Administrative Recommendations
Chief Academic Officer - Superintendent's Office
Dr. Mellotta Hill
Director of Professional Development - Academic Services
Jennifer Lloyd
Approval Given to Teacher Assistant to Teacher Partnership Agreement
In an effort to increase the number of teachers in the classroom, the Board approved CCS partnering with Fayetteville State University (FSU) to recruit teacher assistants who may have a two-year degree or 48 post-secondary credit hours and are interested in attending an Educator Preparation Program. FSU would develop a CCS cohort of teacher assistants who would agree to commit to working for CCS in a teaching capacity in exchange for tuition assistance as part of entry into this program. The Board approved up to $2,000 per year of tuition reimbursement for cohort participants to cover the full cost of tuition and assist with fees. All participants would sign an agreement that would include a three-year service requirement and a repayment clause should the staff member leave the district or fail to complete the program.
Alternative Accountability Models Approved
In a recommendation from the Curriculum Committee, the Board approved the Alternative Accountability Models for the district's alternative schools: Howard Learning Academy,
Alger B. Wilkins High School and Ramsey Street High School.
Proposed Bell Change Schedule for Two Schools Embraced
In alignment with the Cumberland Commitment and Strategic Plan 2024 to ensure every student will have equitable access to engaging learning, the Board approved bell schedule changes for Howard Learning Academy and Ramsey Street High School for the 2023-2024 school year. Both schools' new start and end times will be 7:30 a.m. - 2:40 p.m., which means that the students will have a shorter ride-time because of an increase in bus routes.
District-wide Proclamations Get Board Support
Members of the Board approved the following proclamations: 2023 Read Across America Day (March 2), 2023 National School Social Work Week (March 6-10) and 2023 Child Abuse Prevention Month (April 1-30).
Board Approves Five Revised Policies (2nd Reading)
The following revised policies were approved by the Board:
- 4110 Immunization and Health Requirements for School Admission
- 4260 Student Sex Offenders
- 6220 Operation of School Nutrition Services
- 7241 Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators
- 8350 Fixed Assets Inventory
Bids Awards Get 'Thumbs Up' from Board
Grant for Mental Health Professionals Ok'd
The Board approved CCS partnering with FSU, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNC-P), and RTI International to propose an innovative program through a grant to address shortages in school-based mental health care in Cumberland County. CCS will work with FSU and UNC-P's Department of Social Work and the Department of Professional School Counseling to expand the capacity of the district. RTI will support CCS' grant under the US Department of Education Officer of Elementary and Secondary Education Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program to provide training and technical assistance to build the infrastructure to support system-wide improvement. Also, school mental health researchers at RTI will serve as evaluators for the project and provide feedback about the implementation of CCS' School Based Mental Health (SBMH) model and the pipeline of future providers from FSU and UNC-P to CCS and high-need schools in Cumberland County.
Project Success Remediation, Testing Get 'the Green Light'
The NC State Board of Education did not approve EOC or EOG retests in North Carolina; however, they did approve schools offering a Project Success session with the administration of EOC or EOG tests at the end of the session. The CCBOE voted to offer the following Project Success sessions to CCS students: Math (Grades 3-8), Math 1, Math 3, Science (Grades 5 and 8), Biology, Reading (Grades 4-8), and English II. All Project Success tests are required to be administered online. Remediation sessions will begin as soon as the students' scores are returned from testing.
Board Approves Bid Awards for Food Services Equipment and Security Surveillance System
After the Auxiliary Services Committee's recommendation, a bid award was granted for various large kitchen equipment (via ESSER Funds) and Holmes Security Systems for 2023 closed-circuit television surveillance system upgrades.
Extension for Large Kitchen Equipment Repair Services
Contracts Approved
Members of the Board approved the following one-year extension for large kitchen equipment repair services contracts:
Refrigeration Equipment -- Elite Air Solutions, Inc., and
Hot-cooking Equipment -- RDK Equipment.
The Board Approved Purchasing ClearTouch Panels,
Family & Community Engagement Bus
As recommended by the Finance Committee, approval of the 2022-2023 NextWave TEK, LLC, Convenience contract to purchase approximately 250 ClearTouch 65" interactive displays for classrooms to include onsite training and 12 hours of remote training by a Clear Touch certified trainer.
As recommended by the Auxiliary Services Committee, approval was given by the Board to purchase a white activity bus that will be used to help engage CCS families and the community at-large on ways to help educate students throughout Cumberland County. The bus, which is ESSER-funded, will be a key component to promote educational equity and encourage family engagement through various events and community tours.
Recognitions
Recognition of Ex-Officio Members
Student government representatives Sarah Black from Cape Fear High School and Kyla Small from Pine Forest High School served as the ex-officio members of the Cumberland County Board of Education during the March 14 meeting. Ex-officio members are given the opportunity to make comments, ask questions, and give input on any topic brought before the Board.
Recognition of Exceptional Children's Representative
Also, this month's Exceptional Children's Representative Leana McMillan, a fifth grader from Mary McArthur Elementary School, addressed the Board using sign language. She shared information about her school activities and interests. Leana's interpreter was Katelyn Scott, who is the lead interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the district.
Dr. Lindsay Whitley, the associate superintendent of Communications and Community Engagement, introduced the following honorees to the Board to be recognized:
CCS' 2023 School Counselor of the Year
Last month during National School Counseling Week, CCS took time to honor and acknowledge the challenging work that our 161 school counselors do for the district each and every day. At that time, Shacarra Taylor from Cliffdale Elementary School was announced as our 2023 School Counselor of the Year. This hard-working school counselor was nominated by her school administration and then, selected by her peers for the honor. In the nomination statement from her former principal, Suzanne Owen, she shared that Taylor is always busy attending individual, small group, staff or professional development sessions, serving as a mentor to new school counselors, and disaggregating behavior, academic and SEL data. She wrote: “Ms. Taylor is a change agent and she uses all of the resources she has in order to make necessary changes for our school family. She is constantly advocating for our children, their families and her profession.”
Extra Mile Award Recipient for February
Larry Moye, a custodian at the Educational Resource Center (ERC), was recognized as February's Extra Mile Award recipient. Moye is described by his co-workers as "a kind, ever-humble man who is loved by everyone who knows him and is an excellent model of 'going the extra mile!'" Through multiple nominations, it was shared that he can often be seen at ERC walking women safely to their cars after dark and carrying their items without hesitation. He has even been called 'the legendary tire changer,' always ready to help when someone has a flat tire in the parking lot. Since the ongoing renovations to the Central Services building, ERC has become the venue that hosts many of the district's leadership team meetings, conferences, School Board meetings and award/recognition ceremonies. CCS' Custodial Services Coordinator Mario Caesar wrote: "Mr. Moye has demonstrated superb collaboration with various department personnel to ensure the meeting rooms are cleaned/sanitized and look great when guests arrive. He has even volunteered to work additional hours to set up and break down tables, chairs, and other equipment needed to conduct a successful event." Moye's co-workers agree that he goes 'above and beyond' his daily duties and always does so with a warm smile and a willing heart.
Committed Community Support Award Recipients for January and February
Stefanie Boyea, the PTA President at District 7 Elementary School, was recognized as January's Committed Community Support Award recipient. She was acknowledged for her selfless service to the school and community. Through the years, she has planned and coordinated many activities for the students of three surrounding communities (Godwin, Falcon and Wade). Boyea supports parents of non-English speaking students, coordinates activities for school projects like book fairs, school dances, fundraisers for student programs, etc. She can always be seen encouraging others to volunteer their time and service to the district as well. Many agree that Boyea's attention to detail supports the community within the district and contributes immensely to the school's learning environment.
Lindsey Awad, a volunteer at Manna Church, and the church received February's Committed Community Support Award for selflessly supporting the school system and helping local students succeed in life. CCS' Exceptional Children (EC) department partners with Manna Church as a job site in the Church’s DreamCenter where EC students in the Occupational Course of Study (OCS) visit weekly to learn job skills. In December, Awad also worked closely with EC Community-Based Specialist Krystyna Stern to coordinate a holiday adoption of nearly 30 students in need. They also delivered food bags to OCS students at Ramsey Street High School and provided supplies, clothing, toiletries, etc., to students in need throughout the district.
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