OCS Board News | December 2022

 

 

In the December 6 meeting of the Onslow County Board of Education, three members were administered the oath of office, and the Board held its annual election for chairperson and vice-chairperson.  

Newly elected Angie Todd and Bradley Williams, as well as recently re-elected Bill Lanier, were sworn into office Tuesday night, surrounded by family and friends. The three of them now join sitting members Ken Reddic and Melissa Oakley, as well as Elbert Garvey and Louis Rogers, who joined the Board in October.  

In its first order of business, the new Board elected a chairperson and vice-chairperson. Members voted using a ballot system and elected member Bill Lanier as Board chairman and member Ken Reddic as vice-chairman. 

After a Good News Spotlight, with plenty of student and staff recognitions, and a public comment period with three speakers, the Board addressed its general business.  

Michelle Chadwick, assistant director of advanced learning and STEM, took to the podium to present to the Board information about the DoDEA STEM initiative. OCS received a 5-year grant for over $1 million, and we are currently in the second year of implementation. The grant is being used to enhance STEM instruction districtwide, with money being used to purchase equipment, fund stipends, invest in professional development, etc.  

One particularly exciting project the grant has funded is the creation of a mobile STEM lab. The lab is housed in a wrapped van that can be driven to various schools and other locations to deliver supplies and equipment or put on mobile scientific demonstrations. The lab has several appearances lined up at events in the months to come.