SWAN QUARTER — Construction on Hyde County Schools’ long-awaited campus project continues to move forward, with foundations complete and steel rising, Superintendent Melanie Shaver told the Hyde County Board of Education during its Tuesday meeting, highlighting steady progress alongside a wide-ranging agenda that included academic growth, student achievements, budget decisions and community engagement.

“Building 300, the building foundations are now complete and the structural steel is being erected, so you can see that as you drive by. It’s pretty exciting,” Shaver said during an extensive facilities and construction update. She added that design development for Building 800 “has been completed and submitted to DPI,” while athletic fields planning is advancing, with the first phase expected to include “the tennis courts, practice and soccer fields and parking areas,” contingent on completion of the wastewater treatment plant.

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The meeting opened with Shaver welcoming board members and reviewing the district’s long-term strategic framework. 

“Hyde County Schools is dedicated to providing a quality education and relevant learning opportunities to help students develop the critical thinking skills, global perspective, and character necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing world,” she said.  

Shaver outlined four priorities guiding the district’s work. “Priority one is student success, and this encompasses the curriculum and instruction that we provide in our classrooms every day, as well as the student experience,” she said. “Priority two is our thriving faculty and staff,” focusing on recruitment, retention and orientation. “Priority three is our effective and efficient operations,” which includes facilities, transportation, technology and nutrition. “Our last priority is ensuring a positive community culture,” she said, emphasizing student support, family partnerships and communication with the broader community.

Board Chair Chanta Gibbs Rickard then moved the meeting into reports and presentations, beginning with an update from Hyde Academy.

Dean of Hyde Academy/CDC Coordinator Cara Equils reported strong growth for the alternative education program as it entered the spring semester. 

“Enrollment is now at 59 students. If you remember at the beginning of the year, we started with 33, so we are seeing some growth, which is really exciting,” Equils said. She noted that Hyde Academy now has 140 classes going on this semester versus 122 in the fall, and academic performance has improved significantly. 

“With those different interventions that we scheduled and changed in the fall, we had 120 out of 122 classes pass with a passing grade, which is up a lot from previous years,” she said.

Equils also highlighted expanded learning opportunities – 10 field trips so far – with upcoming trips planned to East Carolina University and the University of Mount Olive. She added that 11 students are set to graduate through Beaufort County Community College programs. 

“They will get their cap and gown in April and they’re getting super excited about it,” Equils said.

Shaver recognized Hyde Academy’s accomplishments by presenting an Academic Growth Award. 

“Hyde Academy met its expected growth last year, so congratulations,” she said.

Shaver also used her report to recognize January as Board Appreciation Month. 

“It plays a huge role in our community and our school system and has a huge impact on our staff and students here,” she said, thanking board members for their service.

She then outlined several district initiatives since the board’s last meeting, including a literacy effort aimed at preventing learning loss during school breaks. 

“In December, Julio and I had the opportunity to deliver books to every classroom in pre-K through fifth grade,” Shaver said. “In an effort to ensure that students have access during every break this year, students in grades pre-K through five will receive at least one book during the winter, spring and summer breaks.”

Shaver also summarized the January Superintendent Advisory Committee meetings. 

“This is a joint meeting with teachers, students and parents,” she said, noting discussions on federal programs, career and technical education, special education and English language learner needs. “People get to see that kind of behind-the-scenes look and what that money actually goes to.”

Shaver emphasized the importance of early exposure to career pathways. 

“If we’re not letting our students take our classes first to experience and explore, then they’re missing out on part of that,” she said, referencing partnerships with Beaufort County Community College.

Additional highlights included hosting a regional career and technical education directors meeting in Hyde County, visits to local seafood businesses, and the districtwide “Amazing Shake” competition – 16 students who competed from Mattamuskeet and Ocracoke. Shaver announced that Noah Holloway, Armoni Simmons, Hadley Dickerson and Cora Walters will represent Hyde County at the global Amazing Shake competition in Atlanta.

Public Relations and Administrative Assistant Julio Morales then announced a major professional honor for the superintendent. Morales read from the North Carolina School Superintendents Association announcement naming Shaver as the 2025 recipient of the Dr. Dwayne Stallings Leadership Award. The award recognizes “a superintendent who has demonstrated a strong dedication to public education, commitment to academic excellence, and a continual focus on professional growth and student learning.”

“Dr. Shaver has served as superintendent of the Hyde County School System for three and a half years and she exemplifies the traits that guided Dr. Dwayne Stallings’ career in educational leadership,” Morales read, quoting NCSSA Executive Director Jack Cope.

Board member Phillip Holloway later shared insights from his required N.C. School Boards Association core training. 

“I learned a lot of valuable information that will help me be more prepared and able to do this role in the way that it should be carried out,” Holloway said, highlighting topics such as superintendent search services, communication with legislators, fines and forfeitures funding, and conflict of interest guidelines.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on facilities, construction and infrastructure decisions tied to the district’s ongoing capital projects. Shaver detailed Change Order 10 for the new construction, which included updated exterior lighting to meet dark-sky requirements and required upgrades to science classroom safety equipment. “This was a request from our community,” she said of the lighting changes.

The board unanimously approved the change order, as well as an overnight field trip request for students to participate in the SkillsUSA regional competition March 5–6.

One of the most detailed discussions centered on wastewater decommissioning and removal associated with a creek project. Shaver explained that the original bid did not include the removal of the existing system. “In order for that to be a total package, we need that removal to also occur,” she said, with the total cost set at $215,500.

Board members discussed potential cost-saving options, including spreading sludge on fields, but ultimately agreed with Shaver’s recommendation. “My recommendation is to haul it, dispose of it in a disposal site and not spread it,” she said. Board member Edward Torres agreed, citing long-term safety concerns. “Sometimes you spend a little money now to save a lot of money later,” Torres said.

The board also approved a re-roofing contract for Buildings 200 and 400, which house the cafeteria and library. Shaver recommended B&M as the contractor at $346,962 after the lowest bidder failed to meet submission requirements. The project is scheduled for this summer.

In new business, Shaver outlined the process for developing school calendars and soliciting public input. “We want students to provide feedback, parents to provide feedback, community members and business owners,” she said, noting that calendar drafts have been posted online and shared through district communication channels.

The meeting concluded with notice of a planned work session at Ocracoke School to celebrate first-semester achievements, weather permitting, before the board entered closed session to discuss confidential personnel matters.