The Gates County Board of Education’s May 11 meeting began with celebrations honoring educators, volunteers, retirees, and student achievement programs across the district (below this story), but the evening also featured significant discussions about school policies, mental health partnerships, district budgeting, and concerns surrounding board procedures.

Monday, the board recognized numerous employees and community members during its annual awards presentations, including Teachers of the Year, Support Staff of the Year recipients, volunteers, and retirees with decades of service to Gates County Public Schools.

Additional recognitions included support staff recognition presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. representative Wanda Mitchell and recognition of Saunders Science Scholars led by Dr. Crystal Harden.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, former Buckland Elementary School Principal Charles Gregory spoke about the future closure of the school. He noted recently attending an event at the school and having a hard time finding a place to park. Gregory noted the community’s steadfast support of the school

The board approved various trips for students, including the Girls on the Run 5K event in Virginia Beach for T.S. Cooper Elementary students, the NC FFA State Convention in Raleigh for Gates County High School students, and an FCA Team Camp trip to Rocky Mount.

Board members also approved fundraising efforts for Gates County High School athletics, including the “Fill Up the Helmet” football fundraiser and sponsorship support from local businesses through the Playmakers program.

Central Middle School also received approval for an APEX trip to Virginia Beach.

The board also scheduled its next meeting for May 14. It also went into closed session; however, the outcome of that session was unknown at press time because the staff cut off the live feed to the meeting after the board entered executive session.

When a closed session is held, the board is supposed to return to open session when it’s over and vote on anything that comes out of that closed session.

Mental health partnership

One of the most substantive discussions of the evening involved a proposed partnership with Kintegra Health, a nonprofit provider that offers school-based mental health services.

According to the agency’s website, its school-based services are mostly provided in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. There are no partnerships with other northeastern North Carolina school districts.

The board learned that the organization works with school systems to place full-time therapists directly inside schools. Unlike the district’s current arrangement with rotating therapy services, Kintegra therapists would remain on campus daily and become integrated into school life.

The district administration hopes to begin by placing therapists at Central Middle School and Gates County High School, and to eventually expand districtwide if staffing becomes available.

The proposal drew questions from board members about how students would access services, parental consent procedures, and how therapists would interact with school staff and students.

Administrators emphasized that the program would supplement — not replace — existing partnerships already operating within the district.

Policy revisions

Another portion of the meeting centered on revisions to several district policies, including policies governing parental involvement, board meeting agendas, parliamentary procedures, employee recordings, student technology use, and wireless communication devices.

Particular attention focused on Policy 2330, which governs board meeting agendas and the distribution of supporting materials to board members.

During discussion, board members debated how early agenda materials should be distributed before meetings and whether proposed agendas should be made public earlier in the week to improve transparency and allow more time for review.

The discussion comes as agenda changes and additions at the beginning of board meetings have become a recurring concern at recent meetings observed by community members and local media.

One board member emphasized the need for members to have sufficient time to “digest” agenda materials before meetings and suggested earlier publication of proposed agendas online.

The policy revisions received a first reading and will return for final approval at a future meeting.

Budget report

Finance Officer Steven Harrell presented the district’s monthly budget summary and board report, outlining current expenditure levels across multiple funding categories.

According to the report, state funding expenditures stand at approximately 87.67 percent, while local expenditures are at 76.4 percent and capital outlay spending has exceeded 91 percent for the fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

Board members also discussed concerns about next year’s financial outlook, particularly if county funding remains flat while operational costs continue increasing. Discussion included the challenges of maintaining teacher supplements and managing rising expenditures heading into the next fiscal cycle.

Scheduling discussed

The board additionally reviewed proposed early release days for Gates County High School.

That conversation evolved into a broader discussion about scheduling coordination, transportation logistics, and the cost of operating double bus routes during special events and graduation-related activities. Some members questioned whether better long-term planning could reduce transportation inefficiencies and fuel costs.

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Gates County Schools Honors Employees, Volunteers, and Retirees

Outstanding Professional Achievement Awards

• Robert Jordan
• Jesse Mathews
• Paula Simpson

Retirees Honored

• Lori Morris — 13 years
• Robin Spivey — 20 years
• Barbara Knight — 22 years
• Helen Smith — 29 years
• Charlene Figgs — 30 years
• Brenda Riddick — 31 years
• Lola Rountree — 38 years

Volunteer of the Year

• Cindy Buck — Buckland
• Candace Adkins — Gatesville
• Mary Jo Goddard — T.S. Cooper
• Alex Chapel — Central Middle
• Mark Pierce — Gates County High School
• Mark Pierce — District Volunteer of the Year

Support Staff of the Year

• April Knight — Buckland
• Tracey Carr — Gatesville
• Vicki Moore — T.S. Cooper
• Paula Walker — Central Middle
• Jordan Casper — Gates County High School
• Vicki Moore — District Support Staff of the Year

Teacher of the Year

• Lauren Smith — Buckland
• Christine Liverman — Gatesville
• Shirley Greene — T.S. Cooper
• Shaunda Vaughan — Central Middle
• Carney Rountree — Gates County High School and District Teacher of the Year

Principal of the Year

• Jonathan Hayes — Gates County High School