Summary of Board Minutes September 14, 2015
The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit met in a regular meeting at 5:30 p. m. on Monday, September 14, 2015 in the Arnold and Becky Lakey Boardroom at 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659.
Present for the meeting were Chairman Randall “Rudy” Holbrook, Board Members, Mrs. Sharron Huffman, Mr. Darren Shumate, Mr. Hardin C. Kennedy, III., and Mr. Rick Lankford. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Marty T. Hemric, Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford, Director of Human Resources Dr. Westley Wood, Director of Student Services Ms. April Marr, Director of Secondary Education/Dean of Wilkes Early College High School Dr. Donna Cotton, Director of Development Mr. Dennis Huggins, Director of CTE, Career & College Promise & Safe Schools Mr. Wayne Shepherd, Chief Finance Officer Mr. Seth Prevette, School Board Attorney Mr. Fred Johnson, and Executive Administrative Assistant Carolyn Triplett.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook recognized Board Member Mr. Darren Shumate to lead the Invocation.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook called the meeting to order and asked if the Agenda needed to be amended. Superintendent, Dr. Marty Hemric made the recommendation to add to Roman Numeral IX, Item E. North Carolina School Board Association Nomination of Ms. Sharron Huffman for the Leadership Award. On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mr. Kennedy, and duly carried, the agenda was amended.
On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the agenda was approved as presented.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook recognized Dr. Marty Hemric for the devotional thought and pledge of allegiance.
Focus on the Curriculum was presented by Associate Superintendent, Ms. Anna Lankford. On September 2, 2015, the State Board of Education approved and released the 2015 READY accountability data for the 2014-2015 school year. The results include data from student proficiency on end-of-grade/end-of-course test, student academic growth, School Performance graded and graduation rates. Associate Superintendent, Ms. Anna Lankford provided Board Members with an overview of Wilkes County Schools’ data results. School Performance Grades increased for the 2014-2015 school year. We had nine schools to exceed growth, ten which met growth and four that did not meet growth. For the 2014-2015 year four schools were graded with a “B”, fifteen schools graded with a “C” and only three with a “D”. Eighteen out of twenty-two schools met or exceeded growth which is eighty-two percent. The overall Performance Composite was 55.7% which was up two percentage points. Reading EOG Grades 3-8 was 56.3% up 2.5 percentage points, math EOG grades 3-8 was 50.3% up almost 3 percentage points and Science EOG Grads 5 & 8 was 74.4% up 5.5 percentage points High School Biology was 54.9% up almost 5 percentage points. High School English II was 55.7% up 1.5 percentage points. High School Math was down 10 points. We will be researching the data to see were improvements are to be made. Wilkes County Schools are at or above state average in ten areas: 4th grade reading 4th Grade Math, 5th Grade Science, 6th Grade Reading, 7th Grade Reading, 7th Grade Math, 8th Grade Reading, 8th Grade Science, and High School Biology.
Other Ready Indicators is the ACT. Wilkes County Schools had 58.5% meeting the benchmark of 17 (down half a percentage point) while the ACT Workkeys Wilkes County Schools were 80.2% meeting silver or higher on the workplace readiness measure up 13.5% points.
100% of all our schools met participation rates in all tested areas in all tested subjects! October 15, 2015 is the release of the North Carolina School Report Card. It will be late fall before we receive the Teacher Quality Data.
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. Kennedy and duly carried, the minutes were approved as presented.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Personnel Report and Blue Sheet were approved as presented.
Promotion (s)
Amber Falise From Counselor – West Wilkes High School
To – Career Development Coordinator – Central Office
On a motion by Mr. Lankford, seconded by Mr. Kennedy and duly carried, the Out-of-County/Overnight Field Trips were approved as presented.
School Group Destination Dates
West Wilkes High EV Team Garysburg, NC 10/07/2015-10/10/2015
All Middle Schools ASU Guide (Gear UP) Boone, NC 10/23/2015-10/25/2015
East Wilkes High FFA Chapter Louisville, KY 10/27/2015-10/31/2015
Wilkes Central High FFA Chapter Louisville, KY 10/27/2015-10/31/2015
Wilkes Central High Choral Winston-Salem, NC 11/07/2015-11/08/2015
Wilkes Central High Lady Eagles Basketball Charlotte, NC 11/07/2015-11/08/2015
Wilkes Central High Lady Eagles Basketball Rockingham, NC 12/28/2015-12/29/2015
Wilkes Central High Choral Asheville, NC 02/05/2016-02/06/2016
East Wilkes Middle Art, Band, Chorus Williamsburg, VA 03/31/2016-04/02/2016
West Wilkes Middle Eighth Grade Washington, DC 04/10/2016-04/12/2016
Central Wilkes Middle Eighth Grade Morehead City, NC 04/14/2016-04/16/2016
West Wilkes High EV Team Raleigh, NC 04/14/2016-04/17/2016
Wilkes Early College Super Seniors/Seniors Orlando, FL 04/26/2016-04/30/2016
East Wilkes High FFA Raleigh, NC 06/21/2016-06/23/2016
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Lankford and duly carried, the Schedule of Fees was approved as presented. Mr. Seth Prevette, Chief School Finance Officer had one correction to the schedule. Wilkes Central High School Graduation fee is $55.00 and the parking is $30.00 for the year. They do not prorate for the semester. The $10.00 fee also covers mailing, etc. like West Wilkes High School.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Kennedy and duly carried, The Random Student Drug Testing Policy Number 4330 (Revisions) was approved as presented.
On a motion by Mr. Lankford, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the nomination of Ms. Sharron Huffman for the School Board Association was approved as presented.
Mrs. Anna Lankford, Associate Superintendent presented the Annual Update/Revision of the Chemical Hygiene Plan. There are no revision/updates to the Chemical Hygiene Plan for the 2015-2016 school year. This is being presented as information only. The Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) for the Wilkes County School system was developed to meet the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1450, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, promulgated on January 31, 1990. This plan establishes general rules for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals, and sets forth prudent work practices that are designed to protect school personnel from exposure to chemical hazards. To protect WCS students and employees from hazardous materials and unsafe work practices, safety rules and regulations have been established for science laboratories, as well as all other areas on WCS properties where chemicals are used/stored.
The chemical hygiene plan is not a requirement by the State Board of Education but did become a requirement of Federal and State Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) as of January 31, 1991. This plan is required for all middle and secondary schools. The CHP must be reviewed and/or updated annually.
Mrs. Anna Lankford, Associate Superintendent presented the Memorandum of Agreements with Wilkes Community College. The Career and College Promise Memorandum of Agreement and the Wilkes Early College High School. These memorandums of agreement sets the parameters for the operation of the Career and College Promise Program and the operation of the Wilkes Early College High School. Both were submitted for information only.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook announced the next Board Meeting October 5, 2015 to begin at 5:30 p.m. in The Stone Center for Performing Arts at 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Kennedy and duly carried, there being no further business, the Board adjourned at 5:56 p.m.