Bladen County Board of Education members and Mrs. Valerie Newton, Public Relations Officer with Bladen County Schools, with questions on April 20, 2021. Some of these questions were asked to the Board of Education members on February 1, 2021. 

The questions Charlotte with BladenOnline asked in the April 20, 2021 email were as follows:

Has the School Board reviewed the new social studies standards? What do you think of these standards? Has the local Board made any suggestions to NCDPI or the State Board of Education about our education standards?

Can you please explain the proposed pay raises for the teachers and the Superintendent in the proposed budget? Are there any more proposed raises for our local teachers?

What is the Carter lawsuit concerning Bladen County Schools that was on the agenda?

Last but not least, who asked the Sheriff’s Deputy to have me (Charlotte Smith) removed from the meeting? The meeting was publicized as a virtual and public meeting. I have not been able to obtain answers to my questions due to the virtual meetings not allowing public participation. I have sent emails to board members and to Mrs. Newton that have gone unanswered. Last night, I wanted to record the meeting and ask questions BladenOnline readers have been asking for months, but I was not allowed in the in-person meeting.

Mrs. Newton wrote in her email response on Friday, April 23, “Per your questions received on April 20, we are providing answers for you below.”

On February 4, 2021, the North Carolina State Board of Education approved new social studies standards for all students in kindergarten through 12th grades in North Carolina public schools. However, the process to approve the new standards began in April 2019 when the state Board elected to begin the standards revision for social studies coupled with a realignment of social studies courses at the high school level. 

In August 2019, NCDPI sent an email request to all public school educators and superintendents in the state to obtain input via a survey. The email request from DPI was also shared with the entire Bladen County Schools’ staff as an invitation to provide feedback. The request did not solicit feedback from local boards of education, which is standard practice as DPI instead wants feedback from those that are in the classrooms. 

Bladen County Schools had teachers that participated in the writing process from both the middle and high school levels. In November 2020, NCDPI solicited feedback about the proposed standards from the public; Any feedback that a Bladen County School Board member provided would have been as a private citizen, not as a collective Board. In total, DPI received over 7,000 feedback responses from throughout the state. 

Public school boards are required by legislation to implement the new social studies standards, as well as any content area standards. The Bladen County School Board will adhere to what is mandated by the legislation and yet will also ensure all teachers in Bladen County Schools remain objective in their instruction. 

With regards to the Carter lawsuit – the lawsuit is brought by Teresa Carter in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District against the Bladen County Board of Education. There were three claims, including claims of race discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment. Two of the three claims have been dismissed, leaving only one pending claim.

In response to your questions about the Bladen County Schools proposed budget pay raises – all school district’s proposed budgets adhere to the Governor’s recommended budget. You can read the NC Governor’s full recommended budget HERE (page 10 of the budget specifically addresses your questions). 

Succinctly, the Governor’s recommendations are to provide a 7.5% salary increase for central office and non-certified staff. The state is also proposing increasing both the retirement and the hospitalization rates of all school employees by 1.5% each – for a total of 3%; school districts are responsible for paying increases from local funds. 

“Funds a 10% increase in the Principal salary schedule and a 7.5% increase for Central Office and noncertified public school employees. Provides funds to implement a $15/hour minimum wage for non-certified public school employees such as teaching assistants, school nutrition employees, and bus drivers. Provides bonuses for teachers, principals, non-certified public school employees, university employees, and state-funded local community college employees. Includes a $2,000 bonus for those employees in the current fiscal year and $1,000 bonuses in each year of the biennium.”

Teacher salaries are paid from state, not local budgets, and any proposed salary increases would be included in the Governor’s recommended budget. 

Overall, the total proposed budget salary increase for BCS is 10.5%. Additionally, as part of their contract, a Superintendent shall be entitled to any other benefits and supplements provided to twelve-month professional employees of the Board by state law or regulation and be entitled to receive annual salary increases as paid to other certified professional employees.

Salutations were included in Mrs. Newton’s email after her comments about the questions. 

Other inquiries were sent to Bladen County Schools officials on May 18, 2020, June 10, 2020, July 20, 2021, December 29, 2020, and February 2, 2021, went unanswered. 

More information will be published as soon as it is made available.

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