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By: Bethany Stephens
The Board of Education met this Monday night for their monthly session. Following the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the board recognized the board’s former chair and co-chair, Ophelia Munn-Goins and Alan West, for their work with the county. Since January is School Board Appreciation Month, each of the board members were given baskets with gifts from each of the county’s schools as well as a gift certificate to San Jose Mexican Restaurant in Elizabethtown from the county office.
Each of the schools’ Teacher Assistants of the Year were recognized next. The following assistants were given this honor for their work at their respective schools:
Rose Burgess of Bladen Lakes Primary
Gail Hester of Bladenboro Primary
Lois Neill of Booker T. Washington Primary
Cindy Rankin of Dublin Primary
Jane Sykes of Elizabethtown Middle
Kristy Smith of Elizabethtown Primary
Jennifer McMillan of Plain View Primary
Monthly attendance awards were presented next. For the month of January, Booker T. Washington Primary won in the Elementary School Division; Clarkton School of Discovery won in the Middle School Division, and West Bladen High School won in the High School Division.
Lanae Fishburn, a second grader at East Arcadia School, was recognized with a Random Act of Kindness Award. While on a field trip to visit Santa at Independence Mall in Wilmington, Fishburn had written a letter to Santa asking for school supplies for her classroom instead of something for herself. Because of her selfless request, “Santa and his elves” decided to deliver several boxes of school supplies to her classroom. Fishburn’s father and grandmother were present with her as she received the award.
A member of the DPI School Transformation Team addressed the board and introduced his team next as the team will be working with Elizabethtown Middle, a low performing school, for eighteen months as curriculum support. Though there are other schools in the district that were also low performing last year, the state chose Elizabethtown Middle because there were only a certain number of schools that they could choose across the state to send the team to.
Robert Heavenridge, Support Services Coordinator, was absent due to illness, so the Discipline Report that he was going to present was postponed until next month’s meeting. Sharon Penny, Finance Director presented a Financial Summary for information purposes only.
An overnight field trip to the State Beta Club Convention, three fundraiser requests, and a contract for an additional psychologist, as recommended by the Director of Exceptional Children’s Services, were all approved. Sharon Penny, Finance Director, and a representative of Anderson, Smith, and Wike, presented the annual audit report. The audit showed signs that, though still lower than recommended, the fund balance had increased by $21,000 last year and that the School Nutrition Program was doing well financially. The board approved the yearly audit.
Dr. Robert Taylor, Superintendent, spoke regarding possible future school consolidations and/or restructuring. Bonnell Walker, Board Member, made a motion that no consolidations take place in the 2016-2017 school year and that no future plans would be made or considered until Taylor consults with DPI about possibilities and the information has been reviewed. The board approved Walker’s motion. Following this approval, the board proceeded to go into closed session to discuss personnel, student transfers, and legal issues.
Upon reconvening, the board approved Addendum Action Items as recommended by Antonia Beatty, Personnel Director. Robert Taylor, Superintendent, spoke next about upcoming budget calendar meeting dates as well as a meeting with Bladen Community College about proposing an Early College for students. An Instructional Collaboration Day for the county’s teachers is scheduled for January 19th and will focus on improving instruction via technology use. Wilbur Smith, the board’s new Chairman, gave his report last. He said that he was excited about the School Transformation Team working with Elizabethtown Middle. Afterward, the board adjourned for the evening.
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