Onslow Connection
Keeping you informed
Board of Education Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015
Local boards of education are authorized to contract for an annual independent audit, subject to approval by the Secretary of the Local Government Commission.
The Onslow County Board of Education has an agreement with Anderson Smith & Wike to perform its annual audits. The firm has committed to extending the existing agreement and maintaining their five year fee commitment that matches the original agreement.
Superintendent Rick Stout recommended the Board approve the contract to audit accounts given the firm's experience in N.C. public school board audits and the professional way the firm has conducted the audits previously. The Board unanimously approved the proposal. Joel Churchwell and Brock Ridge were absent.
The contract will be forwarded to the N.C. Local Government Commission for final approval.
After serving 30 years, M.J. Herring submitted his resignation as a member of the Board of Trustees of Coastal Carolina Community College. This position is appointed by the Board of Education. Board of Trustee Chairman Bundage Guy and Coastal Carolina Community College President Dr. Ronald Lingle recommended the appointment of Jeff Clark, CEO of Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corporation, to serve the remainder of Herring's term of office which is set to expire June 30, 2017.
The Board unanimously approved the appointment of Jeff Clark with Joel Churchwell and Brock Ridge being absent.
At the request of Chairwoman Pam Thomas, prior to the approval of the agenda, the following item was added to the agenda for the Board's consideration.
Board Attorney Alex Erwin provided information with regard to an impending Improper Equipment Lawsuit.
Under N.C. law, if a motorist is convicted or pleads guilty to Improper Equipment, there is a total fine and court cost of $263. Since 2011 the $50 penalty was collected and used to house inmates in county jails.
Under the N.C. Constitution, the money is to go to the school system to be used exclusively for maintaining public schools.
Richmond County's Board of Education filed and won a lawsuit arguing that the $50 penalty should be paid to the school system. Currently the state is appealing the decision.
Erwin said there are currently 24 N.C. boards of education who have filed a suit against the State on the same grounds as the Richmond County Board. They are being represented by Campbell Shatley, PLLC, a law firm in Asheville. Should the Board decide to join the lawsuit, the costs would be no more than $2,000 and by his estimates, the Board could collect $867,000 from the State should the ruling be in their favor.
After serious discussion, the Board by majority vote approved joining the lawsuit. Bob Williams voted against. Brock Ridge and Joel Churchwell were absent.
Message from Chairwoman Pam Thomas
May your travels be safe, and may your holidays be filled with warm reflections and time for enjoying family and friends. Let us all take a moment to count our blessings.
And as we head into a New Year, let it be one of much good health and good cheer.
Message from Superintendent Stout
The winter holidays are a great time for reflection. This time of year I often find myself thinking about what I value most – quality time with family and friends, education, and the caring people I work with on a regular basis. I am reminded again of how much our Onslow County Schools family has to be thankful for - dedicated and inspiring staff, motivated and eager students, and involved families and community - to name a few.
During the holiday season our efforts and thoughts turn to giving. The season affords all of us a great opportunity to reflect on our blessings and realize the true meaning of the season. The staff and students of Onslow County Schools are very busy at this time of the year with schoolwork, performances and special events. Even with all of this, our students and staff continue to find time to think of others and reach out to those in need. I am always amazed and humbled with the abundance and wide variety of the community projects that take place in our schools. Thank you for your passion, persistence and generosity in making this happen. Through your efforts, individually and collectively, OCS does make a difference to others.
I would like to extend a wish that the joy, peace and contentment of the season be yours. However you are spending this holiday season, I wish you good health, the pleasure of spending special time with family and friends and a New Year filled with hope and optimism.
Brad Staley selected 2016 N.C. Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year!
This is some very exciting news we would like to pass along to everyone.
For the second year in a row an Onslow County Assistant Principal will serve as the North Carolina representative for the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ (NASSP) Assistant Principal of the Year Program, which recognizes outstanding middle level and high school assistant principals who have demonstrated success in leadership, curriculum and personalization.
The North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals Association (NCPAPA) announced Nov. 30, it selected Brad Staley, the Assistant Principal at Northside High School, as its 2016 North Carolina Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year. Last year Bridget Grady, the assistant principal at Sand Ridge Elementary School was named the state’s top assistant principal.
Staley will serve as North Carolina’s representative and along with all state Secondary Assistant Principals of the Year will be invited to attend Ignite ’16, Feb. 25 – 27, 2016 in Orlando, Fl. The event salutes assistant principals and provides an opportunity for them to share best practices and expertise with each other. He will also be recognized at the Spring 2016 NCASA/NCPAPA Conference.
Staley has been AP at Northside High School since 2012. Prior to that, he spent 11 years as the Band Director at Northside High. He earned his B.S. in Music Education at West Virginia State University and an M.S.A. in School Administration from East Carolina University in Greenville. In addition to his assistant principal duties Staley is responsible for Beginning Teachers, S.A.T Scholarship, Graduation Project, 504 Plans and Project Graduation.