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November 17,
2003
The Catawba County Board of Education met in regular session on November
17, 2003, at noon at Oxford Elementary School with Chairman Charlie
Wyant presiding. The following members were present: Mr. Biggerstaff,
Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Sherrill, Mrs. Butler and Mr. Sigmon. Also in
attendance were Superintendent Ann Hart, Assistant Superintendents Pat
Hensley, Rick Sherrill and Nancy Yount, Attorney Crystal Davis, Finance
Director Sondra Wolfe, Chief Technology Officer Terry Bledsoe, Public
Information Officer/Grant Writer Sonya Gordon, Attorney Crystal Davis,
Student Services Director Paul Holden, School Psychologists Becky
Anthony, Dean King, Ben DeWolf and Sean Buchanan and Principal Jerry
Griffin. Mr. Scott was not present for the meeting.
Principal Jerry Griffin welcomed everyone in attendance. He accompanied
the group to the school’s cafeteria where lunch was provided. Principal
Griffin then conducted a school tour for members.
Upon completion of the tour and lunch, the meeting was held in the
school’s media center. The meeting was called to order. Chairman Wyant
thanked Principal Griffin for lunch and the informative school tour.
Those in attendance then observed a Moment of Silence followed by the
Pledge of Allegiance which was led by Mr. Sigmon. Superintendent Hart
made an amendment to add seven additional field trip requests to the
Consent Agenda. Mrs. Sherrill made the motion to approve the agenda as
presented including the amendment made by Superintendent Hart. Mrs.
Butler seconded the motion with no opposition.
Public Hearing:
Attorney Davis 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’s Report:
Superintendent Hart began her report by announcing that November 16-22
marked the country’s 82nd celebration of American Education
Week. The National Education Association’s theme this year was “Great
Public Schools for Every Child – American’s Promise,” which reflects the
commitment made by all educators to closing the gap and helping all
students succeed under the No Child Left Behind law.
Superintendent Hart thanked all teachers and principals in our district
for the dedication and hard work they give to students every day. She
also thanked all staff who support the education of our children in
other ways – the bus drivers, teacher assistants, custodians, mechanics,
maintenance workers and office professionals that keep “things running”
behind the scenes.
Other items of update included:
Susan Sigler of Clyde Campbell Elementary School accepted the award for
state Elementary Counselor of the Year at last week’s North Carolina
School Counselors Association meeting. Ms. Sigler represented the
school district and now moves on to the national competition. At Clyde
Campbell Elementary School, she has instituted a No Bullying Program,
expanded Character Education curriculum, served as the Battle of the
Books team advisor and coordinated the school’s Career Day. Our
district is extremely proud of Ms. Sigler and the wonderful example she
sets for all school counselors statewide.
The kick-off of Operation ANNA MAC at Bandys High School was a great
success. Hundreds of teens from the Bandys community received
inspirational messages, anti-drinking and driving lessons, stickers and
key chains with the Operation’s name and phone number on them. The
acronym, created in honor of Anna McCaslin, stands for Another Night
Alive Make A Call. The program provides anonymous, non-judgmental and
safe rides home for students from the community who drinks too much to
drive or are riding with a driver under the influence. All the student
would have to do is call 381-ANNA (2662).
The Community for Drug-Free Youth will hold a drug-free forum for area
parents from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, 2003 at
CVCC in the multi-purpose building. The free event, which includes
separate areas for Hmong and Hispanic parents needing translators, will
educate parents and community members about drug and alcohol use among
area youth. Speakers, from counseling experts to law enforcement
agents, will discuss types of drugs, who is dealing drugs, what are the
signs of drug use, what services are available to those addicted to
drugs and more. In addition, two youth serving time for crimes related
to drug use will give testimonials. This is an effort organized
initially by St. Stephens High School and Hickory High School with
churches, parent groups, the school districts and agencies.
The College Foundation of North Carolina will present information on the
financial aid process to high school students preparing for college on
November 20, 2003 beginning at 6:00 p.m. This event will be held in
the CVCC auditorium and is free for students and parents.
The Health Occupational Students of American Club and the Allied Health
class at St. Stephens High School will be offering the public free
haircuts on November 29, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the
Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Health First Center located in Valley
Hills Mall. Those getting free haircuts will be asked to donate their
hair for the national non-profit Locks of Love Program. Locks of Love
is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially
disadvantaged children across the United States who are under the age of
18 and suffer from long-term, medical hair loss. Licensed hairdressers
have donated their time to be on-site and provide the haircuts.
Four Catawba County Schools’ principals were recently surprised when
Bill Shell, the owner of the Shell Brothers Distributors, Inc., an Exxon
retailer, presented them each with a $500 check from the Exxon Mobil
Educational Alliance. The Alliance gave the grants to Balls Creek
Elementary School, Clyde Campbell Elementary School, Oxford Elementary
School and Maiden High School for special projects. Oxford Elementary
School will be using the money to purchase library books for students,
while Maiden High School will utilize the money to help sponsor the
Devil Pride Program.
Included in members’ folders were copies of the revised Board of
Education Policies’ Administrative Procedures 3.7500, 3.7700, 7.3500 and
4.2320 for their policy manuals.
On November 24, 2003, the Chamber will be hosting a presentation of the
Future for Kids software for local business leaders. This presentation
will allow those in attendance an opportunity to view the program. The
presentations will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Any board members wanting to attend one of the presentations should
notify Superintendent Hart. The Future for Kids software will be
implemented in the Catawba County Schools’ high schools.
Governor Easley proclaimed November 10-14, 2003 as School Psychology
Week. Superintendent Hart read the Governor’s Proclamation. Student
Services Director Paul Holden recognized lead psychologist Becky Anthony
who then introduced the other three psychologists that were in
attendance. Ms. Anthony also recognized Julie Anderson, another
psychologist in the schools, who was not in attendance at the meeting.
Mr. Holden informed the Board that as of January 2, 2004, the school
psychologists will be a part of the Student Services division instead of
the Exceptional Children’s division. Superintendent Hart thanked the
school psychologists for their outstanding work and for what they do on
a daily basis for the staff and students of the Catawba County Schools.
Superintendent Hart updated the Board on the medical condition of Carol
Scott, wife of school board member Bo Scott. She also informed the
Board of a “lockdown” at Banoak Elementary School which happened prior
to the meeting. A domestic situation occurred near the school which
involved a student from the school. Administration along with the
Sheriff’s Department handled the situation appropriately.
Superintendent Hart commended everyone involved.
The following Consent Agenda items were transacted:
Budget Amendments:
Finance Officer Sondra Wolfe presented two budget amendments for the
Board’s consideration budgeting additional funds allocated by the State
Public School Fund and the Federal Grants Fund. A copy of these
amendments may be found between pages ___ and ___ and become an official
part of these minutes.
Personnel Requests:
*employed certified employees Cheryl Guthrie and Courtney Smith;
*employed classified employees Marsha Harris, Sandra Miller, Susan
Setzer and Paul Yang;
*employed non-staff coaches Shellie Scronce and Angela Sherrill;
*granted the retirement requests of certified employees Paulette
Bolliger, Michael Lawing and Levonde Walker; and
*accepted the resignations of classified employees Delvin Fox and Marta
Strong.
The Board was also furnished a listing of substitute teachers.
Field Trip Requests:
*Arndt Middle School Honors Chorus to Winston-Salem, North Carolina,
November 8-9, 2003
*Bunker Hill High School Livestock Judging Team to Raleigh, North
Carolina, November 24-25, 2003
*Fred T. Foard High School Wrestling Team to Fort Mill, South Carolina,
December 6, 2003
*Tuttle Middle School Cheerleaders to Atlanta, Georgia, January 16-18,
2004
*Tuttle Middle School Cheerleaders to Chapel Hill, North Carolina,
February 6-7, 2004
*Maiden High School DECA to Greensboro, North Carolina, February 26-28,
2004
*St. Stephens High School Academic Team to Wilmington, North Carolina,
February 27-29, 2004
*Maiden High School Winterguard to Jacksonville, Florida, March 19-21,
2004
*Arndt Middle School 8th Grade Art Classes to New York, New
York, April 12-15, 2004
*Maiden High School DECA to Nashville, Tennessee, May 1-4, 2004
There being no questions or discussion, a motion was made by Mrs. Butler
and seconded by Mrs. Sherrill to approve the presented budget
amendments, field trips and personnel requests. The motion carried.
The following item of Old Business was transacted:
OB#1:
Superintendent Hart presented to members dates for the Catawba County
Advisory Council Dinner and the district-wide ABC Celebration. The
presented dates were: Advisory Council Dinner - January 26, 2004 and
the ABC Celebration – February 10, 2004. Both events will be held at
the Holiday Inn Select in Hickory. There being no discussion regarding
either event, Mrs. Sherrill made the motion to approve the presented
dates. Mr. Sigmon seconded the motion with no opposition.
Public Comments:
Attorney Davis conducted the Public Comments section of the agenda at
which time no one present desired to address the Board.
Superintendent Hart reminded the Board of the meeting on Monday,
November 24, 2003 with the County Manager and County Commission Chair.
Board members involved in this meeting will include Chairman Wyant, Mrs.
Butler and Mr. Sigmon along with Superintendent Hart and Assistant
Superintendent Sherrill. The two items of discussion will include the
adopted Long Range Facility Plan and the selling of the old St. Stephens
Elementary School property.
There being no other items of business to be conducted, Mrs. Sherrill
made the motion to adjourn with Mrs. Butler seconding the motion. All
members were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 1:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlie C. Wyant, Chairman
Ann
Y. Hart, Secretary
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