Debra Bair

The meeting commenced with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was approved following a motion and second. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to saluting high-achieving members of the South Brunswick High School men's and women's swim teams for winning the 5A state championship titles, including recognizing the student athletes and coaches. A presentation was given on strategic initiatives aimed at recruiting and retaining highly qualified staff, focusing on scholarship programs such as the Brunswick Built Teacher Scholarship, the Teacher Assistant-to-Teacher Scholarship, and the Rise Scholarship for special education teachers. A major discussion point involved substantial changes to the funding and procedures of the East Carolina University Principal Fellows program, specifically the elimination of salary reimbursement, which significantly increased the district's potential cost. The presenter proposed creating an in-house administrative fellowship program, mirroring the structure of the former Principal Fellows program but with a lower financial commitment for the district, providing award money and stipends for summer internship hours. The Board ultimately voted to approve the proposed changes to the in-house administrative fellowship program as presented.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and updates regarding meeting materials availability. A presentation was conducted by NC Peak Education regarding the district's strategic plan progress, focusing on student success metrics, including foundational structures, quality instruction alignment, and curriculum support. Significant progress was noted in career and technical education participation and credential attainment, with recommendations to modify existing goals. Updates on student services indicated the graduation rate reached a ten-year high. Limited progress was observed regarding threat assessments and reportable offenses, with explanations provided on the thorough nature of the threat assessment process, emphasizing that the goal is to reduce the number of students needing assessments through support. Following this, the agenda was reordered to allow Sawyer Sherwood Associates Architecture to present schematic designs for the new Brunswick County elementary school. The presentation covered completed design guidelines, master planning efforts for Jacobs Creek Elementary School, and coordination with operations and the construction manager at risk. Next steps involve receiving cost estimates and geotechnical information, with a projected notice to proceed with design development scheduled for the March board meeting. The construction schedule was updated, aiming for facility completion in October 2028 and student readiness by January 2029. Site updates confirmed the parcel boundary modifications and that the site has been cleared by the developer.

The meeting commenced with a moment of silence and a presentation of colors by the West Brunswick High School JROTC. Key discussions included the addition of an action item concerning an amendment to a previously approved contract. The board was informed that the Strategic Plan Monitoring Report presentation was rescheduled. The consent agenda was approved, followed by action items. These included approving a facility use agreement for summer baseball leagues at West Brunswick and North Brunswick High Schools, which involved an amendment to specify that teams are solely responsible for field lining, resulting in a lower overall cost. Additionally, the board approved Barnhill Construction as the construction manager for the new elementary school project utilizing the Seymore method, authorizing a payment of $491,284 for pre-construction services. The board also approved a second amendment to a school site contract to extend the due diligence period by 120 days. The Superintendent recognized the operations and custodial teams for their diligent work during recent snow days, noting specific praise for head custodians cleaning sidewalks.

The meeting focused on updates regarding two "Growing Our Own Brunswick" talent development programs, specifically the Teachers Exploring Administration (TEA) program (with nine participants) and the Aspiring Principals program (with eight participants). The discussion included feedback on the TEA program, which aims to create a succession plan for assistant principals, highlighting appreciation for direct interaction with district leaders and clarification of leadership expectations. The Aspiring Principals program feedback emphasized the value of hands-on scenarios, real-world application, and site visits across different school levels. Additionally, there was a presentation regarding the Brunswick Virtual Academy (BVA), an online program utilizing Edmentum software primarily for dropout prevention and students with extenuating circumstances. The presenters introduced external experts from Edmentum to address specific software questions and discussed staff supporting the BVA.

The meeting agenda included approval of the regular meeting agenda and a public address section adhering to three-minute time limits, where a speaker raised concerns about students not receiving the recommended 20 minutes of seated meal time due to logistical delays, impacting student health and academic focus. The board recognized several student and staff achievements, including winners of the BCS Superintendent's winner card contest across elementary, middle, and high school divisions, and honored Lindsay Fowler as the outstanding secondary mathematics teacher of the year. Additionally, recognition was given to teachers who exceeded expected growth on EVOS, and specific schools (Town Creek Elementary, Union Elementary, Belleville, and North Brunswick High School) were commended for achieving overall growth or for their professional response during an unexpected Friday afternoon shelter-in-place situation.