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May 9, 2005
The Catawba County Board of Education met on May 9, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at Bunker Hill High School to conduct the third of four Community Redistricting Meetings with Chairman Charlie Wyant presiding. The following members were present: Mr. Hilton, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Spencer, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Butler and Mr. Sigmon. Also in attendance were Assistant Superintendents Pat Hensley and Rick Sherrill, Attorney Crystal Davis, Public Information/Grants Writer Beverly Lampe, TIMS Specialist Bonnie Cash, Director of Media Services Judith Ray, Bunker Hill High School Principal Jerry Griffin, Maiden High School Assistant Principal Frank Morehead and Oxford Elementary School Principal Robin Honeycutt.
John Mayhew represented the Observer News Enterprise.
The meeting opened with a Moment of Silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mr. Sigmon. Upon a motion made by Mr. Hilton and seconded by Mrs. Blackburn, the agenda was unanimously approved.
Chairman Wyant welcomed everyone in attendance. He emphasized that the redistricting plan that Assistant Superintendent Sherrill would be presenting is only a DRAFT. Speaking on behalf of the other Board members, Chairman Wyant stated that the redistricting plan is one of the most difficult, challenging tasks that the Board would have to take action on. Assistant Superintendent Sherrill then presented a power point presentation of the DRAFT Redistricting Plan to those in attendance. He thanked the staff of Bunker Hill High School and the community for their support and involvement. Assistant Superintendent Sherrill’s’ presentation began with background information. In August 2006, the new Maiden High School will open, the current Maiden
High School will become Maiden Middle School and the current Tuttle Middle School will become Tuttle Elementary School. In August 2007, the new Catawba Area Elementary School will open. Administration feels that the DRAFT redistricting plan will allow an excellent opportunity to address overcrowding throughout the district. The purpose of the community meetings will be to brief communities on the plan and to seek community input. Objectives in redistricting include: utilize new/renovated schools to reduce overcrowding; uniformly spread enrollment based on schools’ capacity across the system; students’ school assignment in close proximity of residence; “grandfather” juniors and seniors (choice to remain at current school); accomplish uniformity in school structure (all schools K-6, 7-8, 9-12 and closure of Catawba Intermediate School); and
eliminate student assignments across district lines. Assistant Superintendent Sherrill informed those in attendance the considerations taken when developing the DRAFT redistricting plan. Those considerations include: current enrollments, current building capacities, Long Range Plan (future additions and capacities) and projected enrollments based on Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) Growth Model. After receiving community input from the four meetings, the Board will assess the input along with the Growth Model and how redistricting will align with the Long Range Plan. Assistant Superintendent Sherrill presented data for the Bunker Hill High School District. The data included: 2004 school enrollment, school capacity, capacity at 110%, number of mobile units at the schools, and 2006-07 projected enrollment. If the DRAFT redistricting plan is implemented, all schools in the Bunker Hill School District will have the same grade structure and will be under
capacity except for Bunker Hill High School. Lastly, Assistant Superintendent Sherrill explained the school boundaries (current and new) which included: Bunker Hill High/River Bend Middle – will lose area south of Hwy. 70 and lose small area in east Claremont; Claremont Elementary School – will lose small area in east Claremont; and Oxford Elementary School – will lose small area south of Hwy. 70. Assistant Superintendent stressed that the school system’s goal is to do what is best to provide quality education to students, provide quality facilities and to assess the communities’ input.
Public Comments:
Attorney Crystal Davis conducted the Public Comments section of the agenda. She asked those who wished to address members to identify themselves, inform members of the area in which they live and whether they have a child (any children) who attends school. Attorney Davis also stated that comments should be limited to three minutes.
Mr. Joe Faldowski was the first person who wished to address members. Mr. Faldowski, a parent from the Balls Creek District that addressed members at a previous meeting, once again stressed his major concern of longer bus routes. He asked members to consider an amendment to the current transfer policy. After comments from Mr. Faldowski, the floor was then opened for any other persons with questions or comments for the members. Others addressing members with comments were: Mr. Dale Sherrill, Mr. James Finger, Ms. Cindy Lisk, Mr. Joe Johnson, Ms. Becky Secrest, Ms. Julie Jones, Mr. Charles Conner III, Mr. Doug Phillips, Mr. Ryan Gibson, Ms. Jennifer Barr, Ms. Edie Connor and Mr. Cain Beard. Comments and concerns from those persons ranged from tradition, peer pressure, athletics, special treatment of
certain students, staffing, longer bus routes, academics, the continuation of student transfer process, allowing students to remain at current school until graduation or “grading out” and facility improvements at Bunker Hill High School. The main emphasis and concerns from person addressing members were facility improvements at Bunker Hill High School. Members and administration addressed the comments and concerns from the community. A parent also requested that the Board look at including the entire Brookfield Development in the Clyde Campbell Elementary School District.
Attorney Davis then opened the floor for any questions from the persons in attendance. Addressing members with questions were: Mr. Dale Sherrill, Mr. James Finger, Mr. Mark Bumgarner, Mr. Charles Connor III, Ms. Edie Connor, Mr. Cain Bear, Mr. Doug Phillips, Mr. Dara Mann, Ms. Regina Gibson, Ms. Cindy Lisk, Mr. John Jones, Mr. Derek Holson, Ms. Lesa Dellinger and Ms. Becky Phillips. The majority of the questions for the members addressed the facility needs and improvements at Bunker Hill High School and funding issues.
There being no other persons who wished to address the Board, Attorney Davis closed the Public Comments. Bunker Hill High School Principal Jerry Griffin thanked the Board for their support. He commented that the proposed redistricting plan was the single largest issue in his eleven years of employment. Principal Griffin also commented that the community is very spirited about Bunker Hill High School and the community has come together with lots of energy. Chairman Wyant thanked everyone for the positive meeting and their input and comments. He reiterated that the interest of the Board of Education is to do what is best for all students. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
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Charlie
Wyant, Chairman
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Ann Y.
Hart, Secretary
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