Menu

School board approves key partnerships, funding

| |

KENANSVILLE — At its Sept. 2 meeting, the Duplin County Board of Education approved a broad range of initiatives aimed at strengthening academic partnerships, supporting staff, and improving school facilities.

Included in the consent agenda were the following approvals:

  • Memorandums of Understanding between James Kenan High School and Advise NC at NC State, Duplin County Schools and UNC Greensboro, Duplin County Schools and Wayne Community College, Duplin County Schools and National Equity Lab for the College-in-High School program, and Voices Together.

  • Independent contracts for Sylvia Draughn and Christa Bass.

  • Contracts with Lauren Williford, Cheryl Fuller, Joell Parker, and Sheri Leavens to provide workshops for the Duplin Health Science Academy.

  • A budget amendment for the 2024-25 fiscal year for child nutrition.

  • An $829 annual service agreement with Brewer Company for maintaining the check folder/sealer.

  • Fundraising requests from Kenansville Elementary, Wallace Elementary, Warsaw Elementary, and North Duplin Junior/Senior High School.

  • Service contracts for the 2025-2026 school year between Duplin County Schools and APE in a Box, Jennifer Carter (Educational Interpreter), and Soliant (Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing for ESY).

  • Contracts with Sandcastles Childcare, Lynda’s Funtime Junction, and Louanna’s Childcare to provide NC PreK classrooms.

  • The $60,000 purchase of Imagine Learning remediation software.

  • Submission of a supplemental application to the Office of Head Start for nutrition education resources.

Additionally, the board approved an application to request $29,141 to remove water from flooding sidewalks at Beulaville Elementary. This project is applying for funding through the Public School Building Capital Fund via the North Carolina Education Lottery.

Furthermore, the board approved the continuation of flex days for certified and non-certified employees. This policy allows for six additional flex days during the 2025-26 school year, which can be used on optional teacher workdays or days when students are not in school. These days are in addition to the two flex days already provided, and they do not carry over into the next school year if unused.

Following the extensive approvals, the board went into a closed executive session for an hour. Upon returning to open session, the board approved recommendations made during the closed session.

Brent Davis, the Chair of the Board of Education, then requested an additional agenda item to seek approval for signing and submitting an application for the Needs-Based Public School Capital Funds Grant on behalf of the county. The board approved this request due to the application deadline being on Oct. 3, which is before the next scheduled board meeting.

Lastly, the board acknowledged donations made for specific purposes to specific schools.

Highlights include:

  • A donation of $300 for coffee supplies for teachers at Wallace Elementary from New River Holiness Church and David Houston.

  • A donation of $4,500 for a batting cage at Wallace Elementary from Hayes Skidmore.

  • A donation of $1,695 for the football team at Rose Hill Magnolia Elementary from Dave Fussell.

  • A $1,000 donation from Anderson Smith & Wike LLC to be used as a one-time scholarship in memory of Austin Obasohan to assist a promising DCS student planning to study accounting.

Following these acknowledgements, the meeting adjourned.