03/29/2024
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By Bethany Stephens

The Board of Education met this Monday for their monthly session where they began by recognizing recent winners in the Annual Elementary Schools Battle of the Books competition. Dublin Primary won this year’s county level competition for the third time. In the Middle School Division of Battle of the Books, Clarkton School of Discovery’s team won at the county level.

Twenty-four students from East Bladen High School were recognized and presented certificates for earning their Microsoft Office Certifications under the leadership of their teacher, Jennifer Ballard.

This week is Teacher Appreciation week, and the Teachers of the Year across the county and the county-wide Principal of the Years were announced at the meeting. Each group were selected by their peers to earn the honor. The following teachers won the title at their respective schools: Phyllis Holland of Booker T. Washington Primary, Jonathan Lewis of Bladenboro Middle, Tahitian McKenzie of Bladenboro Primary, Julie Feight of Bladen Lakes Primary, Marsha Burney of Clarkton School of Discovery, Gabriel Corbett of Dublin Primary, William Norton of East Arcadia School, Anita Willington of East Bladen High School, Patsy Moffat of Elizabethtown Middle, Chrystal Outland of Elizabethtown Primary, Carla Bethea of Plain View Primary, Julia Gilmore of Tar Heel Middle, and Marajo Kellihan of West Bladen High School. Patsy Moffat won county-wide Teacher of the Year, and Deborah Guyton of Bladenboro Primary won Bladen County Principal of the Year.

Jason Atkinson, Chief Technology Officer, was recognized for earning additional credentials in Technology from the Consortium for School networking. The Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) credential signifies that Atkinson has mastered the skills to implement 21st century technology to the K-12 school system. Atkinson is one of only 5 professionals in North Carolina and one of 300 nationwide to receive the certification.

Attendance awards were presented next. Dublin Primary won in the Elementary School Division while Tar Heel Middle won in the Middle School Division, and East Bladen High School won in the High School Division.

Sharon Penny, Finance Director, presented a financial summary for information purposes only. Sargent Gary Turlington presented a report on the county’s safety program which outlined how he and county law enforcement, first responders, and the like prepare and train to address possible safety concerns in the schools.

Willa Dean Williams, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director, presented her program’s CTE Spring Newsletter. The newsletter outlined various positive achievements and happenings within the program.

Willie Kay McDuffie, Lead School Nurse, addressed the board next concerning the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Program that they are participating in. They are 1 of 11 districts participating in the three year program that is intended to help the nurses better serve the students and community.

Tanya Head, Assistant Superintendent, spoke of a scholarship program the county is participating in with NCSTATE that has gotten and found several scholarships for Bladen students.

Head and Rachel McBroom on behalf of the NC Virtual Public High Schools (NCVPS) outlined several benefits the the virtual school brought to the county’s students. McBroom explained in depth how students could take classes not available locally via the school and explained that there goal isn’t to act as a stand alone virtual public school but as a resource for the schools (especially ones in smaller areas with less resources) to give those students equal learning opportunities.

Valerie Newton, Public Information Officer, addressed the board next with her monthly Bladen County Schools in the News Report that told of 60 positive mentions in the news.

Four budget ammendments were approved as well by Sharon Penny, Finance Director, as well as a streamlined Beginning Teacher Support Manual as recommended by Antonia Beatty, Personnel Director.

Hearing and Vision Contracts as recommended by Cheryl White-Smith, Exceptional Children Director, we’re approved as well as a Career and Technical Education Local Plan as recommended by Willa Dean Williams, Career and Technical Education Director. A federally mandated Cisco Capital Lease Agreement was also approved as recommended by Jason Atkinson, Chief Technology Officer. Three overnight field trips, four fundraisers, and a previously postponed Fall Policy Update were all approved. Following the above, the board proceeded to go into closed session to discuss personnel, legal issues, and student transfers.

Upon reconvening into open session, the board proceeded to approve two personnel list action items and to not approve another one.

The board reminded everyone of the last community forum for concerned community members to discuss possible consolidations with the board. Roger Carroll, Board Member, wanted dates for bids on the Bladenboro Middle Gymnasium, and was told he would receive the information within 48 hours. Tim Benton, Board Member, wanted a status update on a grant to fix tennis courts at West Bladen, and wanted kudzu that he had seen taking over the old home economics and agriculture buildings in Bladenboro taken care of. Following all of the above, the board proceeded to adjourn for the evening.

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