On Wednesday, I attended the Virtual Public Information Session for the Board of Education Redistricting (voting districts). On Friday, I visited Apex Elementary and participated in their 3rd Annual African-American Read-In Event. I enjoyed reading to Ms. Bornes' wonderful 5th grade class. Later on Friday, I attended Middle Creek High School's awesome Big Fish Performance. What a fantastic job by the students, volunteers, and director-Ms. Garrett.
This week as a Board, we had two meetings: Policy Committee and Special Called Meeting.
At the Tuesday, February 22nd Policy Committee Meeting:
- Paul Koh, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services, presented Board Policy 4125: Students Experiencing Homelessness (Students in Transition) as a revised policy. Revisions reflect updates made by the North Carolina School Boards Association and by the WCPSS attorney review. This revised policy will be presented for first reading at a future Board Meeting. To review the revised policy, click here.
- Crystal Reardon, Director, School Counseling; presented Board Policy 3610: Counseling Program as a revised policy. Revisions reflect updates made by the North Carolina School Boards Association and WCPSS staff. This revised policy will be presented for first reading at a future Board Meeting. Use this link to read the revised policy.
- Brian Pittman, Senior Director, High School Programs; presented Board Policy 3460: Graduation Requirements as a revised policy. Revisions reflect updates made by staff and the North Carolina School Boards Association. This will be presented at a future Board Meeting for first reading. Click here to review the revised policy.
- Brian Pittman presented Board Policy 3460 R&P: Acceptance of High School Transfer Credit as a revised R&P. It is part of the Policy Migration Project. Board approval is not required for R&P. To read the revised R&P, use this link.
- Mark Winters, Finance Officer, presented Board Policy 6400: Goals of Purchasing Function as a new policy. The policy was created by the NC School Boards Association as part of their Policies to Lead the Schools manual. It is part of the Policy Migration Project. This policy will be presented for first reading at a future Board Meeting. To review the policy, click here.
- Mark Winters presented Board Policy 6400-9401: Ethics and the Purchasing Function as a new policy. The policy was created by the NC School Boards Association as part of their Policies to Lead the Schools manual. It is part of the Policy Migration Project. This policy will be presented for first reading at a future Board Meeting. Use this link to read the policy.
To watch the recording of the Policy Committee, click here.
At the Tuesday, February 22nd Special Called Meeting:
- Chair Mahaffey, Superintendent Moore, and Jonathan Blumberg, WCPSS Attorney; shared updates to the Toolkit, legal issues-pending legislation, CDC order for school buses, and more. The floor was then opened up to the Board. Chair Mahaffey called on Vice Chair Heagarty to speak first. He made a motion to drop the mask requirements immediately for athletes, February 27th for all other extracurriculars, and March 7th for staff, students, and visitors. There was a discussion among the Board Members. Roxie Cash made a motion to amend Heagarty's motion to drop the mask requirements for staff, students, and visitors on February 28th. The amendment did not pass. Roxie and I were the only supporters. I made a motion to amend Heagarty's motion to drop the mask requirement for staff, students, and visitors on March 1st. The amendment motion failed. Roxie and I were, again, the only supporters. I made another motion to amend Heagarty's motion to drop the mask requirement for all extracurriculars immediately. The motion failed 4-4. Vice Chair Heagarty made a motion to amend his motion to drop the mask requirements for the other extracurriculars (Athletes would still have mask requirements dropped immediately.) at 5 pm on February 25th. The amendment motion passed 8-0. The overall motion to drop the mask requirement for all athletes effective immediately, other extracurriculars at 5 pm on February 25th, and for staff, students, and visitors on March 7th passed 7-1. I did ask Superintendent Moore how long staff needed to prepare information to share with families and school staff. I did support lifting mask requirements based on several reasons. One reason was the Toolkit change effective February 21st, which significantly changed quarantine/exclusion and contact tracing requirements.
Next week as a Board we have the following meetings (Please remember these meetings will be streamed live on the WCPSS YouTube Channel.):
- Monday, February 28th at 3 pm- Student Achievement Committee. The items on the agenda are Middle School Arts and Transitioning from Response to Recovery. To view the agenda, click here.
- Tuesday, March 1st at 3 pm- Finance Committee. The items on the agenda are recommendation for Audit Committee membership and Board input on the 2022/23 Operating Budget. Use this link to review the agenda.
- Tuesday, March 1st at 4 pm- Work Session. The items on the agenda are bell schedule recommendations for the 2022-23 school year and the traditional, modified, and year-round instructional calendars for the 2023-24 school year. Click here to view the agenda.
- Tuesday, March 1st at 5:30 pm- Board Meeting.* There are multiple items on the agenda. Some of the items on the agenda are three policies presented for 2nd reading, required redistricting of Board Election Districts following the 2020 Census, and method of election for Board Members. To review the agenda, use this link.
- Thursday, March 3rd at 1:00 pm -Special Called Meeting for District 4 Interviews.
Full audio via phone is available for the Board Meeting. The phone number will be posted at this link the day of the Board Meeting.
If you are interested, you can submit written or video public comments. The forms to submit comments will be live from 5 pm on Friday until noon on Tuesday.
If you are interested in attending the Work Session, Board Meeting, and/or making in-person public comments, please visit this page and scroll down to click on the appropriate form. The forms will go live 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting (on Sunday) and close at 5 pm on Monday.
If you are interested in attending the Student Achievement Committee or Finance Committee Meeting, just report to the Board Room.
Please note that masks are no longer required for the public at Board Meetings.
I will be hosting another D9 Connection Meeting on Monday, February 28th at 7 pm. This is an informal meeting for me to listen to you. If you live in D9, work at a D9 school, or have a student in a D9 school, please join us using this Google Meet Link.
If you have any questions or comments, please email me at kcarter3@wcpss.net.
