March 5, 2018

Summary of Board Minutes

March 5, 2018

The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit met in a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2018 in the Arnold and Becky Lakey Boardroom at 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659.

Present for the meeting were Chairman Mr. Randall “Rudy” Holbrook, Vice-Chairman Mrs. Sharron Huffman, Board Members Mr. Kirk Walker, Ms. Leslie Barnes and Mr. Darren Shumate. Also present were Superintendent Mr. D. Mark Byrd, Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford, Executive Director of Personnel Dr. Westley Wood, Chief Technology Officer Ms. Julie Triplett, Executive Chief Finance Officer Mr. Seth Prevette, Director of Development Mr. Dennis Huggins, Director of Maintenance Mr. Bergie Speaks, Director of Testing and Accountability Dr. Donna Cotton, Director of Exceptional Children Ms. Jennifer Blankenship, Director of Foreign Languages Dr. Joe Bullis, Director of Transportation Mr. Eric Barker, Director of Pre-K & Elementary Education Dr. Susan Blackburn, Director of Athletics and Healthful Living Mr. Chris Skabo, AIG Coordinator Ms. Angie Lamb, School Board Attorney Mr. Fred Johnson, and Executive Administrative Assistant Ms. Carolyn Triplett.

Prior to calling the meeting to order, Chairman Mr. Rudy Holbrook recognized Board Member Mr. Kirk Walker to lead the Invocation.

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Walker 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. Mr. Byrd held a special recognition of several guests in attendance. Senator Ms. Shirley Randleman, Wilkes County Commissioner Chairman Mr. Gary Blevins, Wilkes County Sheriff Mr. Chris Shew, Chief Joe Ranklin and officers from the Wilkesboro Police Department, Chief Craig Garris and officers from the Wilkesboro Police Department, Lieutenant Officer Rocky Moore of the Wilkesboro Police Department, Chief of Police for the Wilkes Community College Mr. Jamie McGuire, North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Russell Walker, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission whom did not have someone present on their behalf. We are so proud of the support that we have from local law enforcement. We see daily deputies working our car lines, driving through our campuses, walking our halls, patrolling our parking lots, reading to students, or simply stopping by to see what they can do to help in our schools. A large part of their jobs is protecting students of Wilkes County Schools. Mr. Byrd wanted to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to all they do to keep students of Wilkes County Safe on a daily basis.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd announced that we needed to amend the agenda to add a field trip to Item #X-B to include the North Wilkes High School Varsity Basketball Girls team to travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to compete in 2-A State Championship Game. On a motion by Mr. Darren Shumate seconded by Ms. Sharron Huffman, and duly carried, the agenda was amended to allow this trip.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Dr. Westley Wood, Executive Director of Personnel recognized the North Carolina State Beta Club Convention. The Convention was held in Greensboro, North Carolina on February 2-3, 2019. Miss Jessika Norman, a sophomore at Wilkes Early College High School, placed first in Painting. Jessika has now qualified to compete at the National Beta Club Convention in Savannah, Georgia this summer. Congratulations to Miss Jessika Norman.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Dr. Westley Wood, Executive Director of Personnel recognized winners of the 2017-2018 Wilkes County Schools Spelling Bee held on February 15, 2018. The Wilkes County Schools Spelling Bee runner up is Nathaniel Burchette. Nathaniel is a 7th grade student at East Wilkes Middle School. The winner of the 2017-2018 Wilkes County Schools Spelling Bee for the third year in a row is Ruston Raporort. Ruston is a 5th grade student at C.C. Wright Elementary School. We would like to wish Ruston the best of luck as he prepares for the Regional Competition scheduled for March 18, 2018 at the Hanes Band Theater in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Dr. Westley Wood, Executive Director of Personnel recognized the NCHSAA 2A State Wresting Champions. William Walker is a junior at West Wilkes High School and finished this year with a record of 51-1 in the 106 lb. weight class. Congratulations, William, on an outstanding season! Congratulations to Rylee Billings, a senior at West Wilkes High School who finished with a record this year of 51-0 in the 120 lb. weight class. Rylee was also chosen as the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the second year in a row in the 2A classification by the 2A coaches. Congratulations, Rylee, on an outstanding career!

Focus on the Curriculum was presented by Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford. The Focus is on Technology and Instructional Support in Schools. In 2018-2019, NCDPI will begin requiring all teachers and administrators to earn 20 hours of renewal credit in the Digital Learning Competencies. Wilkes County Schools has also restructured the technology department to meet the digital learning needs of the district. Five Instructional Technology Facilitators were assigned a new role this year as a Digital Learning Facilitators. These staff members were charged with the task of ensuring all teachers and administrators receive professional development and support to earn their digital learning competency credits. Teachers and administrators attend face-to-face professional development and show evidence that they are using the skills they have learned in their administrative or teaching roles. We are seeing growth within our schools because of this change in approach. We are also seeing increased use of the digital skills that have been taught. So far this year school year, the digital learning facilitators have taught 158 digital learning professional development trainings.

Chairman Mr. Holbrook asked if anyone had signed up for Public Comments. No one had signed up for comments.

On a motion by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the minutes for February 5, 2018 were approved as presented.

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Personnel Report and Blue Sheet was approved as presented.

Blue Sheet

Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s)

Shelby Whitley – Custodian – Central Wilkes Middle School

Retirement effective – June 1, 2018 with twelve years and three months of service

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Ms. Barnes and duly carried the Out of County/Overnight field trips were approved as presented.

School	Group	Destination	Dates
East Wilkes High School	Student Council	Hickory-Taylorsville, NC NCASC State Conference	03/16/2018-03/18/2018
East Wilkes High School	HOSA	Greensboro, NC State HOSA Conference	03/21/2018-03/24/2018
North Wilkes High School	Band	Winston-Salem, NC Glenn High School	03/23/2018-03/24/2018
North Wilkes High School	Varsity Girls Basketball Team	Chapel Hill, NC	03/09/2018-03/10/2018

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Ms. Barnes and duly carried, the Wilkes County Schools’ Summer School Plan for 2017-2018 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 Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the budget amendment was approved as presented.

State Public School Fund: Increase $42,009.00

On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Ms. Huffman and duly carried, the Child Nutrition Participation in the Mountain Purchasing Cooperative was approved as presented. Our participation in the cooperative would be for a one year contract term with the potential of a four year roll over.

On a motion by Ms. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Uniform Teacher Contract Policy was approved as presented. Effective July 1, 2018 North Carolina General Statute 115C-325.3 states that a contract or renewal of contract between the local board of education and a teacher who has been employed by the local board of education for three years or more shall be for a term of one, two, or four school years. Wilkes County Schools will offer these teachers a contract with an initial term of two years and, subsequent contracts will be for a term of two school years if the teacher is in good standing at the time of the contract offer. This policy was reviewed by Mr. Fred Johnson, School Board Attorney for Wilkes County Schools.

Chairman Mr. Holbrook had the following announcements:

March 16, 2018 – Ending of 3rd Quarter
March 19, 2018 – Required Workday
March 20, 2018 – Beginning of 4th Quarter
March 30, 2018 – Easter Holiday
April 2-6, 2018 – Annual Leave

Chairman Mr. Holbrook announced the next meeting to be April 9, 2018. This meeting will be held in the Arnold and Becky Lakey Boardroom located at 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina beginning at 5:30 PM.

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, there being no further business, the board adjourned at 6:04 p.m.