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2019-20 Board Meeting Minutes » September 9, 2019

September 9, 2019

Summary of Board Minutes

September 9, 2019

 
The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit met in a regular meeting at 5:30 PM on Monday, September 9, 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 Mrs. Leslie Barnes. Also present were Superintendent Mr. D. Mark Byrd, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, Chief Technology Officer Ms. Julie Triplett, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Donna Cotton, Chief Finance Officer Mr. Seth Prevette, Director of Pre-K and Elementary Education Ms. Callie Grubb, Director of Athletics and Healthful Living Mr. Chris Skabo, Director of CTE Mr. Wayne Shepherd, Director of Child Nutrition Mr. Marty Johnson, Director of Maintenance Mr. Bergie Speaks, Director of Middle School, Federal Programs, and Cultural Arts Dr. Joe Bullis, Director of Exceptional Children Ms. Jennifer Blankenship, 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. Kirk Walker to lead the Invocation.
 
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate 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 everyone for a smooth start to the 2019-2020 school year. Mr. Byrd shared some exciting news and ask that we use this to follow as we go through every day. Mr. Byrd focused on two-words, which are “low performing.” As you can imagine, this could cause many negative feelings about your work, and impact your morale as well as that of your coworkers and community members. It would be very easy to let this get you down. The students and staff of Mtn. View Elementary School didn’t let this happen. After the 2017-2018 school year, they received a letter grade of “D” and didn’t meet expected growth. While we know they are not a low-performing school, they had to wear that label for a year. But instead of letting this defeat them, they decided to prove this label wrong! Through hard work, dedication, and focus, they raised their school letter grade to “C” for 2018-2019, and didn’t just “meet expected growth” but “exceeded it!” We know they are not where they want to be just yet, but they are certainly moving in the direction that they want to be, and have set an example for our entire system to how important a growth mindset and resiliency are in ensuring success in the future!

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized the Wilkes Education Foundation members present to issue the Mini-Grant Awards. Members of the Wilkes Education Foundation presenting to our teachers were President, Mr. Arnold Lakey, Treasurer, Mr. Jody Hamby, Board Member and Chairman of the Mini-Grant Committee, Mr. Danny Holman, and Board Member and Assistant Treasurer, Mr. Bill Myers. The Wilkes Education Foundation is awarding forty-two mini-grant projects for the 2019-2020 school year. The total funds awarded are $31,140.93. Since the 1985-1986 school year, the Wilkes Education Foundation has funded 829 mini-grants projects for a total of $480,535.18. The winners are as follows:

Grant Name Teacher School Principal Cost
“Growing" 3rd Graders Michelle Hartley
Boomer-Ferguson Elementary
Beth Hubbard $770.00
Science Comes to Life Natasha Parlier Boomer-Ferguson Elementary Beth Hubbard $641.00
Engaging Little Learners Kathryn Willis C.B. Eller Elementary Jason Llewellyn $994.88
Kindergarten, Here I Come! Kim Bauguess C.B. Eller Elementary Jason Llewellyn $970.15
Learning About the World Around Me Maria Poplin C.B. Eller Elementary Jason Llewellyn $410.80
Success with Social-Emotional Learning! Jamie K. Williams C.B. Eller Elementary Jason Llewellyn $1000.00
Finding Focus for Fourth Graders Heather Melton C.C. Wright Elementary Dr. Kim Stone $975.84
Get on Board and Read! Katie Wright C.C. Wright Elementary Dr. Kim Stone $978.80
Physical Computing Julie Colglazier Central Wilkes Middle Rodney Graham $803.05
Leader in Me Lending Library Reuellyn Thomas East Wilkes Middle Sandra Burchette $500.00
Science At My Fingertips Shelley Somers East Wilkes Middle Sandra Burchette $532.70
Enriching Students Through Project-Based Learning Debby Nunn/Gina Ortiz Millers Creek Elementary Rebecca Mastin $274.53
Full "STEAM" Ahead in Second Grade Kristie Brown Millers Creek Elementary Rebecca Mastin $987.00
Inspiring Young Minds Through Science and Math Tina Shepherd Millers Creek Elementary Rebecca Mastin $979.37
Integrating Science, Social Studies, and Health into Literacy Instruction Jennifer Cockrell Millers Creek Elementary Rebecca Mastin $631.57
Getting Engaged with Interactive Read-Alouds Monica Smith Moravian Falls Elementary Shanda Adkins $583.17
Mathematical Problem Solving Anna Laughlin Moravian Falls Elementary Shanda Adkins $618.91
Reading for Success Tara Hinkle Moravian Falls Elementary Shanda Adkins $851.92
Building Emerging Readers Kim J. Holleman Mt. Pleasant Elementary Kristine Kennington $397.73
Independently Engaged and On Task Kristen Pruitt Wiles Mountain View Elementary Dr. Jodi Weatherman $872.06
Phonics in the Primary Classroom Ashley Walker Mountain View Elementary Dr. Jodi Weatherman $844.40
Picturing Math Donna Wood Mountain View Elementary Dr. Jodi Weatherman $917.26
Blending Technology with iPads in Physical Education Christy E. Rhoades Mulberry Elementary Ritchie Cornette $1000.00
Get Read with Reading Jamie Miles Mulberry Elementary Ritchie Cornette $450.98
Hey, Hey, Hey! Time for Engaging ELA! Megan Gorski Mulberry Elementary Ritchie Cornette $992.00
Experiencing Science through Inquiry Kimberly Lang Mulberry Elementary Ritchie Cornette $701.00
Making Connections with Essays and Podcasts Sarah Miles North Wilkes High David Johnson $868.58
What Can I Read? Abby King North Wilkes Middle Heather Freeman $860.00
Hands-On Science Stem and Materials Shanna Hawkins North Wilkesboro Elementary Delaina Smith $400.00
Rolling into Computer Programming Renee Gentry Roaring River Elementary Craig Tidline $610.00
Learn by Sight Christina Hurst Traphill Elementary Nikki Patrick $314.05
Building Literacy Skills in Carpentry Class Robin Roten West Wilkes High Amanda Pruitt $424.60
Generating Knowledge Michael Holleman West Wilkes High Amanda Pruitt $955.00
Safety Chutes and Ladders Chris Roten West Wilkes High  Amanda Pruitt $845.39
Creating Culture through Drama Joanne Schwab West Wilkes Middle Pam Huffman $975.00
Promoting Lifetime Activities in Physical Education Anthony Church/Scott Bryant West Wilkes Middle Pam Huffman $997.41
Dispelling the Dystopia-Project-Based Learning, High School Style! Brandy Sappington/Ashley Clonch Wilkes Central High Dr. Dion Stocks $800.00
Experience Learning Language Arts and Mastering Math through IXL Kathy Dixon Wilkes Central High Dr. Dion Stocks $449.00
STEAM Learning Lab Nicole Britt Wilkes Central High Dr. Dion Stocks $370.00
A Library Like Me! Summer Ward Wilkesboro Elementary Beckie Spears $961.00
Making Fractions Fun Holly Stone Wilkesboro Elementary Beckie Spears $642.06
Reclaiming Reluctant Readers: Engaging Diverse Learners through High-Interest Texts Susan Hagaman Wilkesboro Elementary Beckie Spears $989.72
42 Grants       $31,140.93

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized the 2019 North Carolina Governor’s School attendee. The Governor’s School of North Carolina is a five and one-half week summer residential program for intellectually gifted high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. The curriculum focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline and does not involve credit, test, or grades. The following student represented Wilkes County at the 2019 North Carolina Governor’s School summer session: Hanna Rollins is a current 12th grader at North Wilkes High School. She attended Governor’s School West, which was held on the campus of High Point University. Hanna’s focus of study while at Governor’s School was mathematics. Congratulations on your hard work and accomplishment!


Focus on the Curriculum was presented by Chief Academic Officer Dr. Donna Cotton who presented the Board data information regarding School Performance Grades. All grades are based on 80% proficiency and 20% growth with a 15-point grading scale. Elementary and Middle School is based completely on EOG scores in ELA, Math and Science (proficiency & growth), English Learner Progress, and Participation. High Schools have several indicators: EOCs (Biology, Math 1, Math 3, and English II), English Learner Progress, ACT/WorkKeys, Math Course Rigor, and Cohort Graduation Rate. In 2018-2019, Wilkes County Schools had four that did not meet growth, eleven that met growth, and seven to exceed growth. In 2018-2019, our school performance grades were as follows:  As,  1 school – Wilkes Early College High School; Bs, 10 schools – C.B. Eller, East Wilkes High, East Wilkes Middle, Moravian Falls, Mulberry, North Wilkes High, Ronda-Clingman, West Wilkes High, West Wilkes Middle, and Wilkesboro; Cs, 11 schools – Boomer-Ferguson, C.C. Wright, Central Wilkes Middle, Millers Creek, Mount Pleasant, Mountain View, North Wilkes Middle, North Wilkesboro, Roaring River, Traphill, and Wilkes Central High. Wilkes County Schools met participation rates in all tested areas for subgroups with 100%!


Chairman Mr. Rudy Holbrook asked if anyone had signed up for public comments. Mr. Hardin Kennedy spoke on behalf of a student from East Wilkes High School, Meagan Reeves. Due to her work schedule, she was unable to attend. Mr. Hardin Kennedy is her graduation project mentor and reported on her behalf. Ms. Reeves wanted to invite school board members and staff to attend a Back to School Rally in which she has completely organized. By planning and preparing for this event, she has gained numerous skills. Ms. Reeves is using this as her focus for her Graduation Project. Several items will be available for young children such as backpacks, school items, etc. All teachers and students will receive a special gift that will encourage them in the upcoming school year. This event will be held on September 21, 2019.


On a motion by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the minutes for August 5, 2019 were approved as presented.
 
On a motion by Ms. Barnes, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the Personnel Report was approved as presented.

Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s)

Tracey Hemric – Teacher Assistant – C.B. Eller Elementary School

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


On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Out-of-County/Overnight Field Trip list was approved as presented.
 
School Group Destination Dates
West Wilkes High School HOSA
Washington, DC
09/21/2019-09/24/2019
West Wilkes High School Varsity Football/Cheer 
Independence, VA 
09/20/2019 
Wilkes Central High School FFA
Indianapolis, IN
10/29/2019-11/01/2019
Wilkes Central High School Choral Students
Winston-Salem, NC
11/09/2019-11/10/2019
Wilkes Central High School Chamber Singers
Asheville, NC
12/15/2019-12/16/2019
Wilkes Central High School Selected Students
Wingate, NC
01/31/2020-02/01/2020
Wilkes Central High School Selected Students
Mars Hill, NC
02/07/2020-02/08/2020
East Wilkes Middle School 8th Grade Students
Washington, DC
02/20/2020-02/22/2020
Wilkes Central High School Choral Students
Port Canaveral, FL and Bahamas
04/16/2020-04/19/2020

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Memorandum of Agreements were approved as presented. Wilkes County Schools and Wilkes Community College have a strong partnership in the Wilkes Early College High School and the Career and College Promise programs.  These two Memorandum of Agreements set the parameters of the operations of each program area.


Chief Academic Officer Dr. Donna Cotton presented to the board for information only the Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Social Services (DDS). In 2009, Wilkes County Schools and the Department of Social Services (DDS) worked collaboratively to create a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to improve communication and services to children in our community. The memorandum is reviewed each year with principals and the DSS administrative staff. This information is for review only.


Chairman Mr. Holbrook had the following announcement:               
  • September 30, 2019 – Required Workday
 
Chairman Mr. Holbrook announced the next meeting to be October 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 Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, there being no further business, the board adjourned at 6:15 PM.


Chairman Mr. “Rudy” Holbrook, along with all Board Members and Mr. Bergie Speaks, wanted to publicly recognize Mr. Grover Durham for his fifty-four years and seven months of service to Wilkes County Schools.  Mr. Grover Durham’s dedication, service, and loyalty to Wilkes County Schools will be greatly missed.