From: Jack Hoke <jackhoke12@gmail.com>
Sent: Oct 01, 2023 18:00:00.000000000 UTC
Subject: Superintendent Update - October 1, 2023
To: Jonathan Williams <jwilliams@whiteville.k12.nc.us>; Stephen Gainey <sgainey@randolph.k12.nc.us>; Kim Morrison <kmorrison@mtairy.k12.nc.us>; Reeves Travis <reevest@surry.k12.nc.us>; John Stover <jstover@rock.k12.nc.us>; Melanie Shaver <mshaver@hyde.k12.nc.us>; Austin Obasohan <aobasohan@duplinschools.net>; Trevor Putnam <tputnam@haywood.k12.nc.us>; Kelly Withers <witherskw@rss.k12.nc.us>; Pascal Mubenga <pascal.mubenga@dpsnc.net>; Angela Knight <aknight@graham.k12.nc.us>; MCLEAN.HOWARD <McLean.Howard@anson.k12.nc.us>; Steve Basnight <basnightst@daretolearn.org>; Marvin Connelly <marvinconnelly@ccs.k12.nc.us>; Joe Ferrell <joeferrell@richmond.k12.nc.us>; Dain Butler <dain_butler@abss.k12.nc.us>; Aaron Fleming <afleming@harnett.k12.nc.us>; Jennifer Hefner <jhefner@alexander.k12.nc.us>; Josh Lynch <josh.lynch@macon.k12.nc.us>; Don Phipps <dphipps@caldwellschools.com>; Stan Winborne <winbornes@gcs.k12.nc.us>; Jesse Pratt <jpratt@hertford.k12.nc.us>; Linda Carr <lcarr@camden.k12.nc.us>; Tanya Turner <tanyaturner@pqschools.org>; William Hoffman <whoffman@madisonk12.net>; Rhonda Schuhler <rhondaschuhler@fcschools.net>; Dale Cole <dcole@bcswan.net>; William Breedlove <william_breedlove@pender.k12.nc.us>; Dana Ayers <dayers@jcpsmail.org>; Jeremy Johnson <jeremyjohnson@pamlicoschools.org>; Crystal Hill <crystall.hill@cms.k12.nc.us>; Dale Ellis <dale.ellis@montgomery.k12.nc.us>; Tracy Grit <tracy.grit@mcdowell.k12.nc.us>; Tricia McManus <ttmcmanus@wsfcs.k12.nc.us>; Brad Rice <brad.rice@stokes.k12.nc.us>; Wesley Johnson <wjohnson@clinton.k12.nc.us>; Rosa Atkins <atkinsr@northampton.k12.nc.us>; Juliana Thompson <thompsonji.co@rrgsd.org>; Consie Girty ; Jason Gardner <jgardner@mgsd.k12.nc.us>; Chad Calhoun <chadcalhoun@mcsnc.org>; Aaron Woody <awoody@asheboro.k12.nc.us>; Tony Jackson <ajackson@chatham.k12.nc.us>; Deanne Meadows <deannemeadows@columbus.k12.nc.us>; Michelle White <mwhite@martin.k12.nc.us>; David Sutton <dsutton@rcsnc.org>; Eisa Cox <eisa.cox@ashe.k12.nc.us>; Kenneth Simington <simingtonk@weldonk12.org>; Lisa Fletcher <lfletcher@tcsnc.org>; Gabriel Aron ; Barry Williams <williamsb@gatescountyschools.net>; Ethan Lenker <lenkere@pitt.k12.nc.us>; Keith Sutton <ksutton@warrenk12nc.org>; Houlihan Andrew <andrew.houlihan@ucps.k12.nc.us>; Chris Dossenbach <cdossenbach@lee.k12.nc.us>; Mark Byrd <byrdma@wilkes.k12.nc.us>; Andy Bryan <andrewbryan@ecps.us>; Brent Williams <bwilliams@lenoir.k12.nc.us>; Stephen Fisher <srfisher@clevelandcountyschools.org>; Charles Foust <charles.foust@nhcs.net>; Cindy Bennett <cbennett@vcs.k12.nc.us>; Melissa Weaver <missey.weaver@alleghany.k12.nc.us>; Dan Brigman <danbrigman@averyschools.net>; Aaron Greene <agreene@polkschools.org>; Steve Laws <sclaws@gaston.k12.nc.us>; Maggie Fehrman <maggie.fehrman@acsgmail.net>; Jennifer Griffin <griffinje@hickoryschools.net>; Rodney Peterson <petersonr@person.k12.nc.us>; Ben Thigpen <ben.thigpen@jonesnc.net>; Scott Penland <scott.penland@clayschools.org>; Jim Merrill <james.merrill@orange.k12.nc.us>; Steve Ellis <sjellis@nrms.k12.nc.us>; Dennis, Jarrod <jarrod.dennis@stanlycountyschools.org>; Aaron Allen <aallen@lincoln.k12.nc.us>; Michael Sasscer <msasscer@ecps.k12.nc.us>; Wendy Miller <wendy.miller@cravenk12.org>; Whitney Oakley <oakleyw@gcsnc.com>; Sale, Mark <msale@swainmail.org>; King, Jamie <jamieking@sampson.k12.nc.us>; Richard Paylor <Richard.Paylor@carteretk12.org>; Rob Jackson <robert.jackson@bcsemail.org>; Leslie Alexander <alexanderl@wataugaschools.org>; Keevin Woody <keevin.woody@cherokee.k12.nc.us>; Doug Barker <dbarker@caswell.k12.nc.us>; Karen Roseboro <kroseboro@tycomail.net>; Kevin Garay <kevin.garay@kcs.k12.nc.us>; Tim Locklair <tlocklair@ncmcs.org>; Matt Lutz <mlutz@currituck.k12.nc.us>; Matt Stover <matt_stover@catawbaschools.net>; David White <dawhite@wcsnc.org>; Tabitha Broadway <tbroadway@davidson.k12.nc.us>; Eric Bracy <ericbracy@johnston.k12.nc.us>; Dr. Jason Atkinson <jbatkinson@bladen.k12.nc.us>; Matthew Cheeseman <mcheeseman@beaufort.k12.nc.us>; Todd Martin <todd.martin@yadkin.k12.nc.us>; Nyah Hamlett <nyahhamlett@chccs.k12.nc.us>; Jeff James <jeff_james@iss.k12.nc.us>; Otis Smallwood <osmallwood@bertie.k12.nc.us>; Marc Whichard <marcwhichard@wcps.org>; Eric Cunningham <cunninghame@halifax.k12.nc.us>; John Kopicki <john.kopicki@cabarrus.k12.nc.us>; Chris Kennedy <kennedyc@tcs.k12.nc.us>; Wallace Jeff <wallacej@davie.k12.nc.us>; Rodney Shotwell <rodney.shotwell@hcs.k12.nc.us>; Mark Garrett <mrgarrett@hcpsnc.org>; Barry Collins <barry.collins@onslow.k12.nc.us>; Kathy Amos <kathyamos@yanceync.net>; Adell Baldwin <adell.baldwin@scotland.k12.nc.us>; Nakia Hardy <nhardy@lexcs.org>; Lane Mills <lane.mills@wilsonschoolsnc.net>; Keith Parker <kparker@ecpps.k12.nc.us>; Frank Creech <frankcreech@greene.k12.nc.us>; Mike Swan <mswan@burke.k12.nc.us>; Freddie Williamson <freddie.williamson@robeson.k12.nc.us>; rptaylor@wcpss.net <rptaylor@wcpss.net>; halls@elkin.k12.nc.us <halls@elkin.k12.nc.us>
Cc: Jan Webster <jwebster@wresa.org>; Patrick Miller <millerp@ccresa.net>; Ron Hargrave <rhargrave.srec@gmail.com>; Lillie Cox <lillie.ncascd@gmail.com>; Kathy Spencer <spencercsquared@gmail.com>; Stewart Hobbs <Hobbss@nwresa.org>; Shirely Prince <sprince@ncpapa.net>; Katherine Joyce <kjoyce@ncasa.net>; Chris Mansfield <mansfieldchris66@gmail.com>; Reeves McGlohon <Reevesmcglohon@gmail.com>

1. Congratulations to Dr. Steve Hall who was named Superintendent of the Elkin City Schools effective October 2. He is currently serving as Director of Testing and Accountability for the Alleghany County Schools. He was a member of the Aspiring Superintendent Program Cohort I and is the 39th participant of the program to be a superintendent.

 

2. This week’s “District Spotlight” comes from Dr. Stephen Gainey, Randolph County Schools (Region 5): Continuous Improvement - Continuous improvement with a focus on “move the needle forward and minimize any backward movement” influences the majority of the decisions and actions in the Randolph County School System.  As a result of this work, the following two initiatives have been sources during the 2023-2024 school year.

 

The school system’s Career & Technical Education program was expanded at the following three schools: Randleman High School, Wheatmore High School, and Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve, and a “School of Business” was opened at Randleman High School.  The expansion efforts at Wheatmore High School involved the opening of a “Public Service Academy”.   Furthermore, the work at Uwharrie Ridge Six-Twelve led to the opening of a “Light-Duty Diesel Program” on the school’s campus. Overall, the new programs at these three schools are accessible to students in grade 11 and/or grade 12.


The 2022-2023 school year was the ninth year of the school system’s “9-Year Facility Upgrade/Repair Plan” . This plan was shared with our County Commissioners for the first time in January of 2014.  It included capital outlay projects such as roofs, windows, doors, HVAC systems, stadium bleachers, and stadium lights.  Furthermore, the projected costs of the different projects were included in the plan. The projects were grouped according to year of the plan in terms of the target date for their completion as well.


For the first year of the “9-Year Facility Upgrade/Repair Plan” (the 2014-2015 school year), the County Commissioners gave the school system an additional $250,000 in special capital outlay money.  Furthermore, as a result of continued budget work over the years, at the present time, our school system has $950,000 in recurring special capital outlay funding in support of the “9-Year Facility Upgrade/Repair Plan”.  Overall, our school system has operated with three types of capital outlay funds during the past nine years: regular capital outlay funding based on student enrollment numbers; special capital outlay funding in support of our “9-Year Facility Upgrade/Repair Plan”; and bond money used to build a new school (Trinity Middle School). It also is important to note that the “9-Year Facility Upgrade/Repair Plan” has been extended to cover the upcoming nine years starting with the 2023-2024 school year.

 

I have attached a pdf with additional information. You can email me at sgainey@randolph.k12.nc.us with any questions.


3.  The NCSSA Winter Conference will be held Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 at the Grandover Resort and Conference Center in Greensboro. Dr. Robert Peters of the Successful Practices Network will kick off the conference with “The Future of Artificial Intelligence and Its Implications for Education".  A draft agenda is attached.

REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE


Please email
Karen Owens for assistance with registration.

RESERVE YOUR ROOM AT THE GRANDOVER or call 336-294-1800 and provide code 36083.

Please complete the link by providing your shirt size by October 6 if possible so I can place an order for the 1/4 zip shirts:         

SIGN UP FOR A SHIRT.

 

4. NCSSA Executive Board: Feedback Needed For New Limit On Graduation Requirements The recently-passed state budget proposal includes new language (Sec. 8A.6.(k), pg. 194) requiring the State Board of Education to revise the state’s high school graduation requirements so all students will have the opportunity to graduate within three years of starting 9th grade. As part of this change, school districts would not be allowed “to require any additional credits beyond those mandated by the Board for high school graduation”, which is currently 22 credits. This limit would apply only to credits required to graduate and would take effect this school year.

 

Because many districts currently require more than 22 credits for graduation, NCASA is gathering feedback to share with legislators to support a request for a technical correction to this section of the budget. Please take a couple of minutes to share in this Google Doc information on your district’s current graduation requirements and what impact, if any, this new limit on credits required to graduate will have on your district.

 

5.  From Dr. Lisa Fletcher, Transylvania County Schools:  Have any districts had a recent Safety and Security Study/Assessment?  If so, do you have an RFQ that Transylvania County can piggyback on?  You are welcome to call me at (828-384-2990) or email me at lfletcher@tcsnc.org with any information.

 

6. I have attached the NCASA 60 Second Legislative Update.

 

 

I will be attending "Building Bridges to 2030 & Beyond" with the John M. Belk Endowment on October 2 & 3 in Greensboro and the Superintendent Executive Leadership Program on October 4 & 5 at the Grandover Resort.   I hope you have a great week.  Please let me know if you have any questions.



--
Jack Hoke, Executive Director
North Carolina School Superintendents' Association
P.O. Box 6188
Hickory, NC   28603
Phone: (828) 320-6767
Email: jackhoke12@gmail.com
@ncsupers