Summary of Board Minutes March 6, 2017
The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit met in a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 6, 2017 in the Arnold and Becky Lakey Boardroom at 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659.
Present for meeting were Chairman Mr. Randall “Rudy” Holbrook, Vice-Chairman Mrs. Sharron Huffman, Board Members Mr. Darren Shumate, Mr. Kirk Walker and Ms. Leslie Barnes. Also present were Superintendent Mr. D. Mark Byrd, Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford, Chief Technology Officer Ms. Julie Triplett, Chief Finance officer Mr. Seth Prevette, Director of Child Nutrition Dr. Vickie Hugger, Director of Development Mr. Dennis Huggins, Director of Transportation Mr. Eric Barker, Director of Pre-K & Elementary Education Dr. Susan Blackburn, Director of Athletics and Healthful Living Mr. Chris Skabo, Director of Maintenance Mr. Bergie Speaks, Director of Foreign Languages Dr. Joe Bullis, Director of CTE Mr. Wayne Shepherd, Director of Testing and Accountability Dr. Donna Cotton, Director of Student Services Ms. April Marr, AIG Coordinator Ms. Angie Lamb, and Executive Administrative Assistant Ms. Carolyn Triplett.
Prior to calling the meeting to order, Chairman Mr. Rudy Holbrook recognized Board Member Ms. Leslie Barnes to lead the Invocation.
On a motion by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the agenda was approved as presented.
Chairman Mr. Randall “Rudy” Holbrook recognized Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd for the Devotion and Pledge of Allegiance.
Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford recognized the NCHSAA 2A State Wrestling Champion. Rylee Billings won first place in the NCHSAA 2A 113 lb. wrestling state championship. The state championships were held at the Greensboro Coliseum February 16th – 19th. He is currently a junior at West Wilkes High School and finished with a record this year of 46-2. Rylee was also chosen as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament in the 2A classification by the 2A coaches.
Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford recognized winners from the North Carolina State Beta Club Convention. The North Wilkes High School Chapter of The National Beta Club attended the Convention on February 3-5, 2017. The following students placed in competitions at the convention.
Adam Nguyen – 1st Place Social Studies Division 2
Jordyn Johnson – 1st Place Poetry Division 2
Date Duran – 2nd Place Spanish Division 2
Ashley Woodruff- 2nd Place Photography
Congratulations to these students on an outstanding job.
Dr. Jim Brooks, Teacher at West Wilkes High School was present to give a brief description of Network to Transform Teaching (NT3) Grant for Wilkes County Schools in our Focus on Curriculum.
Wilkes County Schools received the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards grant “Network to Transform Teaching: Next Generation Charter” (NT3) in October, 2016. We currently have three pilot schools participating in the two year grant; Mulberry Elementary School, North Wilkes Middle School, and West Wilkes High School. Dr. Jim Brooks serves as the grant’s Implementation Lead working with each of the pilot schools.
The focus of the grant is to begin to establish a common language of what accomplished teaching looks like and sounds like in the classroom. The National Board Certification Process is centered on Five Core Propositions for Teaching. Wilkes County Schools has 88 National Board Certified Teachers. We are recognizing these teachers during the month of March with profiles on our website ad sending each a card of recognition with a NBCT lapel pin.
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. Shumate and duly carried, the minutes for February 13, 2017 was approved as presented.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the personnel report and blue sheet were approved as presented.
On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the Out of County/Overnight Field Trips were approved as presented. They are as follows:
School Group Destination Dates
East Wilkes High School Student Council Raleigh, NC 03/17/2017-03/19/2017
North Wilkes High School Honor Band Kernersville, NC 03/30/2017-03/31/2017
West Wilkes High School HOSA Greensboro, NC 03/30/2017-04/01/2017
West Wilkes High School EV Team Garysburg & Raleigh, NC 04/05/2017-04/09/2017
On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the Wilkes County Schools’ Summer Plan 2016-2017 was approved as presented. Wilkes County Schools has elected to provide a summer school program, called “WCS Success Academy”, immediately following the last day of school. It will extend the school year for qualifying students by four days.
On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried,
the Budget Amendments were approved as presented.
State Public School Fund – Increase - $222,996.00
Current Expense Special Use Fund - Increase - $590,695.00
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Disposition of Surplus Items was approved as presented. Please see attachment number one.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Ms. Barnes and duly carried, the Suspension of Community Eligibility Provision for High Schools (2017-2018) was approved as presented. Participation rates at the Secondary level coupled with a decline in fund balance for the Child Nutrition department have made participation in this provision no longer economically feasible for High Schools in Wilkes County. For these reasons, it is the recommendation that Wilkes County Schools no longer participate in CEP at the High School level for 2017-2018, and only continue participation for Middle and Elementary Schools. As long as required paperwork is completed students who are eligible for Free and Reduced lunch would still be able to eat breakfast and lunch free of charge.
Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford presented the revision of the Random Student Drug Testing Policy 4330. The purpose of this revision is to clarify the frequency that students and their parents must give written consent for participating in the random student drug testing program beginning with 2017-2018 school year. This revision request will go before the Board in April as an action item.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook had the following announcements:
March 24, 2017 – Ending of 3rd Quarter
March 27, 2017 – Required Workday
March 28, 2017 – Beginning of 4th Quarter
Chairman Mr. Holbrook announced the next meeting will be April 3, 2017. This meeting will be held in the Arnold and Becky Lakey Boardroom located at 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m.
On a motion by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, there being no further Business, the board adjourned at 6:02 p.m.