BY NICOLE LAYTON
The Edenton-Chowan Schools Board of Education convened on Feb. 4, at the district’s Professional Development Building. The meeting covered a range of topics, including construction updates, academic progress, technology investments, and financial allocations.
Information regarding the study of a Grades 7-9 Football Model appears in another article. You can read the information, by clicking here.
Besides several district instructors and officials, Edenton Mayor Hackney High and Chowan County Commissioner Ron Cummings attended the meeting.
Construction Update
Construction at John A. Holmes High School remains on schedule, according to Maintenance Director Chris Brabble. He reported that drywall installation on the first floor of the academic wing is nearly complete, with window installation and brickwork progressing steadily. Steel structures for the gymnasium and main entrance are also being assembled.
The cafeteria and kitchen exterior framing will begin next week, and footings for the connector hallway between buildings are set to be poured.
The Boy Scout Hut restoration is also progressing, with expectations to return the facility to the Boy Scouts by early summer.
“The road is being built around the Boy Scout Hut now and they hope to pave that within the next month or so,” Brabble said.
Brabble noted that despite winter weather challenges, the project remains on track.
“We’re staying where we want to be,” he said of the work.
Calendar Changes
The Board approved two calendar revisions. To compensate for the Jan. 24 snow day, Feb. 17 will now be a full instructional day instead of a half-day.
Additionally, for the 2025-26 academic year, March 31 has been designated as a teacher instruction day, replacing the original last day of the school year for teachers.
Chowan Middle School Update
Students from Chowan Middle School led the Pledge of Allegiance and presented highlights of their academic and extracurricular programs. Among the achievements noted were the school’s successful peer mentoring program and collaborations with local organizations. The school’s wrestling coach, John Reinhold, was named Albemarle Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Students in the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) program discussed leadership opportunities provided by the organization.
Teacher Lori Miller emphasized the school’s growing Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, which now includes robotics and carpentry. She highlighted the recent Groundhog Job Shadowing Day, where eighth-grade students gained real-world experience by spending time with local professionals in various industries.
Technology Update
Technology Director Samantha Sissell received approval to purchase 600 new Chromebooks for John A. Holmes High School, replacing aging devices that went out of warranty in July 2024. Sissell explained that the increased number of hardware failures and repair costs — $8,988 for about 100 devices — made early replacement necessary.
The school’s enrollment is usually between 540 and 550 students. The extra computers will be loaners for when a Chromebook needs to be repaired.
The Board approved a purchase not exceeding $208,000, with funds coming from the district’s technology sustainability budget.
Aces Report
Student representatives from the Aces program reported on recent and upcoming events, including Senior Sunrise and the upcoming Senior Sunset Dinner on June 5. They also shared details about prom planning and winter sports achievements. Notably, all basketball teams won their recent games, and the wrestling team competed in a regional tournament. The school’s cheerleading team is preparing for an upcoming competition on Feb. 22.
Students Jadin Welch, Amahri Norman and Jayla Phelps each received the Power of Youth Leadership Award during the Chowan County NAACP banquet on Jan. 18.
Love the Bus
February is Love the Bus month. The district will honor the transportation staff between Feb. 10-14.
Superintendent Report
Instead of a traditional report, Superintendent Tammi Ward invited school officials to present data on student performance. She noted that Natalie Phelps and Donna Harrell are participating in the North Carolina Association of School Business Officials School of Business Management Academy.
John A. Holmes High School Principal Sonya Rinehart shared mid-year assessment data, emphasizing improvements in math proficiency due to instructional strategies such as scaffolding. Scaffolding is a way of helping students mastering concepts by looking at a problem area and embedding instruction about that topic throughout the year and at different levels.
Career Technology Education testing was also looked at.
At the elementary level, data from the DIBELS assessment showed early literacy trends, with administrators working to strengthen reading comprehension and vocabulary instruction.
State testing for reading literacy usually stops at the third grade. The district is testing students at the fourth and fifth grade levels as the state offered to funding testing.
The Board also discussed ongoing initiatives to support teacher development, classroom management, and student attendance.
District Finances
Chief Finance Officer Sandy Pittman presented the district’s financial status, noting that state and local funds are being spent at appropriate levels.
The Board approved a request to distribute $49,000 from the R&R Lottery Fund. This helped pay for a new surveillance system at Chowan Middle School. The total cost of the project was $263,500. Other funding sources include a $200,000 capital outlay and $14,500 from the technology budget.
Additionally, the Board approved a $37,100 contract with Anderson Smith and White for the fiscal year 2025 audit. The cost is 3% higher than the 2024 contract, Pittman said.
She noted that the contract must be approved annually.
Upcoming Meeting
The board will hold a work session from 7-9 a.m. Feb. 14.