Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized the North Carolina Senior Beta Club Convention Winners. The North Carolina Senior Beta Club Convention took place on February 6-7, 2020 at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel & Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. Beta holds annual state conventions in 18 states, both for Senior and Junior Beta divisions, and winners of these state events go on to compete at the national level. Activities range from academic contests, to quiz bowls, to talent competitions. Conventions give members the opportunity to interact, share project ideas, and showcase their academic and leadership abilities. Wilkes Early College High School had two students place in the top of their competitions at the North Carolina Senior Beta Club Convention. Congratulations to Kennedy Collins on being awarded first place in Fiber Arts, Division II. Congratulations to Jessika Norman on being awarded second place in Painting, Division II. WECHS also received a G.O.L.D Key Award (Growing Opportunities by Leadership Development) for increasing convention attendance. Congratulations to these students and Wilkes Early College High School!
Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized Public Information Officer Ms. Morgan Mathis. Wilkes County Schools was among 36 school districts in North Carolina to win Blue Ribbon Awards for effective school communications and public relations. These awards were presented by the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) during the annual Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony and brunch on Friday, January 31, 2020 at the O. Henry Hotel in Greensboro. A Blue Ribbon Award is the highest honor a school district can receive from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association. The award recognizes excellence in school communications and public relations. Members of the Georgia School Public Relations Association judged the entries. There are three award levels: gold, silver, and bronze. The judges' score entries were based on content, quality, effectiveness, and overall impression. Public Information Officer Ms. Morgan Mathis won 8 Blue Ribbon Awards on behalf of Wilkes County Schools in the categories of photography, digital media engagement, and electronic media - five of them gold level and three of them silver level. Congratulations to Ms. Morgan Mathis on this achievement for Wilkes County Schools.
Superintendent Mr. Mark Byrd, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, recognized the 2019-2020 Wilkes County Schools Spelling Bee Winners. The competition was held February 25, 2020 in the Stone Family Center for the Performing Arts. The Wilkes County Schools Spelling Bee runner-up is Alyssa Wondolowski. Alyssa is a 5th grade student at C.B. Eller Elementary School. Congratulations to the Wilkes County Schools Spelling Bee winner, for the fifth consecutive year, Ruston Rapoport. Ruston is a 7th grade student at Central Wilkes Middle School. We wish him the best of luck as he advances to the Regional Spelling Bee on March 15, 2020 in Winston-Salem, NC. Congratulations to these students!
Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s)
Retirement effective – June 1, 2020 with twenty-nine years and eight months of service
| School | Group | Destination | Dates |
| North Wilkes High School | Wrestling |
Lexington, NC
|
02/14/2020-02/15/2019 |
| Wilkes Central High School | Wrestling | Lexington, NC | 02/14/2020-02/15/2019 |
| North Wilkes High School | Wrestling |
Greensboro, NC
|
02/20/2020-02/22/2019 |
| Wilkes Central High School | Wrestling | Greensboro, NC | 02/20/2020-02/22/2019 |
| West Wilkes High School | Wrestling | Greensboro, NC | 02/20/2020-02/22/2019 |
| Wilkes Central High School | Student Council |
Graham, NC
|
03/13/2020-03/15/2019 |
| North Wilkes High School | Wrestling |
Urbana, OH
|
07/19/2020-07/23/2020 |
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mrs. Barnes and duly carried, the 2019-2020 Summer School Plan was approved as presented. Wilkes County Schools has elected to provide a summer school program called “WCS Success Academy”.
On a motion by Mr. Darren Shumate, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the High School Laptop Bid was approved as presented. Four bids were received with Applied Data Technologies being the lowest with a bid of $707.37 each. These new devices will replace one grade level set of laptops that were purchased in 2015 and are being used this year by juniors or seniors in our High Schools.
On a motion by Mrs. Barnes, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the Erate Category 2 Mini-Bid and Wireless Vendor Selection was approved as presented. North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction awarded bids for Erate eligible Category 2 products and services. We requested pricing for 5 year license renewals for existing wireless access points and additional access points and licenses for locations without coverage. Since we will need many more licenses than access points, A3 Communications submitted the lowest quote of $174.72 each for licenses and $466.36 for access points. Based on cost and their technical sufficiency, previous vendor experience, and other considerations for this quote, A3 Communications is the most cost effective vendor for our wireless needs. We will complete a Form 471 requesting Erate funding.
On a motion by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the Revision of Policy 7241, Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators was approved as presented. This policy has been revised to comply with updated federal law and regulations related to the comprehensive drug and alcohol testing program of school bus drivers and all other commercial motor vehicle operators employed by the Wilkes County Board of Education.
On a motion by Mr. Shumate, seconded by Mrs. Huffman and duly carried, the Septic Tank Easement for Adjoining Landowner at Roaring River Elementary School was approved as presented. Land owner, Mrs. Joy Christina Howell, has requested an easement for her existing septic tank which is partially on an adjoining piece of property we purchased known as Keith Hawkins Garage beside Roaring River Elementary. Her current septic system is failing, and she needs to do repairs. Repairs cannot be made until she is granted an easement from the school system.
On a motion by Mrs. Huffman, seconded by Mr. Shumate and duly carried, the Audit Services Contract for the audit fiscal year 2020 was approved as presented. A price increase of 4.5% or $1,290.00 will be increased from the previous year.
On a motion by Mrs. Barnes, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance Agreement was approved as presented. This agreement will allow NWRESA to maintain office space, conduct meetings, workshops, etc. at the Wilkes County Central Services property. This agreement not only represents a cost savings for NWRESA, but will also allow them to continue to provide opportunities for teachers, superintendents, and staff of schools throughout the Northwest area.