Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
The Duplin County Board of Education honored two newly national board certified teachers at the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 18.
“National board certification is offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards,” explained Daren Tyndall, assistant superintendent for human resources. “It’s a way to recognize the accomplished teaching that is occurring in North Carolina classrooms. The certification process is based on high and rigorous standards that evaluate teaching practice through performance-based assessments.”
The ultimate goal of having national board certified teachers is to improve the performance and achievement for students, Tyndall added.
The two newly national board certified teachers are Kristen Kane, STEAMA beginning teacher coordinator, and Nicole Lane, family and consumer sciences teacher at East Duplin High School.
“It’s an honor well deserved,” Tyndall said.
The board also approved an interim budget resolution for the 2024-25 fiscal year as part of its consent agenda.
“The interim budget resolution, which was approved in the consent agenda, is an interim appropriation of an amount equal to the prior year’s budget,” explained Christy Johnson, executive director of public relations for Duplin County Schools. “This is necessary until the state approves a budget to allow us to continue operating.”
During a joint meeting with the county commissioners and school board in May, Duplin County Schools Chief Finance Officer Dawn George reported that the school system has requested a 10.66% increase in its budget this year, to $11,066,000. “What that represents is the increases to our recurring costs, which includes the state-mandated increase in salaries of about 3%,” George explained. “Retirement will go up approximately 1% and health insurance will go up about 7%.”
“The information shared at the joint meeting was planning information that will be used to build our budget, which will be based on how much we will actually receive from state and local entities,” Johnson said.
Since it was part of the consent agenda, the budget resolution was approved with no public discussion.
Also at the June 18 meeting, the school board approved service contracts for the upcoming school year. Most of the contracts were approved as part of the consent agenda, save for the contract with Edwards and Associates Physical Therapy, Inc. for a maximum of $80,000. This contract was voted on separately so that Board Member Pam Edwards could recuse herself from the vote, since her family members run Edwards and Associates Physical Therapy.
The other contracts that were approved included:
- Compass Speech, PLLC (maximum of $155,000);
- Invision Services (maximum value of $125,900);
- Jennifer Carter (maximum value $95,000);
- ProCare — interpreter (maximum of $116,500);
- ProCare — teacher of deaf/hard of hearing (maximum $45,000);
- John E. Sexton & Associates (maximum $35,000);
- Psychological and School Services of Eastern Carolina (maximum $150,000);
- IntelliChoice Home Care (maximum $90,000);
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (maximum $14,628).
There were also several memorandums of understanding approved as part of the consent agenda, including the MATCH Wellness program, the Duplin County Health Department, Communities in Schools of North Carolina Services Group, LLC, the Jobs for North Carolina Graduates program at Wallace-Rose Hill High School, and James Sprunt Community College for the continuation of the Duplin Agribusiness Academy.
After an executive session, the board voted to approve Superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan’s personnel recommendations, with the exception of Chairman Brent Davis, who recused himself from the vote.
During his report to the board, Dr. Obasohan thanked all of the staff and students who helped the county’s Pre-K students graduate. “To go send them out into their new world prepared is key, so kudos to all the staff who work with these kids and will continue to work with them,” he said.
