The Asheboro City Board of Education met
for their regularly-scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 8. Chairman Kyle
Lamb called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Following the Pledge of
Allegiance, led by North Asheboro Middle School student’s Hannah Charles, Erin
Eames, and Dolly Gladden, the board approved the meeting agenda.
Special
Recognitions
The
Asheboro City Board of Education recognized the Flying Pig Food and Spirits as
the November Community Partner Spotlight. For the past five years,
North Asheboro Middle School staff and families have convened at the local eatery
located in downtown Asheboro for a private event in celebration of the
beginning of the school year. Current teacher, Michelle Marsh, coined the
phrase “NAMILY” in 2012. Since that time, students have joined staff members in
expressing their pride in belonging to a school NAMILY. The
annual gathering at the Flying Pig allows a time for the NAMILY to develop and
deepen friendships in a non-structured and social setting.
The FFA program at North Asheboro
Middle School was the recognized board spotlight. Ms. Candace Call, North
Asheboro Middle School principal, and Mr. Matthew Kidd, FFA advisor shared information
about the FFA program that was started at NAMS last school year. The
National FFA Organization seeks to make a
positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for
premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through
agricultural education. Through the FFA, students have the
opportunity to participate in leadership development activities and
competitions.
Following
the FFA presentation, Superintendent Dr. Terry Worrell presented the Principal
of the Year plaque to North Asheboro Middle School principal, Ms. Candace Call.
Ms. Call was selected by her
peers for this honor. During her time at NAMS, the school has met or exceeded
expected growth year after year.
Next, Dr. Worrell shared with the board
that Asheboro City Schools has been named a Top 10 school district by State
Superintendent Mark Johnson for the district’s four-year cohort graduation
rate. “During the 2017-2018 school year we saw our
four-year cohort graduation rate reach an all-time high of 92.7 percent. Not
only are we extremely proud of our high graduation rate, we are also pleased
with all of our schools who met or exceeded growth for the second year in a
row. We believe the continued rise in our graduation rate reflects a deep
commitment on the part of the Asheboro City Board of Education, our quality
educators, phenomenal students, and dedicated families,” said Dr. Worrell.
Dr. Sean McWherter then recognized all five elementary
schools, both middle schools, and Asheboro High School for achieving
outstanding status by the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
initiative. PBIS is funded by the United States Department of Education with a
purpose of improving the effectiveness,
efficiency, and equity of schools and other agencies. PBIS improves social,
emotional and academic outcomes for all students, including students with
disabilities and students from underrepresented groups.
Following PBIS recognitions, Dr.
Worrell shared celebrations regarding academic growth awards. “It gives me
great pleasure to recognize all eight of our schools tonight for meeting or
exceeding expected growth during the 2017-18 school. Our district is one of
only three school districts across the state of North Carolina with this
prestigious honor. To all of our principals, we are so very proud of your work;
please give yourselves a hand!” said Dr. Worrell.
Dr. McWherter then recognized
student-volunteers for the Superintendent’s Service Leadership Award. Asheboro
High School junior, Fatima Perez, was the recipient of the Superintendent’s
Service Leadership Award for volunteering the most hours over the summer at
various Asheboro City Schools summer camps and programs.
Information, Reports, and Recommendations
Following special recognitions, the Asheboro
City Board of Education approved the Consent Agenda and then moved on to
Information, Reports, and Recommendations.
Dr. Drew Maerz, director of Testing and
Accountability, shared six board policies for 30-day review. Then Ms. Courtney
McGowan and Ms. Sarah Beth Robbins presented Comets to Careers, in honor of
Career Development Month. Ms. McGowan and Ms. Robbins work with Asheboro High
School students and various businesses to secure job-shadowing, internship, and
apprenticeship opportunities. Through this program, students have worked with
healthcare providers, local media outlets, and graphic designers to name a few.
Dr. Julie Pack then presented a number
of courses for board consideration to be added to the course catalog for the
2019-2020 school year. Courses for consideration include: Honors Math 1, Honors
Discrete Math, Honors Advanced Functions and Modeling, Interior Design 2, and
Python Programming 1. The board then approved these course additions.
Dr. McWherter and Mr. Chris Tuft,
assistant principal at Balfour Elementary School, then shared a presentation
about Asheboro City Schools’ after-school program which is now offered at each
elementary school in the district. He shared students’ academic outcomes from
last school year thanks to the extended learning time through the after-school
program.
Concluding Information, Reports, and
Recommendations, were brief updates by Mr. Mike Mize, director of Facilities
and Maintenance on the construction project at Asheboro High School and Dr.
Maerz updated the board on the plan for repurposing the trees that were removed
for construction. “We are aware of our community’s connection to the trees at
Asheboro High School,” said Dr. Maerz. “This is why we are planning to
repurpose them to be used in the new addition. We want their legacy to live on
at Asheboro High School,” he added.
Under
Action Items, the Asheboro City Board of Education approved Continuous
Improvement Plans for North and South Asheboro Middle Schools, Asheboro High
School, and the district’s five-star Early Childhood Development Center. Common
themes among all the Continuous Improvement Plans included identifying and
creating focused instruction on student needs, strengthening family engagement
and communication, and continued support of teachers as they collaborate around
student achievement.
- Middle
School Agriculture Day on November 15 at the NC Zoo, Thanksgiving Holiday on
November 22, Hour of Code on December 3 in the AHS Media Center from 5- 7 p.m.,
District Science Fair on December 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at South Asheboro
Middle School, Senior Holiday Lunch on December 12 at Donna Lee Loflin Elementary
School at 12 p.m.
Dr. Worrell concluded the meeting by
providing information to the board about the 2018-2019 Strategic Plan goals and other updates
as follows:
- All
Asheboro City Schools staff completed Resiliency training on November 6 as
part of our ongoing professional development trainings in mental, social,
and emotional health.
- On
Wednesday, the district hosted a regional meeting of instructional leaders
from the Piedmont-Triad at the Asheboro High School Zoo School.
- Dr.
Worrell gave special thanks to all individuals serving on the district’s
advisory councils: Faith-based, Latino, Black, Teacher/Staff, Student,
Business, and PTO/PTA.
- Next
week a team from Asheboro City Schools, along with board chair Kyle Lamb
and board members Gidget Kidd and Gwendolyn Williams, will present at the
North Carolina School Board’s
Association annual conference.
- The
chorus from Asheboro High School will perform at the Piedmont-Triad
Education Consortium’s annual Signature School Breakfast on Friday,
December 14 at the Koury Convention Center. Dr. Worrell has also been
asked to provide words of encouragement at the breakfast.
- In
conclusion, Dr. Worrell thanked board members and staff who volunteered
for Communities in Schools of Randolph County Reality Store.
Chairman
Lamb adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:45 p.m.