January 6, 2020

Summary of Board Minutes

January 6, 2020

The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit met in a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, January 6, 2020 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. Kirk Walker, and Mrs. Leslie Barnes. Mr. Darren Shumate was absent. Also present were Superintendent Mr. D. Mark Byrd, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, Chief Technology Officer Ms. Julie Triplett, Chief Finance Office Mr. Seth Prevette, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Donna Cotton, Director of CTE Mr. Wayne Shepherd, Director of Child Nutrition Mr. Marty Johnson, Director of Maintenance Mr. Bergie Speaks, Director of Exceptional Children Ms. Jennifer Blankenship, Director of Testing and Accountability Mr. Jeffrey Johnson, Director of Student Services Ms. April Marr, Director of Transportation Mr. Eric Barker, Director of Pre-K and Elementary Education Ms. Callie Grubb, Director of Middle School, Federal Programs, and Cultural Arts Dr. Joe Bullis, Director of 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. 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 wished everyone a Happy New Year and hopes that 2020 brings peace and prosperity to all Wilkes County families. January is “School Board Appreciation Month.” Mr. Byrd stated it was his belief that you would not find a board that works better together anywhere in this state. Our board puts personal opinions aside to do what is best for the students and teachers of Wilkes County Schools.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized those teachers who received their National Board Certification. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) released the latest number of teachers to receive National Board Certification for both states and the nation in December, 2019. Working to establish a professional career continuum for teachers, the National Board is at work across the country, setting the expectation that all teachers should demonstrate accomplished teaching via National Board Certification and become leaders in their schools and communities. Created for teachers, by teachers, National Board Certification is a voluntary, performance-based, peer-review process that recognizes the complex nature of teaching. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) are having a significant impact on student achievement. Congratulations to the following Wilkes County Schools teachers who were recently awarded National Board Certification:

Meghann Roberts-Clawson, Mulberry Elementary School

School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Lori Dillard, Mulberry Elementary School

Generalist/Early Childhood

Stephanie Perkins, Millers Creek Elementary School

Generalist/Early Childhood

Sarah Miles, North Wilkes High School

English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Matt Taylor, West Wilkes High School

Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Crystal Shatley, Millers Creek Elementary School

Generalist/Early Childhood

DeeAnna Parker, North Wilkes Middle School

Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Elizabeth Coleman, Central Wilkes Middle School

School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Jennifer Weddington, C.B. Eller, Roaring River, & Ronda-Clingman Elementary Schools

Music/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized The Mountain Valley 1A/2A Athletic Conference award winners. Coaches vote on awards at the conclusion of each sports season. The awards that are given include coach of the year, all-conference, and honorable mention teams. Tonight, we are proud to recognize an athlete and a coach from Wilkes County Schools that were chosen as player and coach of the year for the fall athletic season. We would like to congratulate Coach Aaron Simmons from East Wilkes High School. Coach Simmons was recognized by the Mountain Valley Conference as Coach of the Year in Women’s Tennis. We would also like to congratulate Zoe Albert from West Wilkes High School. Zoe was recognized by the Mountain Valley Conference as Player of the Year in Women’s Tennis.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized The Carolina Panthers Coach of the Week. Every year since 1997, the Carolina Panthers have honored high school football coaches through the Coach of the Week program. High school officials and members of the community can nominate varsity coaches from their area. The Panthers select a coach for each week of the high school football season. Each winning coach receives a $1,000 donation from the Panthers and the National Football League for the school’s athletic program. All head coaches in the Carolinas are eligible regardless of their school’s size, league or division. Coaches are evaluated on factors such as the coach’s impact on his team, school, and community. We would like to congratulate Coach Jonathon Wilmoth, head football coach at East Wilkes High School on being selected as the Carolina Panthers Coach of the Week! Coach Wilmoth was recognized during the Panther’s home football game on Sunday, December 15, 2019.

Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized the Science Fair winners for 2019-2020. Wilkes County Schools hosted the 2019-2020 Science Fair on November 21, 2019. Over 125 outstanding projects were entered from grades 3-12. Wilkes County Schools had 14 elementary, 12 middle, and 4 high school projects that advanced to the Regional Science Fair at Appalachian State University that will be held on January 11, 2020. The students who advanced to the Regional Science Fair were as follows:

Bryson Settle – C.B. Eller Elementary

Kate Bivins – C.C. Wright Elementary

Shalyn Bare and Eli Bare – Traphill Elementary

Thomas Speaks – Ronda-Clingman Elementary

Hayden Gorciak – North Wilkesboro Elementary

Kayli Bates – Roaring River Elementary

Ansley Bryant – Millers Creek Elementary

Macie Cheek – C.B. Eller Elementary

Shaylin Williams – Mount Pleasant Elementary

Gabriel Anderson – Millers Creek Elementary

Katie Lyon – C.B. Eller Elementary

Halle Byrd – Ronda-Clingman Elementary

Haley Sampson – Mount Pleasant Elementary

Jordan Huffman and Jarrett Huffman – Mount Pleasant Elementary

Adelaide Byers – West Wilkes Middle

Isabelle Byers – West Wilkes Middle

Camden Barlow – Central Wilkes Middle

Savannah Johnson – North Wilkes Middle

Breagha Kilpatrick – East Wilkes Middle

Sofie Estes and Hailey Huskins – West Wilkes Middle

Salem Woodruff and Bayleigh Harris – West Wilkes Middle

John Tate Mastin and Lana Ferguson – Central Wilkes Middle

Ralee Bare – North Wilkes Middle

Morgan Taylor – West Wilkes Middle

Alea Mitchell – Central Wilkes Middle

Grayson Sparks and Levi Sadler – East Wilkes Middle

MaryAnna Bailey – Wilkes Central High

Brook Settle, Beth Settle, and Alex Hernandez – North Wilkes High

Patrick Ferroni and Harley Minton – Wilkes Central High

Ricky Wilson – Wilkes Central High

Focus on Curriculum was presented by Ms. April Marr, Director of Student Services. Ms. Marr gave a brief overview of EdClick School Safety Manager. Schools address threats to safety in two ways: Prevention and Emergency Response. The three elements of prevention are culture, concerns, and threats. Culture change comes through teaching and practicing the expectations of safe behavior. Concerns are when teachers, students, and parents must recognize and address referrals about student behavior. Student Services professions help with safety of the students and others. Threats are when administrators and possibly law enforcement get involved. Concerns and especially threats must be monitored over time and be resolved. School Safety Manager makes schools safer by (1) assisting cultural change, (2) collecting concerns referrals, and (3) monitoring progress and lowering threat levels. This method of collecting information is a requirement of G.S. 115C-105.51. Wilkes County Schools will be using EdClick School Safety Manager as a threat assessment tool.

Chairman Mr. Rudy Holbrook asked if anyone had signed up for public comments. No one signed up.

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the minutes for December 2, 2019 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 Mrs. Barnes, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the Out-of-County/Overnight Field Trip list was approved as presented.

School	Group	Destination	Dates
Wilkes Central High School	Wrestling Team	Galax, VA	01/04/2020
West Wilkes High School	Select Choral Students	Wingate, NC	01/31/2020-02/01/2020
North Wilkes High School	Beta Club Students	Greensboro, NC	02/05/2020-02/07/2020
North Wilkes High School	Choral Students	Mars Hill, NC	02/06/2020-02/08/2020
Wilkes Early College High School	Beta Club Students	Greensboro, NC	02/06/2020-02/07/2020
West Wilkes High School	Select Choral Students	Mars Hill, NC	02/07/2020-02/08/2020
West Wilkes High School	Select Choral Students	Atlanta, GA	03/26/2020-03/29/2020
Wilkes Central High School	HOSA Club Students	Charlotte, NC	04/01/2020-04/04/2020
West Wilkes High School	Wind Ensemble	Gatlinburg, TN	04/17/2020-04/19/2020

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman seconded by Mrs. Barnes, and duly carried the Budget Amendment for the State Public School Fund was approved as presented.

The County Commissioners desire to construct a new Emergency Medical Service (EMS) station on Mountain View Road. This project will involve the Board of Education’s leasing approximately 0.123 acres of the Mountain View Elementary School property to the County for the construction of the EMS facility and an additional approximately 0.222 acres of the school property for a septic easement to service the facility. The project also includes approximately 0.087 acres of the property currently leased by the Board of Education to the Mountain View Ruritan Club. The project will enhance the emergency services available to the Mountain View community and will not adversely affect Mountain View Elementary School. The County’s attorney currently is preparing the documentation necessary to consummate this project. We ask the Board of Education to authorize Chairman Holbrook and Mr. Byrd to execute this documentation upon approval of its substance and form by the Board of Education’s legal counsel.

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman that the Board of Education approve the leasing of approximately 0.123 acres of the Mountain View Elementary School property to the county for the construction of the EMS facility and an additional approximately 0.222 acres of the school property for a septic easement of service the facility, and further that Chairman Mr. Holbrook and Superintendent Mr. Byrd be authorized to execute the necessary documents on behalf of the Board of Education to consummate this project upon approval of the substance and form of the documents by the Board of Education’s legal counsel, seconded by Mr. Kirk Walker, and duly carried the Easement Agreement was approved as presented.

On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mrs. Barnes and duly carried, the 2020-2021 Wilkes County School Calendar was approved as presented.

Chairman Mr. Holbrook had the following announcement:

January 15, 2020 – Second Grading Period Ends
January 16, 2020 – Required Workday
January 17, 2020 – Optional Workday
January 20, 2020 – Martin Luther King Holiday
January 21, 2020 – Third Grading Period Begins

Chairman Mr. Holbrook announced the next meeting to be February 3, 2020. 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. Walker and duly carried, there being no further business, the board adjourned at 6:18 PM.

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WCS Board Minutes for January 6, 2020 (PDF/Printer-Friendly)