April 1, 2019

Summary of Board Minutes

April 1, 2019

The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit met in a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2019 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, Executive Director of Personnel Dr. Westley Wood, Chief Technology Officer Ms. Julie Triplett, Executive Chief Finance Officer Mr. Seth Prevette, 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 Child Nutrition Mr. Marty Johnson, Director of Middle School, Federal Programs, and Cultural Arts Dr. Joe Bullis, Director of CTE/Career and College Promise Mr. Wayne Shepherd, Director of Transportation Mr. Eric Barker, 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 Mr. Darren Shumate 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 thanked Mr. Eric Barker, Mr. Bergie Speaks, and Mr. Marty Johnson and their staffs for all their hard work in keeping students safe and fed through the winter season, also to Dr. Westley Wood, Ms. Morgan Mathis, Ms. Julie Benton, and Ms. Rosanna Limon for getting up just after 4:00 AM on winter mornings to help get the word out about school closings and delays to our 9,500 students and 1,600 employees. Also in April, we have many events taking place in our schools such as spring break, Easter Holiday, proms, spring sporting events, kindergarten screening, field trips, and students receiving acceptance letters to the school of their choice. We have a lot of great things taking place in Wilkes County Schools.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford recognized our four middle schools which competed in the NC Science Olympiad Tournament at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem on March 2, 2019. These tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of different hands-on, interactive, challenging, and inquiry-based events that are well-balanced between the various disciplines of biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, engineering, and technology.

Central Wilkes Middle School placed first overall out of 17 teams from around the state. This is the first time Wilkes County Schools has won a middle school Science Olympiad tournament. Central Wilkes Middle competed in 23 events, placed in the top 5 in 14 of these events, and finished 24 points ahead of the second place team. Central Wilkes Middle School will compete in the State Science Olympiad Tournament at NC State University in Raleigh on April 26-27, 2019. Congratulations and good luck to the Central Wilkes Middle School Science Olympiad team!

JT Anderson	Stella Hayes	Geneva Mastin	Kendall Redies
Camden Barlow	Kaylee Johnson	Jordan McCann	Eleanor Richardson
Bishop Boothe	Ashlynn Landrum	Ashlyn Miller	Zak Workman
Logan Edmiston	Amaya Lugo	Brooklyn Miller	Julie Colglazier (Coach)
Lily Ferroni	Evan Marth	Ruston Rapoport	Howard Weaver (Coach)

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford recognized those who competed and placed at the HOSA State Leadership conference that took place on March 6-9, 2019 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The conference is hosted for all HOSA Students in the state of North Carolina with nearly 3,000 competitors. Congratulations to the following individuals for their state recognitions.

Amanda Eddins and Danielle Roten – Placed 3rd in CPR and First Aid

Haley Jordan – Placed 1st in Health Career Photography

Rachel Shepherd – Outstanding State Officer Award

Sarah Whittington – Elected as the North Carolina HOSA Vice President

Tyler Gambill – Outstanding HOSA Chapter Award

Joseph Jones – Barbara James Service Award

Teachers, Angela Ellis and Megan Gambill – Gold Star Advisors Award

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford recognized the NCCTM State Mathematics competition held on March 21, 2019. Eleven 8th grade students from East Wilkes Middle School participated in the Level I NCCTM State Mathematics competition at Appalachian State University. Level I competition consisted of Math I, Algebra I, and/or Integrated I content. The purpose of the competition was to stimulate interest in mathematics and showcase the mathematical talent of local students.

Nathaniel Burchette was recognized as a Level I qualifier receiving the highest score from East Wilkes Middle School. As a Level I qualifier, Nathaniel will advance to the Western Region State Finals at UNC-Asheville on May 2, 2019. Congratulations, Nathaniel!

Curriculum Focus was presented by Director of Exceptional Children Ms. Jennifer Blankenship in which she provided an update on the Exceptional Children’s program and shared information about the new eligibility criteria for Specific Learning Disability coming in July of the year 2020. A shift will be to focus on the unexpected underachievement in the context of high quality instruction and intervention rather than a 15pt. discrepancy between ability and achievement scores. Wilkes County Schools will provide students the instruction and interventions they need for success. In 2020, the policy prohibits the use of discrepancy between IQ and achievement, the alternate to discrepancy analysis, and the use of pattern of strengths and weakness for SLD eligibility decisions. Effective July 1, 2020, the state policy for governing services for students with disabilities will be as follows: When using a child’s responsiveness to instruction and scientific research-based intervention as the basis for eligibility decisions for children with Specific Learning Disabilities, the following essential components must be in place: (1) a system of high-quality core instruction and scientific research-based intervention; (2) Multiple tiers of instruction, that vary in intensity, matched to student need; (3) A systematic process of problem-solving/data-based decision making; and (4) a comprehensive, balanced assessment system that includes: common formative assessments, interim/benchmark assessments, outcome assessments, universal screening, progress monitoring, and diagnostic assessments. We are in the process of training and will have teams that will work on the following: establishing standard protocols in core academics, behavior, attendance, identifying assessments, and employing interventions.

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. Walker and duly carried, the minutes for March 4, 2019 were approved as presented.

On a motion by Ms. Barnes, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Personnel Report was approved as presented.

Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s)

Ginger Bentley – Teacher – Wilkes Central High School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty-four years and three months of service

Dr. Susan Blackburn – Pre-K & Elementary Director – Central Services

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty years and seven months of service

William Brown – Behavior Tech – Wilkes Central High School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with five years of service

Bruce Burkhart – Teacher – Exceptional Children Department

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty-two years and seven months of service

Diane Cannon – Teacher Assistant – Millers Creek Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty years of service

Pam Cass – Educational Interpreter – West Wilkes Middle School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-one years and eight months of service

John Elledge – Teacher – Wilkes Central High School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty-three years of service

Carolyn Elliott – Data Manager – Mount Pleasant Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with fifteen years and six months of service

Sandra Evans – Bookkeeper – Mount Pleasant Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-five years and three months of service

Sherryl Hicks – Media Assistant – North Wilkes High School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty-two years and six months of service

Keith Holleman – Bookkeeper – Maintenance Department

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-one years and one month of service

Brian Huffman – Teacher – West Wilkes Middle School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty years and seven months

Anna Lankford – Associate Superintendent – Central Services

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty-two years and six months of service

Gerald Lowe – Custodian – Boomer Ferguson Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with seven years and seven months of service

Angela Searcy – Teacher – North Wilkes Middle School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-five years and seven months of service

Julie Shepherd – Student Services Case Manager – Central Services

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty years and two months of service

Angie Ward – Teacher – Mountain View Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-two years and five months of service

Shryl Yale – Data Manager – Central Services

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty-three years and four months of service

Blue Sheet

Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s)

Mark Burcham – Instructional Specialist – East Wilkes High School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty years and two months of service

Cynthia Cullison – Teacher Assistant – Mulberry Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-nine years and four months of service

Betty Greene – Teacher Assistant – Roaring River Elementary School

Retirement effective – June 1, 2019 with ten years and nine months of service

Diana Mathis – Teacher – Mulberry Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with thirty-one years and three months of service

Tana Myers – School Counselor – Mount Pleasant Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-three years and five months of service

Renee Sale – Teacher Assistant – Ronda Clingman Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-years and three months of service

Deborah Smith – Teacher – Roaring River Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty-seven years and nine months of service

Lisa Tharpe – Teacher Assistant – Mountain View Elementary School

Retirement effective – July 1, 2019 with twenty years and nine months of service

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

School	Group	Destination	Dates
North Wilkes High School	Student Athletes	Mars Hill, NC	06/17/2019-06/20/2019
North Wilkes High School	Girls' Basketball	Salisbury, NC	06/23/2019-06/25/2019
West Wilkes High School	Boys' Basketball	Salisbury, NC	06/26/2019-06/28/2019

On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the Disposition of Surplus Items was approved as presented (see attachment one).

Associate Superintendent Ms. Anna Lankford presented to the Board a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wilkes Public Heal Dental Clinic. In 2001, the Wilkes Public Health Dental Clinic partnered with Wilkes County Schools to provide dental health services to students at school sites utilizing a Mobile Dental Clinic. The partnership has remained in place with a verbal agreement between the two parties since that time and continues to enhance the dental health of our children and youth. This Memorandum of Agreement has been written to recognize this ongoing collaboration and document the efforts of both organizations and is submitted for information only.

Chairman Mr. Holbrook had the following announcements:

April 15-18, 2019 – Annual Leave
April 19, 2019 – Easter Holiday
April 22, 2019 – Annual Leave

Chairman Mr. Holbrook announced the next meeting to be May 6, 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. Walker, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, there being no further business, the board adjourned at 6:17 PM to closed session to prevent the disclosure of information that is privileged or confidential under state or federal law, including but not limited to N.C.G.S. 115C-319, N.C.G.S. 115C-402, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(1) to consult with its attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege, pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) to consider the qualification, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee, or prospective public officer or employee, pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6)

The Board of Education reconvened its open session at 7:25 PM. Upon a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate, the Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution terminating the employment of Mr. Phillip R. Bare. A copy of the resolution is included with the minutes of this meeting (see attachment two).

With no further business being presented and upon a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate, the meeting was adjourned at 7:26 PM.