001This meeting now comes to order. Uh it is now uh 6 p.m. and it's uh Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Uh welcome everybody. Um can I please have uh Miss Captain Blue give us the invocation. >> Let us file his. Father, we thank you for this day. We ask that you Lord God look over us in this meeting on today. Bless everyone here. Bless the students. Lord, bless the teachers. Bless this county. Bless this district. Lord, let us be what you call for us to be. Lord, we ask right now that you just be in this meeting and have your divine way. We give you the praise, the honor, and the glory just for allowing us to be here. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> I get a motion to approve the agenda.
002I'm going to complete the agenda for um >> March the 10th 26. >> Those in favor? >> Those against? >> Okay. Passes. Uh now at this time, I'm going to go ahead and do uh my report. Um I'm delighted to uh announce a um a few things. Uh, first I would like to start out with the uh chair's pick. Is the lady here? Okay. I'm just going to go ahead and read it so I can stay in script because if not, you know, I'm retired. You just me and I can speak all day if people let me. That's why Angel's got to keep me on track. >> All right. Uh, good. Uh, good good evening. Uh, it uh brings me great pleasure to announce this month's cherished pick award recipient. This award recognizes an exceptional
003teacher who demonstrates dedication, professionalism, and excellence in instruction while making a lasting impact on students and the school community. This month, I received 16 nominations and using the Rubik based scoring system, the selected teacher earned an impressive 67 out of 76 possible points. The March 2026 Chair's Pick award goes to Miss Tendelle Picker, a seventh grade English language arts teacher at East Hulk Middle School. Dr. Rich share that it is a great honor to have Miss Pickard on the uh Eagles team. >> If you can come back around this way, >> she gets a certificate basically saying what I just said and also she gets a $250 uh check and she can spend it at however she wants to. Yeah. >> Okay. Uh some of the other stuff that uh we would like to talk
004talk about uh is um obviously uh I would be remiss if I didn't say uh thank you to the county commissioners uh for approving the amendment uh regarding the uh high school uh residence project. Uh the other some of the other uh things that I need to share is u uh this is related to the um policies uh committee. Right now our members are the chair is Katherine uh Miss Captain Blue uh Miss uh Jessica Brown and Miss uh Angela Selman. Okay. We've been doing a lot of back u back door uh in room open door uh whatever you want to call it trying to figure out how to uh take control of the discipline and behavior uh issue that uh uh we're currently having. So on the uh 23rd of April um of course
005it's going to take all of us uh at a minimum obviously the four members that are in the uh policy committee uh will be required to attend uh 23rd of April uh is when we're going to have a basically it'll be the special call meeting. However, there's going to be a lot of people involved in this. So, um at the uh superintendent is going to spearhead that. Uh we're going to be coordinating with the uh sheriff's office for PD. Uh it'll be teachers, a teacher or staff member from each uh the schools and anybody uh obviously the parents also and anybody else at the superintendent uh seats bid to assist to move this uh forward. The goal of this uh uh meeting is to uh try to come with uh some type of resolution or
006implement new procedures for the discipline issues that uh we're having and the goal is to uh hopefully uh have them uh effective in the new uh school year. So I know that it's a lot and uh quite frankly I appreciate all the support, all the um um personal time that we actually spend. Uh what people don't understand is that uh we normally uh review 20 policies at a time and that's on personal time. Uh and that's what we decided to do. That's what Katherine Blue decided to do. Angela uh Sutherland and now uh uh Jessica Brown had joined the committee. And so that just goes to show that this board is uh extremely active and trying to make uh uh this district uh move uh uh to a new uh better location with the uh
007our CEO. Um, so, um, the, uh, superintendent would let us know, uh, uh, tentatively right now it's going to be somewhere between, uh, 400 p.m. and 6 p.m. Uh, we we don't, uh, really don't know that yet, but that's going to be, uh, um, the superintendent. He'll let us know what will be the best time for this. Again, this is going to be on the 20 um 3rd of April. It involves, okay, I did not realize when we took on the test, it involves 20 policies. Uh, you're going to get those policies today. Uh, in addition to that, you're going to get the 20 policies for the next April policy committee. So, we have a lot of work to do. If uh I would say uh uh chair policy committee uh Miss uh Blue, if
008you think it's going to be too much, we can always postpone the regular policy uh committee 20 uh um policies that we're going to have to review. If it's too much, this is all on our personal time that we're reviewing this. So if it's too much, please let us know in advance and that way we can make that decision uh to push the uh regular uh policy committee uh uh which is next month also. So we we got we got a lot going on and so I just want to say also we also thank the uh staff uh and Dr. uh uh spells. The team is extremely committed uh to ensure that our policies along with u uh any discipline and behavior issues that we have uh we need to you know fix everything uh
009and just take us to a better location. Okay. Um and that's all I have. Uh any uh board members would anybody like to say any any events you all participated to that you would like to highlight? >> No. I had the privilege of going to West Elementary School and read to prek read across America week and it was very interesting. Then um I made my way to Sandy Grove um elementary and read to the kids. So, it was just good being back in the classroom. >> Yes, >> that's fantastic. Anybody else? >> Um, I would like to say congratulations to Miss Picker and I'm the first one to receive an award from Chairman Ruben. I think that's a great thing to honor our teachers. That's one of the things that we ran on, you know,
010while who's out there campaign. So, congratulations. And I also want to say um on last night at our um at our whole county league meeting, we was honoring um the women that was um that was on this board. So uh Rosa, myself, uh Katherine was there, past board member, Kesha, and we was honoring like the first um black African-American woman that was um that was on the board. So I thought that was exciting. And I think that's the mag. >> Anybody else? No. Okay. All right. The next item is the uh superintendent report. And the first item uh is uh spotlight on success. All right. We'll do the superintendent report first. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. >> Got a lot of great things I want to talk about tonight. The first thing I want
011to make sure that everybody's informed and everybody know that we have made Upurch a community school. And how that came about, we had a visit at the superintendence meeting from the North Carolina North Carolina um community school alliance. They came to our meeting and they wanted to put at least one community school in each district. So the Sand Hills region has become a community school region and we're a community school district for Hope County. This is going to serve as a model for expanding the community schools approach focusing on family engagement, integrated student support, collaborative leadership, and community partnerships. And the great thing about it, we're hitting the ground running. There's going to be a um ribbon cutting on March 18th at 4:00 at Upurch and also we have a community schools facilitator that's paid
012for by the North Carolina Alliance. Um I gave this project to AJ Heavens, my assistant superintendent who's done an excellent job with it and going to the meeting. But I also wanted you to meet tonight our community schools facilitator. Her name is >> Cassie Hardula. >> She's hit the ground running doing a lot of great things. Like I said, the U ribbon cutting is going to be 4:00 on March 18th and we'll she'll definitely have a report for us coming up on the things that she's planning. I've heard a lot of great things. Anything else? Yes. Um, definitely she's hit the ground running. She has a lot of great ideas, not just for Up Church, but for the entire community. >> Um, and uh, she's fired up and we're like, hold on just a minute.
013But, um, we're excited to have her. Excited for her to be working with our students and our staff. >> Isn't there a food pantry, too? Yes, there's a family resource center that um that is the grand opening that um not just up church, but any family in Hope County will have access to when it's up and running. Um where food is provided, clothing is provided um they can go to and just shop basically. Um and there going to be other resources uh but they're in the process of getting it up and running. So we're excited about that also. house. >> Thank you, Miss Hamus, for uh doing a lot of that grunt work to get that started. >> Appreciate you on that. Also, the next thing I wanted to tell you about, we're having our
014superintendence night out on March 19th and I'll talk about the community schools and kind of give a update. I'm hoping that we have a great turnout from our parents and our community. We can get a lot of questions answered. my team is going to be there and we're just looking forward to having a community celebration, so to speak. I think that's going to be a good thing for us. So, I'm happy about that. On the 26th, we're going to have at board members, you have a copy of it in your packet, the flyers on the March 26th, we're going to have a nontraditional career fair for our students. And that'll be middle school and high school students. That's going to be led by uh Mrs. Bridget Carell Hayes, CTE. talk to them about a lot
015of the programs that we have in CTE and a lot of the jobs that they just don't hear about every day and we want them to get some exposure. We want to see what they like and what they're interested in and have a lot of hands-on things that they can see and also the people that they can talk to. I just think that'll be a great thing. Last year we had about 50 vendors. I think we're going to have a little bit more this year. It's going to get bigger and bigger each year. So, we're just looking forward to it. It's going to be at Hulk County High McDonald's Gymnasium from 9 to 1 non-traditional job fair. I think our students are really really going to enjoy they asked great questions last year at the
016job fair. So I know that they'll do that this year and I believe you were there last year and had a booth there. >> I think some of us in this board were there table. Yes. We'll also have u representation from the community colleges a lot of educational people there too for the students to see because we want them to see those jobs that a lot of are not even invented yet. So we just want them to get that exposure is key. Exposure is key. You don't see it as far as the dreaming. So we want them to dream big and have big dreams. That's a great thing coming up. And that is all that I have. >> All right. Next uh um item is the spotlight on success. Spotlight on success. I'm going to
017call up Mr. Cington to the podium and he's going to talk to us about a lot of the great athletic things going on like Sandy Grove Middle School wrestling team. board chair, vice chair, board members, and uh superintendent Dr. Spels. Um first of all, this is just one we're going to start off with one of the many accomplishments and outstanding things that's going on in Hope County schools. So, we're going to start off. We're going to have uh Dr. Bowman to join me with this first one. Dr. Brown is the principal of Sandy Grove Middle School and uh Sandy Grove Middle School won the wrestling middle school championship, Southeastern Championship this year. And this uh wrestling team, you guys come on in. >> Good evening everyone. >> Uh it's my pleasure to talk about this
018wrestling team. they have really had a big turnaround um and just just they've done a marvelous marvelous job and really they're they're really setting the tone uh for Brandon Lachler. So he's going to have a great group of folks to work with coming out of St. Gro Middle School. Uh so they did with the conference but I have to give uh a lot of credit to uh the coach we use this year and that was Ben Mandel. He has done an absolutely excellent job not only Thank you. He's not just a great teacher, but he's a great coach, a great mentor to those kids. And uh watching him work with those kids. I've watch, you know, tipped in on some of the practices. I realize I'm too old now to deal with him now. Uh
019but uh they're they're just they just really soaked up a lot of knowledge and they really have done a marvelous job. So it's good to see that the program is building like it is, something that will feed into the high school and continue the tradition that the high school has right now. So I'm really proud of all the things they're doing. U coach, can you say a few words? >> Thank you, Dr. B. Thank you everyone. Um just really want to say, you know, the high school sets the standard for us and all we can do is just try to meet what they are doing and they are making it difficult. Uh team this year kept pushing. They continue to push. Um you know, they were an older team, but they really came together this
020year. The high school is going to have a lot of new uh new toys to play with and get on that mat. and I'm sure success is going to follow. And I'm going to do my job with everybody that's here because they certainly put in the work and the effort. Um, you know, everybody up here right now is a place winner from the tournament. We got some eighth grade leaders and we got some future wrestlers at Sandy Grove and of course we I look at them all as future champions at the high school. So, we'll keep working to meet that standard set by Coach Lair and it's a great time to be a wrestler in county. >> That's right. I apologize. I apologize. Declan War, Elena Santos, Eli Rodriguez, Bill Broady. We have Eileen Rodriguez,
021Madison Cooper, and Cree Cooper. >> All right. Good job. >> Thank you. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. >> And Dr. Bman took half of my speech because that's exactly what I was going to say. Um, you know, Hope County middle schools, Sandy Grove, East Hoke, and West Hen. When it comes to middle school wrestling, have won the wrestling championship for the last five years. East Hope just recently won it three in a row and now Sandy Grove so even and then even in the how how they finished. Um you know Sandy Grove won the championship but East Hope was second place >> and then maybe like fourth was West Hope. So we have a tremendous wrestling program which is going to kind of bring me to the next thing we're going to talk about.
022Next topic >> is uh our high school wrestling team boys and girls. So, we have two teams. They work tremendously amount together. Come on in. As they come in, got a whole lot to talk about. Whole lot. So, um I tell you what, this this group of uh this group of young people right here, um they have great leadership. Great leadership. Uh you have coach Lleier and Coach Gorman, the the countless hours that that's I don't think everyone really understands what goes into coaching a team to the final product is done and then they made it all the way to the state championship. So that means additional weeks when other teams are already done, they're still going. Um they're countless of hours. I sometimes I got to run them out of the school. Locker, get
023out of the school. We got to set the alarms. So but with that being said, um just a tremendous amount of leadership, focus, determination. Um they have a vision and a goal and they reach those goals. So, um, I'm going to let Coach Blockley just talk about the different accomplishments and we'll kind of do it all in one, but there's so many individual successes, team successes, and they're just stacking up on top of each other. Now, one the one story I will tell, come on up. When they uh did win the 8A state championship, team championship, someone came to me like, "Wait a minute, Cington. I thought they won that in January." Well, that was a whole different state championship. They so so this girls team won two team state championships in one season all
024the bells and whistle but that was just really honorable for those uh young people >> coach L first I want to thank you guys for just taking the time to acknowledge you guys have a ton to do and so I think it means the world to the kids to just get the acknowledgement for one so I appreciate you for having us just again for acknowledging this um there's kind of a lot of differentiation. So, I'll just kind of go through it just so you guys kind of understand the scope of like what they really accomplished this year. Um, so I'll I'll start with the boys and then I'll work my way back to the girls. The girls got a list. Okay. So, with Jakai Sedwick, uh, Jakai is a two-time finalist, one time state champion
025this year. He won the AA classification for 120. Um, and he also received the most outstanding wrestle award for his particular classification. So, The truly unique thing about this though is we've not had uh for one, he was our first kid to make it to the finals for me as a coach, but the first kid to make it to the finals since 2009. And he's the first kid to win a title since since 2010 as well. >> Um beyond that, he's the first kid to win since like 1986. On top of that, he also he won the region. He was undefeated and he's also the only wrestler that didn't give up any offensive points. >> So like for for him that was a big individual accomplishment, but again like like coach Captain was was alluded
026to in terms of the amount of time that they spend. Kai came to us in the eighth grade and almost forgo his eighth grade season just to kind of work in the offseason and get to a place where he was prepared to high school. Um and and it's we're trying to we're we're kind of enjoying the fruits of that labor now. So um congratulations to Jakai again. So for the girls specifically, uh this is the third year in a row that they won the dual team title, which is we're put in the two classifications between small and large. We're in the large classification. Um and they're competing directly against other schools that are also in that classification. This is the third year in a row that they won that as a as a large classification.
027So, we give it up for them that this is the first year that we've been in the ADA the AA classification. They also won the tournament title as well, which is never we've never done that. This is our first year actually accomplishing that 12 points by the way. that I don't know that that's a state record, but like I've not seen like that that margin of difference between first and second place. Um so that that was a big feat. The other accomplishment is Miss Giana Gome. She's not here today because she's doing a work stud with another group. Um but she was a state champion as well and she also got the most outstanding wrestler award for her classification for the AA as well. That's that's the first time we've gotten an M selection at
028the state tournament. Um uh she also was undefeated on a season and she didn't give up any she won every match at states by a pin. So that was it was extremely dominant to say the least. >> Um amongst us we also have Kira Rush. She also won a state title. >> I'll say this and I I'll try to be as like quickly as as I can. So Kira has been wrestling for our club program since she was what, seven, six or seven chill. So like >> she was literally like one of the first kids that when we decided we were going to start taking girls wrestling serious and little kids wrestling serious in the area. Um her parents were one of the first people to like blow my phone up like hey we really
029want to get get our kids involved and we all the rushers have pretty much come through and wrestled and Kira was the first one that actually won a state title. Uh, and then so there was a handful of other girls that made it to the finals. Jay Lebron made it to the finals. >> And that that's about it. Just the we've done this year. >> Okay. So, ju just to add, so the girls they had we had four finalists, two champs, but we had uh seven seven places all together. There's eight places and we had 11 qualifiers for this state. So, all but one weight class qualified. She ended up breaking her ank. And then for the boys, we end up having uh finalists and four places. Five places. >> Five places, which is like
030one short of the best that we've done since I've been around county. So, again, I really appreciate you guys giving the time to acknowledge them. I think it means the world to the kids. Um, you might not hear it, but you'll see it on their faces. You'll see it in their Instagram accounts. They're gonna be elated just just from getting acknowledgement. Again, thank you guys. >> And before they go, Coach Lley, I have some hard work. Okay. >> All right. This is the NCAA dual state championship. Okay. >> 2526 girls wrestling team NCSA individual team champions >> I don't want to butcher this name >> okay that's Jakai Cedric Jak You want to come >> individual state champion >> in the 120 lb weight class. >> All right. >> K Rush, AA Women's Individual State
031Champion in 132B weight class. Giana Gomez, 8A women's individual state champion in the 120 lb weight class. >> And she was also the AA woman's >> most outstanding wrestler. You want to squeeze in >> here? We are collecting fundraising for the ring. If anybody wants to donate, just put that out. >> One more. One more time. Coach, what was that? >> I said we're taking donations for fundraising for the rings. If anyone wants to donate, just would like to say something as well. Um, I'd like to ask if you consider to donate to my fundraiser, my Coca-Cola fundraiser. Um, >> sorry. >> Uh, yeah. Uh, support my Coca-Cola fundraiser to help me compete on national stage this summer. You got the signup sheet with you, baby. >> Oh my god. And we have one more
032recognition. I don't think she's here tonight, but Tiarra Williams for the Big League educators. >> She said, >> she's at Scarlet Elementary. >> All right. I'll make sure I let her know. >> All right. And now, uh, public comment. >> Um, we have one individual signed up for public comment. Um, you'll have three minutes. Uh Jim Davis, if you just step up to uh the podium, please. >> Good evening, >> Mr. Chair. Uh board members, Mr. Superintendent. It's good to be back with you again. Uh I want to just congratulate this board, Mr. superintendent for the job that you're doing for our kids. I'd like to thank you for what it is you're doing in terms of not only providing the resources to educate our kids, but also to support the community. I stand here
033as a politician. Uh, and I want to remind the the board and thank you again for allowing the political system to use at least three schools. Um, I think Don Steve Elementary for uh, Philippi precinct um, up church uh, for precinct 5 and I think uh, uh, for precinct 3. Uh you know this is a busy season from now to November. Uh precincts are going to be meeting on both sides of the aisle and I'm hoping that we are going to be able to have access to these buildings uh for for those purposes. Uh again um I think all of you might not know me but know my number. anybody that need need me, please uh make contact with me. Uh and if I can assist in any way, Mr. Superintendent, please let me know.
034Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> That's it. >> Now, the consent agenda. The first item is going to be the uh minutes for February 10, 2026. Can I go ahead and get a motion? >> I make a motion to approve the minutes for February 10th, 2026. Those in favor? >> I those against. Okay. Passes. And the next item is the uh first read um school board policy first read. Uh do we have any questions? If not, I'd like to get a motion. >> Chairman, I would like to make a motion to accept the first reading of the school board policy. Second. >> Second. Okay. Those in favor? >> Those against? Okay. Passes. >> Administration. Items. The construction update. Come on in. >> Thank you. Good evening everybody. This will be a very
035quick and brief update because y'all, most of you had the benefit of coming out to see a couple weeks ago school progress for yourselves. Uh I did not include any photos in this one. Not much is really altered since walk through, but uh my next presentation next month will have uh some dramatic photos of a lot of changes. So to start with here, we go with again talking about the schedule. Uh very important. We all know that we want everything on time within budget. So let's hit the first part on time. So right now the finishing date is looking at May June for the building itself. As we talked about before there's a second phase which is the demolition abatement of the buildings, the tennis courts and paving for the bus lot etc. So one
036of the things I changed in this presentation from before is I indicate now what percent are we on having the building complete and that's 91 a.5%. So about 8 and 12% left and uh as you can see driving by a lot's going on and a lot of that's going to be inside. You'll see the paving going down uh this week. So that'll be exciting out there to help control dust and debris in the building. >> Phase two will then start upon uh the school completing the vacancy of the existing buildings which is anticipate to be at the end of July. And then that work over there of abading, demolishing, and getting the surfaces done, tennis, courts, etc. will be done in uh January of next year. So everything's looking like that at the moment. Um
037any questions on the schedule and time? Okay, let's go to the other part, budget. So um right now the contractor is about 76% paid on work. Again, you'll know that's a lot less than 91 and a half% of the building because there's that whole second phase to do, but it is tracking the progress. Uh, your contingencies is reported there. The contractor contingency has used over 78%. The design contingency over 213% and the owner contingency has gained just over 29%. It grew. So, your starting contingencies were just over $2.4 4 million uh remaining from what's been dispersed is just over 1.1 million. We do have right now pending uh uh cost changes and the amount of 590,000 that are continuing to be evaluated and determined if all of that was approved. That would make your available
038contingency amount 552,000. Any questions on that part? Okay, let's go to the budget breakdown summary sheet. Uh so in here just as before you can see for each area of allocation the budget how much has been encumbered spended to date and any unencumbered remaining. Uh so one of the things I changed here is on the far right I highlighted in green the unencumbered funds. These are funds that have not been committed to anything at this time uh through other contracts and such. of these are kind of considered savings at this point. If you total them up on the right side, uh that's over $2.3 million. Now, I will note that a big portion of that is technology. There's about $2.15 million that are unencumbered. Uh there will be some expenditures that will come out of
039that uh for the technology for the building, but there will be funds remaining in that area. So, if uh if none of it was taken in, you have over $2.3 million in unencumbered uh plus your available contingencies that we just talked about over 552,000 which would bring available funding potential available for uh other use out there to almost $2.9 million. >> So far so good budget healthwise. So, not much left in the unknowns out there. So, uh, we'll be wrapping things up tighter on that. And as I mentioned before, once uh, uh, the staff and everyone's comfortable with unencumbered funds that are available, options will be brought to the board for other needs at the school campus that have been previously discussed. Any questions? >> Questions? Thank you, John. >> Thank you. >> All right.
040The next item is the vacancy report. >> Good evening. >> Tonight I come to present the vacancy report. As you can see on the vacancy report, we have a total of 44 vacancies as of March 7, 2026. Uh hopefully after tonight, it'll go down to 41. This is hire season. Uh so please remember we will be having our job fair April the 18th. Um so we'll be starting our hiring season this month and we also want to share out too that been working with finance and we are within our classroom allocations from the state. Um so this year hopefully we will not have anyone being paid out of local funds. Um everyone should have their license. I have a license on everyone so we should be good to go. And right now I think we
041are over only one teacher in our classroom state allocations. >> So we have been doing great. >> Thank you. >> Next item is of facilities. Oh my apologies. My computer's uh not cooperating with me. The next item is the uh it health service agreement. >> Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair, members of the board, and Mr. Superintendent, you have before you a copy of the Atrium Health Service Agreement um that you have reviewed. uh Atrium uh health is a national recognized leader in shaping health care outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient patient care based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Um Dr. Spels and I was approached by the u representatives from Atrium Health for schoolbased mental health services. And so, um, this particular, uh, group received a $2 million, uh, grant from the Lavine Foundation.
042And so, Hope County Schools, we are in that service area. And there's no cost uh to us uh, as you see in the contract, but we will be uh, targeting high school students. And the reason for that when we look at our known health data we have seen a continuous increase for the past three years as it relates to re-entry and hospitalization. So we're really excited um the time is now as we talk about expanding our mental health services and so atrium health came at the right time. Um the agreement uh itself uh will be in a virtual space. Uh they have been doing this work for the past um 3 to five years. They started uh during COVID 19. Uh so everything that we will be doing is schoolbased centered. I've had an opportunity
043along with Miss Lleier to meet with their schoolbased uh team as well. So tonight we wanted to present this to you as anformational item. Again, there's no cost to the district. Are there any questions? >> Thank you. Thank you. Next item is the naming uh facilities. to the uh board chair and board members. So, I've I've gotten some um individuals that that um have come to me and they were talking about the school. We understand that um this the side uh that the building is on is always going to be the gifts inside. always gonna be the Gibson cafeteria, always gonna be the Gibson gym um at Hokai. But I wanted to sort of just read this. Um so I won't be dabbling. Tonight I would like to respectfully uh present a proposal to uh
044name a building at the Hokai uh school in honor of our former superintendent, Dr. Freddy Williamson, who faithfully served Ho County schools from 2006 to 2021, beginning of 2021. During his 15-year leadership, Dr. Williamson helped transform the trajectory of our district and expanded opportunities for students across Coke County. One of the most significant examples of his visionary leadership was development of the Sammy Grove Middle School building project. At a time when the county had no available funds for new school construction, Dr. Williamson initiated a groundbreaking public private partnership that made the project possible. That facility has since become a national example of sustainable school design. uh built to be net positive. The school produces more energy than it consumes and is expected to save approximately 16 million uh dollars in energy costs over a 40-year
045period, setting a national standard for environmental responsibility and fiscal stewardship. Dr. Williamson was also a pioneer in digital learning initiatives uh innovation. Under his leadership, Hope County became a national reference site for research-based instructional tools and effective technology integration. His work ensured that technology was not simply uh added to the classroom but used intentionally to strengthen teaching and learning. So beyond academics, Dr. Winston strongly believed in educating the whole child. He championed athletes uh career and technical education and the cultural arts. During his tenure here, uh, students gained access to new athletic opportunities, including bowling, and I might not have all of them, soccer and swimming and unique career and, uh, technical education programs. In fact, county remains the only county in the state with a high school bothering program, a program created because Dr.
046Williamson believed in preparing students for real careers and real futures which uh he called uh college career and life ready. Um perhaps one of the most measurable outcomes of his leadership is the academic uh dramatic improvement in uh student success. When Dr. Williamson arrived in Hope County, the graduation rate stood at 41%. By the time he concluded his service, the rate had risen to 86% representing thousands of students whose lives uh were changed through education. He also expanded opportunities for students through increased dual enrollment partnerships with our local community college, Sant Hills Community College. While many uh districts relied on magnetic schools or specialized schools to offer advanced opportunities, Dr. Williamson championed a different vision, equity of opportunity across every school in the district. His goal was simply uh but powerful that every school in
047Hope County could be considered a great school because every student had access to the same opportunities. That vision continues today through initiatives allowing students in traditional high schools to pursue college credits and even associate degrees while still uh completing their high school education. So for these reasons and in recognition of his lasting impact of students, staff, and the broader Hope County community, I respectfully propose that this board consider naming the new building at Hulk High School in honor of Dr. Freddy Williamson. Um, doing so would not only recognize his years of service, but it would also serve as a lasting reminder to future generations of the leadership, the innovation, and the commitment to students that help shape the success of our district. So, um, hopefully in uh, April, this will be on the action item
048to consider naming the school um, or the building Dr. Freddy Williams. I have questions. >> Is that all you have? >> Yeah. >> Um so as you uh as everybody knows we are governed by policies left and right. So uh before I open it uh to the floor for any questions either stay there or come back here and join us however you want to do it. uh open the floor for any questions. >> So, um Rosa, how do you go about picking him? >> Um well, several people, like I said, um when I first started, um several people sort of came came to me and we had we he's the one who initiated the building from the very beginning before the agriculture building was built, before the aquatic center was built. Um we meaning that
049board at that time and um the county commissioners came together in the media center and talked about another building and we discussed it and uh we were going to take the swimming pool. Matter of fact, they took the swimming pool from us because they wanted it. So the swimming pool was going to be in the new building >> um that Dr. Williamson uh had had uh asked them to help us um obtain and then they were like, "So, we're going to do it for y'all, but um let us take the swim pool idea." And so, and of course, that was okay because we wouldn't have been able to offer the pool um until like after school and then on the week. >> I'm just Okay. >> Oh, you asked me. I was just trying to
050explain to you. >> Yeah. because I don't at first I don't even know when this came about about naming the building. I I hear you saying that it happened before this board. >> But I feel like if we're going to name that building, I think we should make the community have the community. >> That's right. Yeah. Cuz some community people can't reason because I mean Dr. William, I know him. I worked up under him. He's super. But I believe that we should get the community involved. >> Well, we're making a huge decision like that. >> Is there any other questions? >> Is depend. >> Go ahead. >> Uh my question is the whole school or session? >> The building itself. >> The building that's not the school. >> That's the whole That's the whole event.
051That's going to be the whole high school. No, we got the downside. I'm just talking about the building. >> Yeah, I'm saying like it's a it's two sections to that like upstairs downstairs like different wings. You want the facility itself? >> I was just the the just building like upstairs and downstairs like the Mallister building on the >> Yeah, like Mallister building on the McDonald side. >> The downstairs and upstairs just >> Is there any more questions? I have a question. Um K McDonald was a superintendent, right? >> Mhm. >> WT Gibson superintendent. >> Mhm. >> So we traditionally named buildings after superintendent. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Is there any more questions >> and Don Steve was acting superintendent and our finance officer. So if you can ride your pleasure with us. Uh so
052like I said uh the board and the district is bound by uh policies. Um I'm not going to go into much detail but I think that Grace can uh um I will give Grace the uh the floor so she can uh provide additional information. As you know, the board is responsible for certain things and the and the superintendent is responsible for certain things and based on my interpretation of the policy uh it is the that's a task for the uh superintendent uh as far as naming uh buildings and it's an extensive process that we have to follow not just uh um putting it uh on a vote and voted. So, if you would uh Grace, >> um and I have a copy of that. It's policy, if you want to pull it up on your
053computers or I'm happy to pass this out. It's policy 9300, naming facilities. Um and it sounds like there is some community support based on on what Miss Mallister, Dr. Mallister McCar shared. Um but the if that um that should go first to the superintendent and the superintendent is supposed to work with the community to identify potential names. What does that name look like when it's actually on the building? We have the McDonald campus. We have Gibson campus. What does it actually look like when it's on the building? So, for example, Don East is is the elementary school. Um, so the superintendent is tasked with bringing together the school community staff, students, um, that are at the current facility um, and working with them to identify potential names that are then proposed to the board for
054recommendation. So, if that is something that the board would like Dr. Spells to to do, you can you can ask him. um to to get that together um and and explore what the community is is is on board with um and then they'll propose those names to you. >> And and so this is just this is just my my thought. Okay. Um in the new building, the high school project, the name is uh P County High, that's the name. Uh, a are we saying to change that name on that building? Cuz that's where that the the name of that building is going to be in front. It's going to say >> um >> you talking about the building. You talking about the school. >> No, I'm talking about >> the new building right there that's
055being built. That right there in front of it is going to say >> Hulk County High School. >> Right. So, we're saying we got we're going to change that name. >> We're not >> I'm asking. >> Okay. >> No, that's not what we're saying. Okay. >> Oh, okay. No, I'm saying the the I know in front of the building what it says, but it's talking about the camp that sign to me. It's talking about the campus like Sand Hills Community College, but then you have uh the foundation building. you have the, you know, different buildings, but you have Sand Hills Community College. So, it's Hope County High School. We already know that, but you have um the Mallister Building. You have um the Gibson Cafeteria. You have But it's Hope County High School. >> Yeah.
056>> Like how we had just dedicated the band room to Mr. James. >> James. Yeah. That's kind of good. >> Okay. All right. So, uh we need at least three board members to agree to direct the superintendent uh uh to further research uh this task. Uh >> you don't have to take an official vote to ask Dr. Spells to do that. >> Do I like to know how many board members agree with that? I agree with this. The policy. >> So, is it the wishes of the board to uh ask the superintendent to look into the uh policy and and um proceed forward with this? >> Is that >> Yes. Okay. Dr. >> Okay. >> All right. And then we'll visit we'll revisit this when uh the proper procedures are followed uh to uh potentially
057obviously that now I understand what you're saying >> and that can always be done uh later. I thought the way you were talking I thought it was changing the name on the front. >> I got you. >> Yeah. And I want to make it clear that I Angela Sland did not say do not put Dr. Williams name on the building. >> I'm saying let's make it there, >> you know, put it out there to the community. Get the community involved cuz this thing is happening. It's huge for the whole community. I mean, so let's make it happen like that. So, I just want to clear that up for the record >> and and just to uh Thank you, Angela. just to make sure that there there isn't a board member here other than uh the
058Rosa that uh is um recommending such action be taken. So when Dr. spells uh conducts his due diligency to uh take care of this task then we can approach this and then at that time the board uh would take the appropriate action uh for this uh such a great honor. I consider it to be a ginormous honor >> of naming a a building honors you know the name the name of someone. Okay. >> Action items. >> Okay. The next uh item is action items. The budget amendments. We're action item. It's notformational. Do I have am I talking about >> need is there any this this computer has made all discon >> chair I'd like to make a motion that we uh approve the amendments to the budget state capital state and >> second those in
059favor >> okay those against all right it passes >> renewal >> the uh next item is the auditor's renewal contract. >> Chairman, I would like to make a motion that we approve the auditor's renewal contract. >> Those in favor? >> I. >> Those against. Okay, that passes. Next item is the the Hope High School restroom renovation contract amendment. Chair, I would like to make a motion that we approve the Hope County High School restrooms renovation contract amendment. There >> those in favor? >> Those against. All right, it passes. >> Go strategic plan. >> And the next item is the whole county school strategic plan uh 2026 2020 uh uh 31. I hope everybody got to see that because it's it's amazing. >> It's amazing. So, I move to approve the whole county school strategic plan
06026 2031. >> Those in favor >> I >> those against. All right, passes. And the next item is the finance uh uh committee. Like to get a motion to approve this item. >> Chairman, I would like to make a motion to approve the finance committee. Um is is um Jessica Brown is the chair. Correct. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh can I get a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Those in favor? >> I those against. Okay. Uh so um the first thing before we move to close session, I would like to just uh say I' I've uh I'm going to appoint uh Miss uh Jessica Brown as the chair for the finance committee and the uh board members uh in that committee will be Miss uh Angela Sutherland and Miss Dr. Rosa McCrae Mallister. >> Mallister McCrae,
061thank you. Thank you for correcting me. Okay. for the record. And uh if I can um get a motion on the um close session, >> I make a I move that we go into close session under the North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11A13 and 6 to present prevent the disclosure of confidential personnel and student matters to consider matters related to initial employment of individual employees and to consult with our board attorney to preserve their attorney client. your privilege. I >> second. >> Those in favor I against.