Johnston County
Board of Education

report from June 8 meeting

All board members present: Chairman Todd Sutton, Lyn Andrews, Al Byrd,
Kay Carroll, Ronald Johnson, Terri Sessoms, Mike Wooten


PUBLIC COMMENT FROM 17: SOME WANT MASKS OFF
CHILDREN IN SCHOOL; OTHERS TOUT "EQUITY" TRAINING
The board's meeting room filled up for the "Public Comment" segment of Tuesday's monthly meeting. Seventeen speakers voiced their opinions during talks limited to three minutes apiece.

The first group of speakers, supported by most of the audience, decried the state mandate requiring students to continue wearing masks in classrooms at school.

"No one in the room (at the meeting) is wearing a mask but I have to wear a mask in school six hours a day," asserted Aubrey Clark, a young student.

"You're not representing Governor Cooper; you're representing us," exclaimed Paige Perkins, a parent, referring to the Governor's statewide mandate still in effect requiring masks for everyone in classrooms.

"It's an assault on our rights," added Addison Edwards, another parent.

Several speakers said mask wearing is harming children both academically and emotionally. Others noted studies showing a low risk of serious COVID-19 infections among youngsters.

A second group of equally passionate speakers urged the board to maintain "equity" as a core principle in the teaching of Johnston's children as well as the training of the school system's administrators.

Emily Scott, a former Johnston County "Teacher of the Year," said "equity training and anti-racist practices are essential."

Jamila Ayoubi was one of several speakers who complained about a lack of support in Johnston's schools for LGBQ students (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer).

Most of the speakers on both topics drew applause from the audience.

LISTEN to all of what the speakers had to say on the YouTube archive of the board's meeting (advance to 2:09:00 for the start of "Public Comments")>


NEW ASSIGNMENTS FOR PRINCIPALS AND OTHERS

The board approved Superintendent Eric Bracy's recommendations to name Amy Creed principal of Dixon Road Elementary School, Ryan Ewell principal of Cleveland Elementary, Joshua Plisko the system's director of athletics, Kebbler Williams executive director of elementary education and Title I, and Makenzie Yarborough director of curriculum (ELA and social studies) --- all under two-year contracts. David Pearce was given a three-year contract as assistant superintendent of auxiliary and administrative service. The superintendent also announced two transfers: Assistant Principal Carson Cataliotti from South Smithfield Elementary to the new Thanksgiving Elementary School and Ana Milazzotto from director of federal programs to ESSER/CARES Act administrator. At the outset of Tuesday's meeting, Chairman Sutton introduced Contina (Tina) Jackson as the new executive assistant to the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools.


BUS DRIVERS' MINIMUM WAGE RAISED TO $15 AN HOUR

The board adopted $15 as the new hourly minimum wage for school-bus drivers. The additional expense may run as high as $641,000, paid primarily with state funds "and any overflow into local," noted Director of Finance Tabitha Lee. "It is mathematically possible that this increase will not cost the district any additional funds" if the higher pay attracts more full-time drivers and eliminates overtime costs being paid because of a current shortage of drivers, Ms. Lee noted.


$141,470 CONTRACT FOR ADMINISTRATORS' TRAINING

The board approved a one-year contract with the Rutherford Learning Group to provide training to the school system's administrators in the coaching of teachers under their supervision. That includes 146 principals, assistant principals, and curriculum directors --- "anyone who is responsible for the development of teachers," Assistant Superintendent Tonya Leathers told the board. Rutherford will be paid $141,470 for its services during the year ahead.


HIGH SCORERS ON COLLEGE-ENTRANCE TEST SALUTED

The board acknowledged a group of high-school juniors who scored 30 or better on this year's ACT college-entrance exam, most of whom were on hand to shake hands with board members. Two of the 38 honored were from Smithfield-Selma High School: Luke Jackson and Rebekah Jenkins. Six were from Clayton High, eight from Cleveland, 10 from Corinth Holders, one from Princeton, four from South Johnston, four from West Johnston, two from the Career and Technical Leadership Academy, and one from the Early College program. ACT grades its test-takers on a scale of 1-36 points.


AGREEMENT OK'd FOR CLAYTON HIGH FIELD UPGRADES

The board approved a contract with the Town of Clayton for sharing the cost of replacing the football and soccer fields at Clayton High School with synthetic turf to increase their usage by both the school and the town's recreation programs. Basically, the two parties will split the estimated $1-million cost of the conversion, with the town assuming maintenance responsibilities for those fields and other facilities at the school --- an expense estimated at $35,000 annually. The school system's $500,000 for the project is coming from 2018 county bond funds earmarked for Clayton that will be replaced by federal coronavirus-relief money available to cover the cost of an HVAC project at West Clayton Elementary School.


SCHOOLS' REPRESENTATIVE ON JCC's BOARD SELECTED

The board voted by written ballot to appoint Tommy Williams in place of Doug Oglesby as the schools' representative on the Johnston Community College Board of Trustees. After results of the vote were announced, Chairman Sutton thanked Mr. Oglesby for his four years of service (he was not present).


CONTRACT COVERS MORE THAN 25-MILLION COPIES

The board approved a five-year contract with Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. to provide copier service for the entire school system at an annual cost of $258,156. That's based on an estimated 25-million black and white copies at $0.00998 per copy and 152,180 color copies at $0.0398 per copy. Added to that is a software licensing expense of $4.98 per copying machine.