OCS Board News | April 2025
News from the Board - April 1, 2025
The Onslow County Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on April 1 at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items included a proclamation for the Week of the Young Child, the final adoption of policies, an Instructional Services update on the partnership with Coastal Carolina Community College and Parent Academy, and a closed session pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes 143- 318.11(a)(1), (a)(3), and (a)(6).
After a Good News Spotlight full of student accomplishments and a public comment period with 4 speakers, OCS Executive Director of Elementary Education Dr. Mark Bulris took to the podium to present about Week of the Young Child.
Week of the Young Child is an annual event celebrating early learning as well as young children, their teachers, and their families. After reading a proclamation that acknowledged the importance of early childhood education, Dr. Bulris asked the Board to adopt the proclamation and declare April 5-11, 2025, as the Week of the Young Child. The Board unanimously approved.
Next on the agenda, OCS Chief Communications Officer Brent Anderson asked the Board to consider the adoption of a few policies the Policy Committee recently recommended revisions to, as part of the ongoing policy update process. Revised policies included 3000, 3100, 3200, 4310, and 5010. The Board unanimously adopted the changes.
In the meeting’s final item of business in open session, Dr. Michael Elder, Director of College and Career Readiness, introduced representatives from CCCC to talk about the district’s partnership with the local community college.
OCS’ partnership with CCCC includes Onslow Early College High School, NC Career and College Promise, which allows students to take college courses while enrolled in a traditional high school, and dual enrollment opportunities in career and technical education. In the 2023-2024 school year, it is estimated that OCS students earned more than 1,500 college credits and saved more than $116,000 in tuition.
Future opportunities with CCCC include expanding opportunities to students not yet accessing Career and College Promise and anticipating additional pathways that students can benefit from while in high school.
OCS instructional staff closed their presentation with information about upcoming Parent Academy sessions about college admissions, preparing for high school, scholarships, and more.
The meeting closed with a closed session of the Board pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes 143- 318.11(a)(1), (a)(3), and (a)(6): To consult with the Board attorney to preserve the Board’s attorney-client privilege; and to consider confidential personnel matters pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes 115C-319 through 321.