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By Bethany Stephens
The Board of Education met this Monday for their monthly session where they recognized several groups of students for various achievements. HOSA students from both high schools were recognized for placing and representing Bladen County at the District IV competition. The following students were recognized:
*Alexis Allen and Peyton Fell for 8th place in Health Career Display Event
*Sammi Jiang, Lily Lin, Katie Evans, and Alyssa Futrell for 4th place in The Creative Problem Solving Event
*Hannah Wheeless and Tatianna McElveen for 3rd place in the CPR Event
*Kim White for 2nd place in the Nutrition Event
*Ebony McKoy for 2nd place in the Nursing Assisting Event
*Sabrina Johnson and Kaylee Page for 7th place in the Career and Health Display Event
*Makaylie Hammonds for 4th place in Medical Terminology Event
*Katie Guyton for 3rd place in the Extemporaneous Poster Event
*Glorimar Cruz Pagan and Aileen Garcia Sanchez for 2nd place in the Career Health Display Event
*Erika Brigman for 1st place in the Nurse Aide Event
*Gloria Cruz Pagan for being elected to serve as the District IV Historian
The students were sponsored by their teachers, Brandy Wilkins of East Bladen High School and Mary Todd of West Bladen High School respectively.
Elizabethtown Middle School Cougars’ Football Team were recognized for winning the Bladen 5 Middle School Conference Football Championship for the 2017 season. This is the 3rd consecutive year that the team has been undefeated. The following team members are as follows: Ismael Arteaga, Raymond, Autry, Malcolm Bolden, Corey Ballard, Willie Battle, Hunter Elms, Tyreon Graham, Shannon Grimes, Cameron Highsmith, Derrick Highsmith. Austin Haithcock, Sedarius Johnson, James Jersey, Zamar Lewis, Timothy McLean, Javonta Matthews, Jaylan Matthews, Jacob Nixon, Ahmad Powell, Joventee Powell, Hunter Smith, Kory Smith, Chase Starkloff, Cameron White, Bailey Williams, Latham Waters, Lamontrey Inman, Jeffery Jernigan, and Quran Lennon. The team was coached by Larry Williams, Rick Whitaker, and Bruce Smith.
Clarkton School of Discovery’s Lady’s Volleyball team won the Bladen 5 Middle School Conference Volleyball Championship for the 2017 season. The following students are the team members: Addie Bowen, Maegan Burney, Cydney Campbell, Lauren Gooden, Heather Hardin, Anna Gray Heustess, Merritt Martin, Sophia Masaid, Autumn Nye, Karli Priest, Dyiamon Robinson, Mariah Smith, Emma Turbeville, and Madison Taylor. The team was coached by Chris Callihan and Kate DeVane.
Several high school tennis players were recognized for various wins. Ting Lin from East Bladen High School was chosen to be a part of the Three Rivers All-Conference team, and Jayme LeeAnn Frady and Anna Kate White received Honorable Mentions. Lin and Frady also finished third in doubles and advanced to the Mid-East Regional Tournament. From West Bladen High School, the Three Rivers All-Conference players chosen were Conner Brisson, Savannah Lee, Mireya Sandoval, Autumn Brisson, and Alyssa Smith. Conner Brisson and Savannah Lee won the Three Rivers Conference in doubles and have advanced to the State Tournament Semifinals. The students were coached by Megan Kirby of East Bladen and Mary Catherine White of West Bladen.
Several high school volleyball players were named to the Three Rivers All-Conference team. Ashley Hardin of East Bladen and Raegan Davis and Mikayla Winebarger of West Bladen were chosen. Davis and Winebarger finished 5th in the league. Patience Parker, Elizabeth Allbright, and Alise Pait, all three of West Bladen, and Hannah Devane and Kaley Smith, of East Bladen, all received Honorable Mentions. The students were coached by Sara Ward of East Bladen and Gaye Davis of West Bladen.
Victor Lopez, Johnny Dominguez, and Angel Martinez of West Bladen’s soccer team were all chosen to play on the Three Rivers All-Conference team for the 2017 school year. The team finished 3rd in season play with a 7-6-1 league record. Victor Lopez was the team’s top scorer and was in the top five for goals in the conference. Lopez was also recognized for also maintaining a 4.2 GPA. West Bladen’s team is led by Phillip Turnage.
East Bladen’s Men’s Soccer team won the 2017 Three Rivers Conference Championship with a perfect 14-0 league record and a 20-1 overall mark. The team scored the most goals of any team in Class 2A, and their defense was 3rd best in 2A goals allowed. The following students comprised the team: Brooks McGill, Bryan Monroe, Caleb Hatchell, Dan Tatum, Ezequiel Arteaga, Gabe Barber, Garrett Melvin, Grayson Heustess, Irvin Hernandez, Jacob Barber, Jacob Priest, Jake Evans, Jay McGill, Jay McKoy, Jose Arteaga, Keshaun Davis, Milton Estrada, Pierce Melvin, Reid Potter, Spencer Scott, and Will Hester. Of the members, several were also recognized for other awards, rankings, and for playing on the Three Rivers Conference team. The team is led by their coach, Jay Raynor (who was named the 2017 Three Rivers Conference Coach of the Year), and their assistants, Dr. Ray Cross, Chuck Heustess, and Joe Melvin.
Following presentation of three attendance awards to three different schools in the county, the board went into closed session to discuss legal matters, personnel, and student transfers. While in closed session, the board heard complaints from a parent, but because it was mentioning specific names, it had to be heard in closed session. There was a group of parents and a teacher who want to speak against the first parent was telling the board that were in attendance, too, though they weren’t able to get on the agenda in time to address the board also.
Jason Atkinson, Technology Director, gave an update on the county’s WiFi services. Lou Nelon, Maintenance Director, gave an update also. Specifically, Nelon and others have been looking into the logistics of building a barn at East Bladen High School. Construction of the barn is being funded by a grant from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund.
Willa Dean Williams, Career and Technical Education Director, gave an update on the CAT program, and the board thanked her for leading a successful program. Valerie Newton, Public Relations, informed the board of 40 plus instances that Bladen County Schools were mentioned favorably in the news during the past month.
Dr. Robert Taylor, Superintendent, told the board of the upcoming National School Board Conference in San Antonio and encouraged the board to send any board members interested. Berry Lewis, Board Member, joked that if they sent all of the board members that they would be accused by the local media for misusing funds and for being extravagant.
Taylor also mentioned formulating a bed bug policy similar to their lice policy due to having increasing problems with them across Bladen County. Also, Taylor mentioned that 17 students had returned to Bladen County Schools after being previously enrolled in charter schools. Following the above, the board adjourned for the evening.
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