BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON
EDENTON – The Edenton-Chowan Schools Board of Education met Monday, September 9, to discuss various district matters, including student achievements, construction progress, and a public comment about student safety and record keeping.
Also during the meeting, Superintendent Tammi Ward discussed the school report cards released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. For coverage of that part of the meeting, click on the link here.
Kids and Cops Program Showcases Community Partnership
Students from the Kids and Cops Program presented an overview of their activities to the board. The program, running since 2012, pairs middle school students with law enforcement officers for leadership and social skills development. Approximately six students from Chowan Middle School and some who are now first-year students at John A. Holmes High School were in attendance.
“Kids and Cops is a great program for all to just kind of learn leadership skills and social skills,” one student explained. “We learned that law enforcement isn’t just about being in a uniform. We get to see them out of their uniform and see how nice they are and that they can play back and have some fun.”
This year’s camp hosted 23 students who participated in activities including police officer obstacle courses, slip-and-slide kickball, and fishing at the Edenton Fish Hatchery where one student caught 23 fish.
“They teach us about discipline. They teach us how to work hard. They just help a lot with stuff,” another student shared.
The program brings in various community professionals throughout the week, including wildlife officers, fire department personnel, and marine patrol. “That usually can inspire students to like just look into their future career goals to see what they maybe want to be when they grow up,” a student noted.
Deputy Kevin Briggs, the Chowan Middle School Resource Officer, leads the program that has expanded significantly from its tent camping origins at the middle school, growing from 15-16 participants last year to 23 this summer.
Student Presentations Highlight Aces Programs
The meeting began with student representatives Carmen Tocco and Sela McNair reporting on recent achievements and upcoming events. Students highlighted the success of John A. Holmes High School’s new “phones off” policy, noting improved focus on assignments and homework completion. The school recently celebrated its Open House on August 21, where students collected schedules and purchased Chromebooks.
The agricultural program achieved notable recognition, with FFA students traveling to Raleigh for the state convention where they earned the National 2 Gold Star Chapter award. Students are now preparing for the upcoming “purple out” football game on September 19, which will feature a back-to-school bash with ice cream, games, and dancing.
Academic offerings continue to expand with new courses including Interior Design and coding classes using Minecraft. The district has also added two new Advanced Placement classes: AP Government and AP Calculus, growing the school’s AP program. A new CTE coordinator, Beth Copeland, has increased internship placement opportunities, with students now working at locations like Alpha Omega Dentistry.
The 50th annual Peanut Festival on October 4 will feature collaboration between John A. Holmes and the town, including a parade at 10 a.m., morning races (10K at 7 a.m. and 5K at 8:30 a.m.), and a Battle of Bands starting at 2 p.m.
Parent Raises Safety Concerns Over Data Management
During the public comment section, Casey Garrett addressed the board regarding significant data entry issues related to authorized student pickup and electronic access. Garrett explained that despite repeatedly filling out forms for three years indicating her daughter’s biological father should not have pickup or electronic access rights, the information was never properly entered into the system.
The issue came to light when Garrett’s husband discovered the biological father’s email was listed as a primary contact in the new parent portal, despite court documentation limiting his access. Superintendent Tammi Ward responded quickly to resolve Garrett’s specific situation, but Garrett expressed concern for other parents who may be unaware that their children lack proper protections.
Garrett requested the district create clearer forms with better instructions and establish protocols to contact parents when conflicting information appears, or when required documentation goes missing.
Construction Update Shows Steady Progress
The new school building project at John A. Holmes High School continues advancing on multiple fronts. In the classroom wing, elevator installation is underway and flooring is nearly complete on both floors. HVAC systems are operational and casework is 90 percent finished.
The core wing has seen significant progress, with cafeteria clouds and lighting completed and gym ceiling painting scheduled to finish this week. The gym floor installation is planned for October. Site work includes ongoing concrete preparation and installation of parking lot lights next week, followed by tennis court lighting at month’s end.
Financial Matters and Policy Updates
The board approved transferring $100,000 from the local fund to Child Nutrition to address cash flow issues caused by delayed reimbursements at the school year’s start. The district is collaborating with the North Carolina Association of School Business Officials to assess nutrition program operations and identify areas for potential improvement.
Board members also received first readings of updated policies, including special updates required by state legislation and the complete 1000 series policies. A scheduled October 21 work session was removed from the calendar.
The meeting concluded with recognition of retiring employee Virginia Jones, who served the district for 20 years.
