Wynn Whittington

The board meeting covered several key items, including a departmental update highlighting a partnership for the DARE program, student athletic and academic achievements, and the district's high ranking in a teacher working condition survey. Discussion took place regarding upcoming testing, and the board approved an out-of-state field trip request for HOSA students, a lottery funds request for school bathroom renovations, a policy update regarding board member compensation, and a budget modification to include an additional transportation allocation.

The board meeting focused on several key administrative and financial topics. Discussions included revisions to policies regarding video and audio recording by students and employees, the adoption of a 2026-2027 school board meeting schedule, and the approval of modifications to compensation and overtime policies to favor the use of comp time over accrued vacation leave. The board also reviewed and approved adjustments to the school fee schedule, budget amendment number six, and the planning budget for fiscal year 2027. Additionally, the board received updates on various educational programs, student achievements, and the status of capital funding.

Key discussions during the meeting included the recognition of a volunteer from the North Carolina Corporative Extension for dedication and service on the business advisory council for 13 years. Department updates highlighted obtaining an NC SIP grant for teacher professional development focused on math and elementary education, and updates on student leadership days. The Superintendent's update covered school events, recognition of a student selected as a governor's page, and upcoming community events such as the celebration of American 250 and an NC film production schedule. Action items addressed the renewal approval for HMH textbooks for the 2026-2027 school year, the nomination of a board member for the legislative committee, approval of budget amendment number five which included increased allocations for CTE programs and summer reading camps, approval of the annual audit contract for fiscal year 2026, and approval of a new retainer agreement for local counsel regarding national social media litigation after the previous counsel's passing, noting the denial of the defendants' motion for summary judgment.

The meeting began with the election of board officers, resulting in Mr. Sham Brown being elected as the chairman and Miss Steel as the vice chair. A discussion item focused on the YMCA after-school care program, presented by Charlie Myers, detailing its implementation in Jones County starting at two schools (Trenton and Mazeville) and noting the sliding scale fee structure based on income. The board also held a first reading of a new fire condition policy, created to simplify compliance with state fire codes, OSHA, and local regulations regarding fire safety, including stipulations for storage, classroom coverage, and space heaters. Department updates highlighted the maintenance department head's retirement after 13 years of service, school sites obtaining over $22,000 in Bright Ideas grants, revolutionary history lessons presented to elementary students, and positive feedback from the North Carolina Teacher of the Year who toured Trenton Elementary. Upcoming events included vision screenings by the Lions Club, NC Symphony Quartet performances, and the start of fall EOCC testing, with the first semester ending soon. Discussion also occurred regarding the PLS updates, specifically a policy change related to shielding personal information about members and volunteers from nonprofit organizations, in compliance with new legislation.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the adoption of the board agenda after removing action items B and C. Key discussions included celebrating School Board Appreciation Month and congratulating the board on back-to-back Gold Bell awards. Teacher attendance recognition was conducted, with Comfort Elementary receiving the traveling trophy for the highest attendance rate during the second quarter. Department updates highlighted efforts by student services staff to provide Christmas gifts to students through collaborations with over 20 organizations. The Superintendent's highlights for December noted that teacher attendance reached the highest rate since monitoring began in 2023. Recognition was given to a teacher traveling to Botswana and Zambia for an educational initiative. Appreciation was extended to the JC Jones County Lions Club for providing vision screenings and to Jones County Ford for donating over 150 toys to Trenton Elementary students. Looking ahead, plans for benchmark assessments and the observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday were noted. Action items were finalized by striking the Fire Prevention Policy as it would be addressed via school procedure rather than a policy reading. The board concluded with a brief closed session.