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December 2, 2002
The Catawba County Board of Education met in regular session on December
2, 2002 at 5:30 p.m. at the County Schools’ Administration Building with
Chairman Betty Blackburn presiding. The following members were present:
Mrs. Sherrill, Mrs. Butler, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Wyant and Mr. Biggerstaff.
Also in attendance were Superintendent Ann Hart, Assistant
Superintendents Joyce Spencer, Nancy Yount and Stephen Hilton, Attorney
Walter Currie from Roberts and Stevens Attorneys at Law, newly elected
Board members Mark Sigmon and Bo Scott, County Commissioner Chairman
Kitty Barnes, County Commissioners Barbara Beatty and Lynn Lail, Finance
Director Sondra Wolfe, Technology Director Terry Bledsoe, Public
Information/Grants Writer Sonya Gordon, Exceptional Children’s Director
Sharon Fox White, Workforce Development Director Roxy Poovey, Student
Services Director Pat Hensley, High School Director Debbie Long, Fred T.
Foard High School Principal Sally Bradshaw, and Roger Bowman and Melanie
Starr with Bowman, Pegg, & Starr, CPA’s. Mr. McRee was absent.
Patrick Crotty represented the Observer News Enterprise and Todd
Baldwin represented Charter Communications.
The meeting opened with a Moment of Silence followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance led by Chairman Blackburn. After one correction was made by
Mrs. Butler to the October 28, 2002 minutes, Chairman Blackburn declared
the minutes approved. Chairman Blackburn also declared the minutes of
the November 18, 2002 meeting approved. The Consent Agenda was amended
by Superintendent Hart to add one additional field trip and NB#7 –
Consideration of Easement for City of Hickory at Startown Elementary
School. After the amendment, the agenda was unanimously approved upon a
motion by Mrs. Sherrill and seconded by Mrs. Butler.
Public Hearing:
Attorney Walter Currie conducted the public hearing phase of the meeting
for comments concerning any agenda items. No person present wished to
address the Board on any agenda item.
Superintendent Hart conducted a special recognition of the State
Volleyball Champions and their coach, Linda Richards, from Fred T. Foard
High School. Each member of the team and Coach Richards were recognized
and presented a certificate for their outstanding season.
Congratulations were extended to each player and Coach Richards from the
Board members. Catawba County Commissioner Chairman Kitty Barnes along
with Commissioner Barbara Beatty and Commissioner Lynn Lail extended
their congratulations to each player and Coach Richards, and presented
each one with a certificate of commendation for their 30-0 season and
winning the state championship.
Superintendent Hart also recognized the State Singles Tennis Champion,
Lauren Isenhour, from Fred T. Foard High School along with her coach,
Erin Mackie. These two ladies were presented certificates for their
outstanding season. Catawba County Commissioner Chairman Barnes along
with Commissioner Beatty and Commissioner Lail presented certificates of
commendation to Ms. Isenhour and Ms. Mackie.
Superintendent’s Report:
Superintendent Hart began her report by recognizing Board of Education
Chairman Betty Blackburn for being awarded the state’s Order of the Long
Leaf Pine at her church on Sunday. She was nominated for the award by
NC Representative Mitchell Setzer for her many years of service to
Catawba County and the state of North Carolina. The Order of the Long
Leaf Pine is presented to outstanding North Carolinians who have a
proven record of service to the state, usually thirty years or more, in
conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Citizen and Community Services
and the North Carolina Legislature. Winners of this honor, including
Maya Angelou and Billy Graham in the past, carry the rank of Ambassador
Extraordinary.
Other items of update included:
•Maiden High School Head Football Coach Tom Brown, who is in his 34th
season as head football coach in North Carolina, on November 22nd he
became the fifth coach in North Carolina high school football history to
win 300 games. He gained the 300th win in a 21-7 victory over
Thomasville in the second round of the 1A playoffs. The win moved the
Blue Devils into the quarterfinals and gave Coach Brown a chance for win
number 301 on November 29th, which the team won. Coach Brown prepared
his team for that victory by practicing on Thanksgiving Day, which is a
tradition with him.
•In late November, St. Stephens High School, Clyde Campbell Elementary
and the surrounding feeder schools collected 350 shoeboxes filled with
gift items for children ages two to fourteen as part of Operation
Christmas Child. This program, which is part of Franklin Graham’s
Samaritan’s Purse Program, serves six million needy children annually in
one hundred plus countries.
•Students at Banoak Elementary School completed a canned food drive for
the Salvation Army. The children collected 1,065 canned and boxed food
items for the drive to help feed the area’s needy families over the
holidays.
•Balls Creek Elementary School students, under the guidance of school
counselors Terry Sherrill and Angela Totty, collected 1,200 canned and
boxed food items for at-risk families whose children attend the school.
The food drive was an extension of the school’s “I Can Be Drug Free.”
Items were distributed to the community.
•On November 22, Thanksgiving came a little early in the Sweetwater
community. As part of a partnership with Clyde Campbell Elementary
School’s Youth Advisory Council, staff and Parent-Teacher Organization
(PTO), all 301 Sweetwater Elementary students and their families enjoyed
a free dinner, complete with 25 turkeys and 75 pounds of stuffing.
Campbell’s Youth Advisory Council collected 1,600 used books to give to
students, as well, and the local Lions Club began a pilot
vision-screening program at the school that evening, too.
•Two more ABC Celebrations were held. Fred T. Foard High School feeder
schools gathered at Blackburn Elementary School on November 20th to
celebrate and Bandys High School feeder schools celebrated at Mill Creek
Middle School on November 25th. Two more area celebrations have been
scheduled. Maiden High School feeder schools will celebrate on December
4th at Maiden Elementary School and Bunker Hill High School feeder
schools will celebrate on December 16th at River Bend Middle School.
•Workforce Development held another successful Annual
Leadership Conference for high school students. This was the 11th
annual conference. Approximately seventy-five student leaders from the
district’s high schools prepared for the real world of work and
community by learning social, public speaking, organization and meeting
skills. Fred T. Foard High School was the overall winner of the various
competitive events.
•Catawba County Schools raised $67,388.16 for the United Way
of Catawba County surpassing the system’s goal of $66,500. The campaign
was under the leadership of Joyce Spencer. The school raising the most
money for United Way was St. Stephens Elementary School with a total of
$5,290.
•The fifth annual St. Stephens and Bandys Coaches vs. Cancer
basketball game will be held on December 6th at Bandys High School and
December 13th at St. Stephens High School. Varsity games will begin at
6:30 p.m. with junior varsity being played prior to that beginning at
4:00 p.m. Those honored at the game that died of cancer will include:
Bob Caraway, former principal of St. Stephens High School; Mike Matheson
and Bill Bost, former coaches of Bandys High School. The overall
fundraising goal for the game is $10,000. Games will include other
events such as a silent auction. Sonya Gordon is coordinating donations
for this cause.
•The Central Office will be closed December 23rd-27th and
January 1st for the holidays.
After completion of the Superintendent Hart’s report, she recognized
outgoing Board members, Mr. J.V. Huffman and Mr. Jim McRee. She
presented Mr. Huffman with a plaque and thanked him for his years of
dedicated service to the Catawba County Schools. Mr. Huffman made
remarks to those in attendance. Mr. McRee was not present at the
meeting, but Superintendent Hart recognized him for his years of
dedicated service to the Catawba County Schools. A plaque will also be
presented to him. Chairman Blackburn thanked both members for their
outstanding service.
Superintendent Hart introduced Judge Timothy Kincaid and Judge Suzanne
Owsley who conducted the next portion of business, the installation of
the new Board members. Judge Kincaid began by individually
administering the oath of office to reelected Mr. Charlie Wyant, and new
Board members Mr. Bo Scott and Mr. Mark Sigmon. Judge Owsley then
administered the oath of office to reelected Mrs. Sherry Butler.
Superintendent Hart conducted the next item of business on the agenda.
North
Carolina General Statute 115C-41 provides that the Board shall elect one
of the members to serve as chairman for a period of one year. The floor
was opened for nominations at which time Mrs. Blackburn and Mr. Wyant
were nominated. Nominations were closed and the vote was taken.
Members in favor of Mrs. Blackburn were Mrs. Sherrill, Mrs. Butler and
Mrs. Blackburn with opposition from Mr. Wyant, Mr. Scott, Mr.
Biggerstaff and Mr. Sigmon. Members in favor of Mr. Wyant were Mr.
Scott, Mr. Sigmon, Mr. Biggerstaff and Mr. Wyant with opposition from
Mrs. Sherrill, Mrs. Blackburn and Mrs. Butler. Mr. Wyant was elected as
chairman. Mrs. Blackburn addressed the group as departing chair and
thanked the Board for their support.
The Board of Education policy also states that the Board shall elect a
vice-chair. Chairman Wyant conducted this portion of the meeting.
Chairman Wyant addressed the group as newly elected chairman and asked
for full support from the Board with open communication among all seven
members. He also requested that each member read the policy manual
especially the Code of Ethics. The floor was then opened for
nominations at which time Mr. Biggerstaff and Mrs. Blackburn were
nominated. Nominations were closed and the vote was taken. Members in
favor of Mr. Biggerstaff were Mr. Scott, Mr. Sigmon, Mr. Biggerstaff and
Chairman Wyant with opposition from Mrs. Sherrill, Mrs. Blackburn and
Mrs. Butler. Members in favor of Mrs. Blackburn were Mrs. Sherrill,
Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Blackburn with opposition from Mr. Scott, Mr.
Sigmon, Mr. Biggerstaff and Chairman Wyant. Mr. Biggerstaff was elected
as vice-chair.
The following Consent Agenda items were transacted:
Budget Amendment:
Finance Officer Sondra Wolfe presented one budget amendment for the
Board’s consideration budgeting additional funds allocated by the
capital outlay fund. A copy of this amendment may be found between pages
___ and ___ and become an official part of these minutes.
Field Trip Requests:
*Maiden High School AFJROTC to Goldsboro, North Carolina, January 9-10,
2003
*St. Stephens High School Chorus to Mars Hill, North Carolina, February
7, 2003
*St. Stephens High School Chorus to New York, New York, February 12-16,
2003
*Maiden High School Winterguard to Nashville, Tennessee, February 21-23,
2003
*Maiden High School DECA to Greensboro, North Carolina, February
27-March 1, 2003
*St. Stephens High School Chorus to Greensboro, North Carolina, February
28-March 1, 2003
Personnel Requests:
*employed classified employees Katherine Abernathy, Darryl Annas, Edie
Connor, Hope Gladden,
Kim Hartgrove, Vickie Martin, Mary Newton, Lorraine Patterson, David
Poe, Brenda Pope, Suzan
Robinson, Charles Rogers, Kathy Seitz, Carolyn Truitt, Jodie Webb,
Pamela Williams, Gretchen
Wilson, Barbara Wrigglesworth and Ann Martha Young;
*granted leave of absence to certified employee Amy Miller;
*accepted the resignations of certified employees Gene
Brooks, John Jarman and Aimee Nelson;
*granted the retirement requests of certified employees Gaye
Deaton and Bo Scott; and
*accepted the resignations of classified employees Teresa
Daniels and Kelly Scott.
The Board was also furnished a listing of substitute teachers.
Board member Bo Scott left the meeting due to the hospitalization of his
wife.
The motion was made by Mrs. Butler and seconded by Mrs. Sherrill to
approve the budget amendment, presented field trips and personnel
requests. The motion carried. Assistant Superintendent Hilton
addressed a question regarding the location of bleachers that was asked
by Mrs. Butler.
The following item of old business was transacted:
OB#1:
Superintendent Hart presented information regarding the Advisory
Council Dinner that will be held on January 27, 2003 at 6:30 p.m.
Recommended locations and costs were presented. Mrs. Butler made the
motion to allow Boxcar Café caterer the dinner with Mr. Biggerstaff
seconding the motion. Before the motion was voted upon, there was
discussion led by Mrs. Blackburn regarding the dinner. After some
discussion among the members, a motion was then made by Mrs. Butler to
allow the Holiday Inn Select caterer the dinner. Mr. Biggerstaff
seconded the motion with no opposition and no further discussion.
The following items of new business were then transacted:
NB#1:
The recommended calendar of meeting dates for the 2003-year was
presented by Superintendent Hart. In addition to the regular meeting
dates, school visits, work sessions as well as public hearing on the
budget were included. She asked for any suggestions or changes to the
recommended calendar. After some discussion regarding the recommended
May meeting being held on Memorial Day and beginning time of meetings,
Mrs. Butler made the motion to adopt the recommended calendar of meeting
dates for the coming year. Mr. Biggerstaff seconded the motion with no
opposition.
NB#2:
Superintendent Hart presented to the Board a list of current
committee/activity representatives. Mr. Sigmon asked for explanation of
the committees/activities. Superintendent Hart addressed the question
by explaining each one. Members were given the opportunity to serve on
the individual committee/activities for the 2002-2003 school year. An
updated list will be given to members.
NB#3:
The 2002 audit report was presented to the Board. Finance Officer Wolfe
informed the Board that the General Statutes requires the audit report
to be adopted prior to December 31st. She then introduced
Roger Bowman and Melanie Starr with Bowman, Pegg & Starr, CPA’s. Mr.
Bowman briefly presented some basic information regarding the different
audit reports allowing time for any questions. Superintendent Hart
suggested to the Board that at the January 2003 Retreat, Mr. Bowman and
Ms. Starr conduct an in-depth presentation of the audit explaining the
new standards. Chairman Wyant thanked Mr. Bowman and Ms. Starr for their
dedicated work with the school system.
NB#4:
The current contract for auditing services with Bowman, Pegg, & Starr,
CPA’s expires in December 2002. Finance Officer Sondra Wolfe recommended
that the contract with this auditing firm be renewed for the year ending
2003. This auditing firm displays outstanding performance with the
school system. Mrs. Blackburn made the motion to renew the contract as
presented with Mrs. Sherrill seconding the motion. There was no
opposition.
NB#5:
Assistant Superintendent Hilton updated the Board of the
renovation/moving progress of the old Ridgeview Property. Staff members
are beginning to move into the building. Information was submitted to
members regarding the consideration of naming the building. One
recommendation received from a staff member was Catawba Commons.
Currently, the building being leased located across the street from the
Administration Office, is named Catawba County Schools’ Annex. These
staff members will move into the old Ridgeview Property once additional
renovations are made. Mrs. Blackburn made the motion to name the old
Ridgeview Property the Catawba County Schools’ Annex. Mrs. Sherrill
seconded the motion. All members were in favor.
NB#6:
The NCSBA reached an agreement with Deloitte Consulting to provide the
school system with an additional three percent of the Medicaid
administrative monies that are currently being received through the
NCSBA/Deloitte MAC Program. To date, the school system has received
$274,299. Finance Officer Sondra Wolfe informed the Board that in order
to continue to receive these additional monies, the Board would need to
approve and execute the Participant District Agreement. Mrs. Blackburn
made the motion to recommend approve and execute the agreement with Mrs.
Butler seconding the motion. There was no opposition.
NB#7:
Assistant Superintendent Hilton presented to the Board for their
consideration an easement for the City of Hickory at Startown Elementary
School. This request was received from the City of Hickory. Assistant
Superintendent and Attorney Terry Taylor are working with the City of
Hickory regarding the easement. There being no questions or discussion,
Mrs. Butler made a motion to accept the proposed easement. Mr.
Biggerstaff seconded the motion with no opposition.
Public Comments:
Attorney Walter Currie conducted the public comments section of the
agenda at which time no person present desired to address the Board.
Upon a motion by Mr. Biggerstaff and seconded by Mrs. Butler, the Board
unanimously went into closed session for the purpose of discussing
information that is privileged, confidential or not a public record
under federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
North Carolina G.S.143-318.11 (a)(1) for student issues.
CLOSED SESSION (Separate minutes for closed session are prepared and
kept confidential.)
The Board returned to open session with a motion by Mrs. Butler,
seconded by Mrs. Sherrill with no opposition.
There being no other items of business to be conducted, Mrs. Butler made
the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Sherrill seconded the motion. All members
were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlie Wyant,
Chairman
Ann Y. Hart, Secretary
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