December 3, 2018

Summary of Board Minutes

December 3, 2018

The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit met in a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, December 3, 2018 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 Mrs. Leslie Barnes. 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 Child Nutrition Mr. Marty Johnson, Director of Transportation Mr. Eric Barker, Director of Student Services Ms. April Marr, Director of Testing and Accountability Dr. Donna Cotton, Director of Exceptional Children Ms. Jennifer Blankenship, Director of Pre-K & Elementary Education Dr. Susan Blackburn, Director of Maintenance Mr. Bergie Speaks, Director of Athletics and Healthful Living Mr. Chris Skabo, AIG Coordinator Ms. Angie Lamb, Public Relations Officer Ms. Morgan Mathis, and Executive Administrative Assistant Ms. Carolyn Triplett.

Prior to calling the meeting to order, Chairman Mr. Rudy Holbrook recognized Board Member Mrs. Sharron Huffman to lead the Invocation.

On a motion by Mr. Shumate, 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.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford recognized the Mountain Valley 1A/2A Athletic Conference awards. We are proud to recognize three athletes and two coaches from Wilkes County Schools that were chosen as players and coaches of the year.

We would like to congratulate Ava Tharpe from East Wilkes High School. Ava was recognized by the Mountain Valley Conference as Player of the Year in women’s golf. Ava also finished tied for twelfth in the state at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association individual championships!

We would like to recognize Cheyenne Clonch from West Wilkes High School. Cheyenne was named Co-Conference Player of the Year in volleyball. The West Wilkes High School volleyball team finished the 2018 season as co-conference champions with a 13-1 record and with an overall record of 20-4. The Lady Blackhawks made it to the third round of the state playoffs. Also being recognized is West Wilkes High School Lady Blackhawks volleyball coach Steve Bryan for being named Mountain Valley Conference Coach of the Year.

We would like to recognize Leah Nance and Coach Aaron Simmons from East Wilkes High School. The tennis program at East Wilkes High School has established themselves as one of the best in the state. The Lady Cardinal Tennis team finished the season as conference champions with a 14-0 record. They finished with an overall record of 15-2. Leading the Lady Cardinals tennis team this year was Leah Nance. Leah was named Player of the Year in women’s tennis for the Mountain Valley Athletic Conference. Coach Aaron Simmons was recognized as the Mountain Valley Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for women’s tennis.

Congratulations to these outstanding athletes and coaches!

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford recognized the winners for the Regional Science Fair. Wilkes County Schools hosted the 2018-2019 Science Fair on November 15, 2018. Over 129 projects were entered from grades 3-12. Wilkes County Schools had 10 elementary, 12 middle, and 8 high school projects that advanced to the Regional Science Fair at Appalachian State University that will be held on December 18, 2018. The following students advanced to the Regional Science Fair:

Elementary Division

Bryson Settle – C.B. Eller Elementary
Caden Couch – C. B. Eller Elementary
Matthew Whiting – Moravian Falls Elementary
Alex Van Wy – Moravian Falls Elementary
Sofie Estes – Mount Pleasant Elementary
Maddison Martin – Roaring River Elementary
Breagha Kilpatrick – Ronda Clingman Elementary
Caleb Billings – Ronda Clingman Elementary
Rye Dobbins – Ronda Clingman Elementary
Reece Dobbins – Ronda Clingman Elementary
Autumn Ray – Ronda Clingman Elementary
Eli Bare – Traphill Elementary

Middle School Division

Victoria Wright – Central Wilkes Middle
Alea Mitchell – Central Wilkes Middle
Johnny Andreski – Central Wilkes Middle
Aden Edwards – Central Wilkes Middle
Seth Lambert – East Wilkes Middle
Jaxon Osborne – East Wilkes Middle
Annika Bell – East Wilkes Middle
Emily Spicer – East Wilkes Middle
Salem Sparks – East Wilkes Middle
Haley Ward – East Wilkes Middle
Savannah Sparks – East Wilkes Middle
Chance Mastin – East Wilkes Middle
Anthony Welborn – North Wilkes Middle
Ralee Bare – North Wilkes Middle
Addie Church – West Wilkes Middle

High School Division

James Burcham – East Wilkes High
Ivy Cooke – North Wilkes High
Makenzie Shumate – North Wilkes High
Rachel Winkler – North Wilkes High
Savannah Royall – North Wilkes High
Ashley Johnson – North Wilkes High
Kariann Roberts – North Wilkes High
Shelby Roal – North Wilkes High
Matthew Williams – North Wilkes High
Colby Roal – North Wilkes High
Logan Stuckey – North Wilkes High
Chloe Brown – North Wilkes High
Morgan Teague – West Wilkes High
Charity Visnic – West Wilkes High
William Pugh – West Wilkes High

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 Ms. Barnes and duly carried, the minutes for November 5, 2018 were approved as presented.

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

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

School	Group	Destination	Dates
East Wilkes High School	Chorus	Mars Hill, NC	01/31/2019-02/02/2019
North Wilkes High School	Chorus	Mars Hill, NC	02/01/2019-02/02/2019
Wilkes Central High School	Band	Orlando, FL	02/13/2019-02/17/2019
West Wilkes High School	Unified Champions	Greensboro, NC	02/20/2019-02/22/2019

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Roofing Bids for Mountain View Elementary was approved as presented. Campbell Roofing is the low bidder on both roofs with a total bid of $62,215.00.

On a motion by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the Student Wellness Policy Number 6140 was approved as presented.

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the budget amendments were approved as presented.

State Public School Fund: Decrease $150,477.00

Capital Outlay Fund: Increase $435,266.00

Current Expense Special Use Fund: Increase $141,119.00

On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Audit Report was approved as presented by Mr. Travis Hardee with Rives & Associates, LLP.

Mrs. Anna Lankford presented for discussion the Student Accountability Standards Policy 3420. This policy is being presented for board review regarding additional language to End of Grade and End of Course exams counting as 20% of student’s final exam in years when the assessment data may be delayed. The policy has some technical revisions to align it with state board policy and update language of the policy. This policy will return as an action item in January.

Mr. Mark Byrd, Superintendent, presented for discussion the 2019-2020 School Calendar Draft. For the sixth consecutive year, this will be a 164-day student calendar. Due to calendar legislation, the start day for school can be no earlier than August 26, 2019. This calendar will go before the board in January for final approval.

Chairman Mr. Holbrook had the following announcements:

December 20, 2018 – Early Dismissal
- Elementary – 12:30 PM
- Middle/High Schools – 1:00 PM
December 21, 2018 – Annual Leave
December 24-26, 2018 – Christmas Holiday
December 27-28, 2018 – Annual Leave
December 31, 2018 – Annual Leave
January 1, 2019 – New Year's Holiday
January 2, 2019 – Optional Workday

Chairman Mr. Holbrook announced the next meeting to be January 7, 2019. 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 Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, there being no further business, the board adjourned at 6:18 PM.