WILKES COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the
Wilkes County Board of Education
February 10, 2014
The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit met in a regular meeting at 5:30 p. m. on Monday, February 10, 2014 at West Wilkes High School/Media Center located at 6598 Boone Trail, Millers Creek, North Carolina 28651.
Present for the meeting were Chairman Randall “Rudy” Holbrook, Vice Chairman Mrs. Sharron Huffman, Board Members Mr. Rick Lankford, Mr. Darren Shumate, and Mr. Hardin C. Kennedy, III. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Marty Hemric, Associate Superintendent Dr. Wanda Hutchinson, Assistant Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford, and Board Attorney Fred Johnson. Administrative staff included Director of Secondary Education Mr. Mark Byrd, Director of Federal Programs Dr. Joe Bullis, Director of Technology Ms. Julie Triplett, and Executive Administrative Assistant Carolyn Triplett.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook called the meeting to order and asked if the Agenda needed to be amended. No amendment was needed.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Lankford and duly carried, the Agenda was approved as presented.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook recognized Dr. Hemric for the devotional thought and pledge of allegiance. Dr. Hemric began with a moment of silence in honor and memory of Mr. Robert Hartzog, “He was an excellent leader in education as a Principal of Mt Pleasant Elementary School from 1956 until his retirement in 1992”.
Dr. Marty Hemric recognized the following students from Mr. Anthony Byers, Civics and Economics class from the Wilkes Early College. Holly Abernathy, Jose Ramirez, Danielle Barlow, Alexis Rangel, Loren Booker, Gabe Smith, Emily Chavez, Karma Smith, Brooke Church, Michaela Todd, Kendall Church, Julianna Wages, Lindsey Combs, Yachel Young, Marisol Cruz, Victoria Foster, Molesh Garcia, Michael Godfrey, Iabella Gomez, Brittany Holloway, Chance Irizarry, Yesenia Lara, Sendi Limon, Ben Livingston, Mica Mosteller, Erik Munoz, Hannah Myers, Angie Nardini, Daniel Parker, and Jacob Perry.
As part of their curriculum they are required to attend community board, civic organization, and local government meetings. This goal allows the students to be involved and physically see how community and government procedures are conducted.
Dr. Marty Hemric recognized Representative Mr. Jeffrey Elmore. Mr. Elmore gave Legislation updates on the following: Teacher Compensation, Policies, Common Core, Technologies, and Read to Achieve. Mr. Elmore asked Board members to let him know of any concerns or questions that he needed to take back and report on during the General Session.
Dr. Wanda Hutchinson announced the Good News Item of The Bright Ideas Grant. This program helps local teachers fund creative classroom projects. Each year Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation gives a total of $6,205.00 to area schools. Curriculum Specialist Robin Roten and Wilkes Central High School Coach Davina Benge worked together to receive a grant to blend physical fitness training and literacy. The amount awarded was $896.00 for this project.
Dr. Wanda Hutchinson recognized Shanna Bumgarner, first grade teacher at Millers Creek Elementary School for being recently awarded National Board certification.
Dr. Wanda Hutchinson recognized Donna Reynolds, who received the Teacher of Excellence Award for Wilkes County Schools. Ms. Reynolds has been a teacher for 24 years. Currently she is an Exceptional Children’s teacher at C. C. Wright Elementary School in a self-contained classroom. The 63rd conference was held in Greensboro, North Carolina on November 21, 2013. The teacher of excellence award is given to a teacher from each county during the conference.
Focus on the Curriculum regarding Access Testing (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Learners) was presented by Dr. Joe Bullis, Director of Federal Programs. This is an English language proficiency assessment administered each year to monitor students’ progress towards acquiring academic English.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook asked if anyone had signed up for public comments. No one had signed up.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Lankford and duly carried, the minutes of January 13, 2014, were approved as presented.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Lankford and duly carried, the following Personnel Report was approved as presented.
Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s)
Elidora Billings – Cafeteria Assistant – West Wilkes Middle School
Resignation effective – January 28, 2014
Charlene Burchette – Bus Driver – North Wilkes High School
Resignation effective – January 6, 2014
Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s) Continued
Jeremy Funderburk – Teacher – Wilkes Central High School
Resignation effective – January 31, 2014
Roger Golden – Custodian – East Wilkes Middle School
Resignation effective January 19, 2014
Recommendation of Licensed Personnel
Lisa Bryant – Teacher – Central Wilkes Middle School
Luke Eggers – Interim Teacher – West Wilkes High School
Vickie Giskin – Interim Teacher – Roaring River Elementary School
Sylvia Robinson – Teacher – Wilkes Central High
Recommendation of Classified Personnel
Genevie Brown – Cafeteria Assistant – North Wilkesboro Elementary School
Jamie Dowell-Young – Tutor – Traphill Elementary School
Roger Golden – Bus Driver/ Custodian – C. B. Eller Elementary School
Debbie Lambert – Temporary Parent Liaison – North Wilkesboro Elementary School
Recommendation of Classified Personnel, Continued
Rachael McCrea – Bus Driver – Central Wilkes Middle School
Carol O’Brien – Receptionist – East Wilkes Middle School
Anthony Smith – Teacher Assistant – Moravian Falls Elementary School
Anita Taylor – Temporary Teacher Assistant – Ronda Clingman Elementary School
Quentin Turner – Temporary Custodian – Wilkesboro Elementary School
William Wood – Custodian – East Wilkes Middle School
Leave of Absence
Elidora Billings – Cafeteria Assistant – West Wilkes Middle School
Request medical leave – Effective October 24, 2013
Susan Bley – Counselor – Wilkes Central High School
Request family medical leave – Effective January 3, 2014
Janette Caudill – Teacher Assistant – C. C. Wright Elementary School
Request medical leave – Effective January 6, 2014
Karen Cothren – Teacher Assistant – Ronda Clingman Elementary School
Request family medical leave – Effective January 6, 2014
Lanny Couch – Bus Driver – East Wilkes Middle School
Request medical leave – Effective January 8, 2014
Rebecca Dillard – Teacher Assistant – Moravian Falls Elementary School
Request family medical leave – Effective December 9, 2013
Rita Ray – Teacher – Mountain View Elementary School
Request family medical leave – Effective January 7, 2014
Short Term Disability
Kimberly Rhodes – Custodian – C. C. Wright Elementary School
Transfer(s) of Assignment
Tammy Hayes From Cafeteria Assistant – Millers Creek Elementary School
To – Cafeteria Assistant – West Wilkes Middle School
Stevie Howell From Bus Driver – Central Wilkes Middle School
To – Bus Driver – North Wilkes High School
Transfer(s) of Assignment, Continued
Abigail Pardue From Teacher – East Wilkes High School
To – Teacher – Wilkes Central High School
Nikki Phillips From Teacher – Roaring River Elementary School
To – Teacher – Ronda Clingman Elementary School
Nancy Wood From – Parent Liaison – North Wilkesboro Elementary School
To – Teacher Assistant – North Wilkesboro Elementary School
Substitutes
Non-Certified Substitutes
Jennifer King
Bus Driver Substitutes
Daniel Smith
Jerry Welborn
Personnel Report - Blue Sheet
Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s)
Eric Mathis – Custodian – North Wilkes High School
Dismissal – January 31, 2014
Recommendation of Classified Personnel
Bryan McDevitt – Bus Driver – East Wilkes High School
Leave of Absence
Davina Benge – Teacher – Wilkes Central High School
Request family medical leave – Effective January 23, 2014
Elizabeth Everette – Child Nutrition Assistant – North Wilkesboro Elementary School
Request medical leave – Effective January 28, 2014
Martha Johnston – Teacher – Moravian Falls Elementary School
Request medical leave – Effective February 10, 2014
Patty Sexton – Teacher Assistant – Mountain View Elementary School
Request family medical leave – Effective January 27, 2014
Rochelle Todd – Teacher – Mountain View Elementary School
Request family medical leave – Effective January 17, 2014
Short Term Disability
James Transeau – Custodian – Wilkesboro Elementary School
Transfer(s) of Assignment
Aixa Crespo From Teacher – North Wilkes High School
To Teacher – Wilkes Central High School
Deborah Smith From Teacher – East Wilkes Middle School
To Teacher – Exceptional Children Department/Millers Creek Elementary School
Substitutes
Non-Certified Substitutes
Patricia Holleman
Cafeteria Substitutes
Patricia Holleman
Bus Driver Substitutes
Jeanne Jackson
Randy Watkins
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Student Email Filtering
contract was approved as presented. Gaggle with the bid of $27,500.00 per year (after projected discounts are
applied, Wilkes County School’s cost is estimated to be $3,683.25) provides a management console
and the capability to block messages with questionable content until further review while allowing
other messages to be delivered without delay.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Lankford and duly carried, the Technology Plan was
approved for Wilkes County Schools until June 20, 2014. This plan serves as a guide in our planning and
purchasing of technology.
On a motion by Mr. Lankford and seconded by Ms. Huffman and duly carried, the Cellular telephone Services contract
was approved as presented. After projected discounts are applied the cost estimated to be $820.50
per month.
On a motion by Mr. Kennedy seconded by Ms. Huffman and duly carried, the following overnight field
trips were approved as presented.
School Group Destination Dates
East Wilkes High School Madrigal Singers Mars Hill, NC 02/07/2014 - 02/08/2014
East Wilkes High School Madrigal Singers Greensboro, NC 02/21/2014 - 02/22/2014
East Wilkes High School Ag. Sales Team Raleigh, NC 03/11/2014 – 03/12/2014
East Wilkes High School Poultry Evaluation Team Raleigh, NC 03/18/2014 - 03/19/2014
East Wilkes High School FFA Raleigh, NC 03/22/2014 - 03/23/2014
East Wilkes High School FFA Livestock Team Raleigh, NC 04/01/2014 - 04/02/2014
East Wilkes High School FFA Raleigh, NC 06/17/2014 - 06/19/2014
East Wilkes High School FFA White Lake, NC 06/30/2014 - 07/04/2014
East Wilkes High School FFA Washington, DC TBA/Summer
East Wilkes High School FFA White Lake, NC 08/04/2014 - 08/08/2014
Chairman Mr. Holbrook had the following announcement:
February 17, 2014 Optional Teacher Workday
Mrs. Sharron Huffman and Mr. Randall “Rudy” Holbrook announced they will seek another term in the next upcoming election to be held in May.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook thanked everyone for attending as well as Mr. Wayne Shepherd, Principal of West Wilkes High School for having everything prepared for this evening’s Board of Education Meeting. It was great to see the community and have their support. Mr. Holbrook thanked Representative Mr. Jeffrey Elmore for coming and taking the time from his schedule to share updates with the community and Board Members.
Mr. Hardin Kennedy invited everyone to come and support the Region 7 Skills USA Conference and Career Showcase at Wilkes Community College on February 28, 2014.
The next Board of Education Meeting will be March 3, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. in the Arnold and Becky Lakey Boardroom at 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659.
On a motion by Mr. Lankford, seconded by Mr. Kennedy and duly carried, there being no further business, the Board adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
Date Marty T. Hemric
Recording Secretary