Summary of "Lee County Schools Board of Education"

Lee County Board of Education Meeting Summary

The Lee County Board of Education meeting covered a broad range of topics including student privacy, arts education, school expansion, community partnerships, academic progress, finances, discipline, operations, policies, and personnel matters.

Meeting Opening and Protocols

The meeting began with a moment of silence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem performed by the Lee County High School Marching Band. The board reiterated its vision to provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment fostering academic and personal growth, emphasizing ethics and transparency.

Arts and Humanities Month (Artstober)

October was recognized as National Arts and Humanities Month, celebrated locally as “Artstober.” The board highlighted the importance of arts education in fostering creativity, confidence, and community connection. Performances by Stanley Middle School and Lee County High School bands were showcased, with recognition given to band directors and student musicians for their achievements and dedication.

Community and Economic Development Liaison Report

County Commissioner liaison Eric Davidson reported no recent direct mentions of schools in county meetings but shared updates on:

The America 250th birthday celebration planning.
An economic development summit emphasizing the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
Interest from Central Carolina Hospital in partnerships to develop health-related workforce pipelines.

Community Schools Grant

Dr. Lisa Duffy introduced a new regional grant partnership with the North Carolina Community Schools Coalition. Key points include:

Additional funding and a full-time community school coordinator assigned to WB Wicker Elementary.
The coordinator will enhance academic, mental, and physical health supports, family engagement, and community partnerships.
The grant is funded for three years at no cost to the district.

School Expansion Feasibility Study

Stacy Edgars presented an analysis comparing school expansions versus new builds to address overcrowding, focusing on Deep River and Edwards Elementary Schools.

Key findings:

Expansions:
Cost approximately $25 million.
Provide shorter-term solutions (15-20 years lifespan).
Require ongoing maintenance costs.
New Builds:
Estimated at $56 million for 850 seats.
Offer longer-term sustainability (30-50 years).
More energy efficient and allow better planning for future growth.
Challenges:
Infrastructure limitations such as sewage, traffic, and site readiness.
Need for coordination with city/county planning and developers.
Surrounding districts favor new builds over expansions due to cost-effectiveness and long-term planning.

The board discussed the need for improved communication with local government and developers regarding infrastructure and school capacity planning.

Academic and Accountability Update

Dr. Natalie Kelly provided a monthly data report highlighting:

Implementation of common formative assessments in reading, math, and science.
Over 700 classroom walkthroughs and 184 professional learning community (PLC) visits to support instructional quality.
Use of Branching Minds software to track student risk tiers based on attendance, behavior, coursework, and academic assessments, identifying:
44% of students at risk in reading.
52% of students at risk in math.
Preliminary data shows student proficiency and growth trends similar to previous years.
Ongoing efforts to improve outcomes, especially in early grades aligned with the Read to Achieve legislation.
Parent survey responses are being collected to guide future planning.

Board members praised the transparency and depth of data analysis, noting it as a significant improvement over past years.

Finance Report

The district is on track financially, having spent about 17% of its budget by October.
Carmen Matthews was introduced as the new assistant finance officer.
Updates included:
State health plan open enrollment with changes in premium structures and deductibles.
No new information yet on the state auditor’s investigation.

Committee Reports

Discipline Committee: Focused on reducing absenteeism and addressing common behavioral issues. Chronic absenteeism is low in Lee County compared to state and national averages.
Operations Committee: Discussed energy savings assessments, beautification projects for aging middle schools, bus Wi-Fi and camera systems, and security camera upgrades funded by lottery funds.
Policy Committee: No meeting last month; next meeting scheduled for October 21.

New Business

Approval of multiple board policy updates as required by state guidelines.
Approval of outdoor recreation equipment purchase for Bragg Street Academy, funded by an Innovative Partnership Grant aimed at:
Improving student physical and mental health.
Reducing disciplinary incidents.
Increasing staff retention.

The board expressed strong support for increasing physical activity and outdoor learning opportunities.

Adoption of a resolution urging the state legislature to allow local flexibility in administering end-of-grade (EOG) and end-of-course (EOC) tests, including:
Options for paper-pencil testing.
Increased funding for technology infrastructure.

The resolution highlighted disparities in technology access and the burdens of mandatory online testing.

Personnel Actions

Approval of amended administrator contracts and the human resources report.
One board member recused herself due to a conflict of interest.

Closing

The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.

Presenters and Contributors

Madam Chair (unnamed)
Wendy Bryant Mley (Arts Proclamation and performances)
Eric Davidson (County Commissioner Liaison)
Dr. Lisa Duffy (Executive Director of Student Services)
Stacy Edgars (School Expansion Feasibility)
Dr. Natalie Kelly (Accountability and Data Update)
Carmen Matthews (Assistant Finance Officer)
Megan (Curriculum and Instruction, Research Support)
Mr. Gastra (Discipline and Policy Committees)
Mr. RmIrez and Miss Davis (Band Directors)
Mr. Ruml (Board Member, Resolution Presenter)
Dr. Dawson (Superintendent)
Mr. Core (Bragg Street Academy)
Board Members: Allan, Cindy Ortiz, Carla Hooker, Chris Gastra, Sher Wack, and others

This comprehensive meeting reflected the board’s focus on student achievement, community engagement, fiscal responsibility, and strategic planning for growth and infrastructure.