West Pine Middle School may receive its “Green Initiative” certification by the end of the school year, Skyla Stuckey, told the Moore County Board of Education during its Monday, May 9 regular meeting. Stuckey, an intern with Sustainable Sandhills, reported that she has been working with various schools in Moore County to pursue Green Initiative certification and become more sustainable.
Currently, three schools in Moore County, including West Pine Middle, have met various criteria — including promoting a recycling program, compiling data on energy consumption, and encouraging environmentally responsible behavior — in order to become “Green Initiative” certified. Stuckey said she was particularly impressed with West Pine Middle’s pilot recycling program and with the involvement of the staff and maintenance department.
“Everyone is really wonderful” at West Pine Middle and is taking the “Green Initiative checklist very seriously,” said Stuckey.
The Green Initiative program covers five key areas: Awareness/Education, Pollution Control, Waste Reduction/Recycling, Water Conservation/Efficiency, and Energy Conservation/Efficiency.
Financial Update
The state has allotted an additional $130,000 to Moore County Schools [MCS], of which $98,000 is going towards fuel costs, reported Chief Finance Officer Mike Griffin, who presented the School Board with an amended budget resolution and quarterly financial update.
MCS will benefit from an additional $7 million in federal dollars, though some of those funds will simply pass through to other grant recipients. Of the total, $6 million will fund a four-year Sandhills Leadership Academy Race to the Top program in which Moore County is the designated fiscal agent for the money; not the sole recipient. Superintendent Dr. Susan Purser pointed out that twelve other recipients will benefit from the money. The remaining $1 million will fund MCS’ Race to the Top initiative.
Griffin also reported that the capital fund is down by $18,000 due to sales tax refunds being recorded as a reimbursement of cost rather than revenue.
The Board unanimously approved the resolution and financial update.
Board Opposes HB 344
Board members approved a resolution to oppose House Bill 344, which could divert funds for students with special needs from Moore County Schools.
The resolution would give a homeschooled child with a disability a $3,000 stipend per semester for education and related services. To be eligible a child must have spent two preceding semesters, prior to entering home school, in a public school in which it was deemed necessary that the child be taught using a individualized education plan.
If a school cannot serve a child that has a specific learning disability, School Board Chair Laura Lang said, it is the school’s responsibility to pay for that child to receive an education elsewhere.
Lang disagreed with taking special needs funding away from public schools saying, “It is a step backwards.” Dr. Purser said MCS is known for being a compassionate system and has provided “tremendous support” for children with special needs. Last year, Moore County received a little over $5 million in supplemental funds to educate exceptional children.
The Board’s resolution opposing HB 344 will be sent to Representatives Jamie Boles and Joe Hackney and to Senator Harris Blake.
Legislative Update
The state budget is expected to be on Governor Beverly Purdue’s desk by early June, Griffin told the Board. The House has already passed its version of a Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget, which includes an almost nine percent decrease in public education funding.
Moore County is anticipating an $80,000 cut to funding for driver’s education programs, which had a budget of $280,000 last year. Griffin said the program may have to begin charging students a $75 fee.
Since 2005, the schools have not received a share of state sales tax refunds, which could amount to an additional $400,000 in revenue for the system, Mike Griffin told the Board. Currently, Moore County schools receive $125,500 in local sales tax refunds.
Recognitions
The following individuals were recognized at the School Board’s Monday, May 9 meeting:
• Mildred Bankhead-Smith of West Pine Middle School was recognized as a recipient of the Kenan Fellows Program Class of 2012 award. The Kenan Fellows Program is an initiative of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science at North Carolina State University. Bankhead-Smith is developing an “Integrated Course Learning Community” in which she will participate in a five week hands on summer research experience, two weeks of residential professional development, and three additional days the following fall and spring. She will then bring back her findings to other teachers in North Carolina.
• West Pine Middle School’s Assistant Principle, Eric Torres, was recognized for receiving his doctoral degree.
• Jessica Blanton, a guidance counselor, and Monica Williams, a fifth grade teacher, both from West Pine Elementary School, received recognition by the Board for obtaining their Master’s Degrees.
• Joshua Martin of West Pine Middle was recognized for winning the NC State Middle School Individual Golf Championship.
Other News
Other news at the Board of Education’s Monday, May 9 meeting included:
• Dr. Purser announced that the graduation ceremony for Union Pines High School and North Moore High School will be held on Friday, June 10 at 8 pm. The graduation ceremony for Pinecrest High School will be held on Saturday, June 11 at 8 am.
• HeartSafe Moore County was recognized by the Board for installing fifty-four Automatic External Defibrillators [AED] throughout Moore County Schools with transportable devices at all of the high schools. Gymnasiums in the county also have AEDs since these are visited frequently by the community. Currently, Moore County is the only school system in the state to have AEDs, which were made possible through $97,000 in private donations.
• The Board approved the addition of a work session for the Superintendent’s Evaluation on May 23 and June 6. Both meetings will be held at 5 pm.
