January 8, 2024
The Board of Education of the Wilkes County Administrative Unit conducted a regular meeting in the Arnold and Becky Lakey Boardroom on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 5:30 PM at 613 Cherry Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659.
Present for the meeting were Chairman Mr. Randall "Rudy" Holbrook, Vice-Chairman Mr. Hardin Kennedy III, and Board Members Mrs. Joan Caudill, Mrs. Jammie Jolly, and Mr. Kirk Walker. Also attending were Superintendent Mr. D. Mark Byrd, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood, Chief Academic Officer Mrs. Callie Grubb, Chief Finance Officer Mr. Seth Prevette, Chief Technology Officer Mrs. Julie Triplett, Director of Child Nutrition Mr. Marty Johnson, Director of Secondary Education, Athletics, and School Safety Mr. David Johnson, Director of Maintenance Mr. Richard Shepherd, Director of Pre-K and Elementary Education Mr. Jeffery Johnson, ESL Coordinator Mrs. Lori Holguin, AIG Coordinator Mrs. Angie Lamb, Director of Testing and Accountability, Cultural Arts, 504, and Title I Dr. Dion Stocks, Director of Federal Programs, Career & Technical Education Dr. Joe Bullis, Director of the Exceptional Children Mrs. Jennifer Blankenship, Director of Transportation Mr. Eric Barker, Public Information Officer Mrs. Morgan Mathis, and Executive Administrative Assistant Mrs. Carolyn Triplett. Also in attendance were Mrs. Nikki Patrick, Principal of Millers Creek Elementary School, Mrs. Andrea Byers, Principal of Mount Pleasant Elementary School, Mrs. Beckie Spears, Principal of Wilkesboro Elementary School, and Mrs. Jennifer Sorel, Principal of Wilkes Early College High School.
Chairman Mr. Randall "Rudy" Holbrook called the meeting to order.
Superintendent Mr. D. Mark Byrd stated the agenda needed to be amended to add a field trip to the list in Item B, Out of County/Overnight Field Trips. Added was North Wilkes High School, All-Carolina Select Choral Clinic to be held in Wingate, North Carolina. This was for one student.
On a motion by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mrs. Caudill and duly carried, the agenda was approved as presented.
Chairman Mr. Randall "Rudy" Holbrook recognized Superintendent Mr. D. Mark Byrd for the Superintendent's Welcome and Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Byrd stated, "Let me start by saying 'Happy New Year' to everyone in the room, and I hope that your 2024 is off to a great start. If it isn't, I hope it is in a short amount of time."
"We have certainly had some good news happen in the last day or two. On Friday, Mrs. Beckie Spears was announced as our Regional Principal of the Year, which is our second in the past 5 years and also our second in the last 30 years. Our entire school system is very proud. Students also ate lunch in the renovated cafeteria at Mount Pleasant today, which was the first time in over a year. Those students are very close to being in a totally renovated building! I believe we have Richard Shepherd in the room with us tonight, and Mr. Shepherd has just been announced as our new Director of Maintenance effective January 2, 2024. Congratulations to Mr. Shepherd, and this promotion is well-deserved."
"I would like to wish Mrs. Jolly a "Happy Birthday" today and also use that as a lead in to say 'thank you' to our entire board for their service to our students, our staff, and our community. January is School Board Appreciation Month and I would like to personally thank Mr. Holbrook, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Walker, Mrs. Caudill, and Mrs. Jolly for all that they do. The relationship between the board and school system in Wilkes County is special and that does not happen by accident. Our relationship is so good that I can even ask the board chair if he watched the Dallas/Washington game yesterday! Thank you all for putting what is best for students and staff ahead of any personal agendas! Mrs. Jolly is sharing a great example of the sacrifice board members make tonight, as I doubt that she ever expected to celebrate her birthday at a school board meeting! Please join me in giving our board a round of applause to show our appreciation for all that they do."
"I am also going to ask you to join me in a moment of silence tonight in memory of Mr. Dan Biesak, who passed away unexpectedly on Christmas day. Mr. Biesak had served our system for over 20 years and was doing an exceptional job serving as Principal of Moravian Falls Elementary School. Mr. Biesak was loved by his students, his staff, and his school community. Dan was student-oriented and always put them first. I think anyone who attended Mr. Biesak's memorial service yesterday can tell how highly thought of he was."
A moment of silence was held to honor Mr. Biesak's service to our students, staff, and community. We will continue to be thinking of and praying for his family and the Moravian Falls Elementary School family in the days ahead.
Superintendent Mr. D. Mark Byrd recognized Dr. Westley Wood, Assistant Superintendent, to announce the National Board Certifications awarded. 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. 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:
Olivia Walsh, Wilkes Early College High School
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Josie Hendren, Wilkesboro Elementary School
Generalist/Early Childhood
Generalist/Early Childhood
Marianna Bowden, Millers Creek Elementary School
School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Focus on the Curriculum was presented by Dr. Joe Bullis, Executive Director of Federal Programs and Technical Education. Dr. Bullis presented a brief update and information regarding the current status of our Career and Technical Education programs. Data was shared in the following areas.
- CTE Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA)
- Internships and Pre-Apprenticeships - Spring semester of 2024 the CTE Department, School Counselors, WCC partners, and career coaches will begin recruiting students for Pre-Apprenticeship Summer 2024
- Labor Market Alignment
- Credential Attainment (2022-2023 attainment rate was 40.8% which is an improvement from the previous year)
- CTE Performance Indicators
Chairman Mr. Rudy Holbrook asked if anyone had signed up for Public Comments. Mrs. Teresa Ray from Roaring River provided information to the Board regarding her concerns about Scholastic Books.
On a motion by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mrs. Jolly and duly carried, the minutes for December 4, 2023, were approved as presented.
Mr. D. Mark Byrd announced that the Board of Education needed to go into closed session. At 6:05 PM upon a motion by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mrs. Caudill, the Wilkes County Board of Education voted unanimously to meet in closed session at 6:05 PM to consult with its attorney in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege, pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 143-318.11(a)(3). No further business was presented, and upon motion by Mrs. Caudill, seconded by Mrs. Jolly, the Board of Education voted unanimously to end this closed session and return to open session at 6:14 PM.
On a motion by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Walker and duly carried, the Personnel Report was approved as presented.
Resignation(s) and/or Retirement(s)
Rebecca Luffman – Program Specialist – Exceptional Children Department
Retirement effective – January 1, 2024, with twenty-two years of service
Promotion(s)
Richard Shephard – From Maintenance Worker – Maintenance Department
To Director of Maintenance – Maintenance Department
Bergie Speaks – From Director of Maintenance – Maintenance Department
To Director of Facilities and Construction – Maintenance Department
Candie Greer – From Assistant Principal – Mulberry Elementary School
To Principal – Boomer Ferguson Elementary School
On a motion by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mrs. Caudill and duly carried, the following field trips were approved as presented. Planned dates are listed below.
| School | Group | Destination | Dates |
| East Wilkes High School | Varsity Softball |
Greenville, NC
|
03/29/2024-03/30/2024 |
| East Wilkes High School | Women's Wrestling |
Hendersonville, NC
|
02/02/2024-02/03/2024 |
| East Wilkes High School |
Men's Wrestling
|
Robbinsville, NC
|
02/09/2024-02/10/2024 |
| East Wilkes High School | Men's and Women's Wrestling |
Greensboro, NC
|
02/15/2024-02/17/2024 |
| East Wilkes High School | Beta Club Members |
Greensboro, NC
|
01/26/2024-01/27/2024
|
| East Wilkes High School | HOSA |
Greensboro, NC
|
04/03/2024-04/06/2024
|
| North Wilkes High School | Choral |
Wingate, NC
|
01/26/2024-01/27/2024
|
| North Wilkes High School | Men's Wrestling |
Lincolnton, NC
|
02/09/2024-02/10/2024
|
| North Wilkes High School | Men's Wrestling |
Greensboro, NC
|
02/15/2024-02/17/2024
|
| West Wilkes High School | Women's Wrestling |
Hendersonville, NC
|
02/02/2024-02/03/2024
|
| West Wilkes High School | Men's Wrestling |
Lincolnton, NC
|
02/09/2024-02/10/2024
|
| West Wilkes High School | Men's Wrestling |
Greensboro, NC
|
02/15/2024-02/17/2024
|
On a motion by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mrs. Jolly and duly carried, the Wilkes County Schools' Summer Success Plan for 2023-2024 was approved as presented. The Department of Public Instruction has approved that all districts may administer the End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) tests during summer school. The scores from the tests will be included in the proficiency calculations for school accountability within the current accountability year. Wilkes County Schools has elected to provide a summer school program, called “WCS Success Academy”, immediately following the last day of school. It will extend the school year for qualifying students by up to four days.
On a motion by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mrs. Caudill and duly carried, the Bleacher Replacement at North Wilkes High School and East Wilkes High School was approved as presented. Sealed bids were received at the C. Wayne Bradburn Distribution Center on December 7th, 2023, at 2:00 PM for new stadium bleachers on the home side at East High and both Home and Visitor sides at North High. Three companies submitted proposals and Mr. Randy Baker with Pinnacle Architecture opened and read each bid. SturdiSteel was the apparent low bidder of $844,220.00. SturdiSteel has been in business since 1934 and has done many high school and university grandstands across the United States.
Discussion and Report Item was presented by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Westley Wood. Dr. Wood presented the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar Drafts for discussion. The calendar committee met on Tuesday, December 5th and developed a proposed academic calendar for the 2024-25 school year. This is a 164-student day academic calendar that meets statutory requirements. North Carolina general statute allows the start of school to be no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26, 2024. In addition, the committee developed an alternate academic calendar with an alternative start date for the Board to review and consider. This information will be submitted at the February meeting for final approval.
Chairman Mr. Holbrook made the following announcements:
- January 15, 2024 – Martin Luther King Holiday
- January 19, 2024 – Second Grading Period Ends
- January 22, 2024 – Required Workday
- January 23, 2024 – Third Grading Period Begins
Chairman Mr. Holbrook announced the next board meeting to be February 5, 2024. The 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. Kennedy and seconded by Mrs. Caudill, with no further business, the Board of Education voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:28 PM.
All board members expressed their appreciation to everyone who was in attendance at Mr. Daniel Biesak's funeral.
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