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OCS Board News | October 2024

News from the Board - October 1, 2024

 

The Onslow County Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on October 1 at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center. Agenda items included an Instructional Services update and a closed session to discuss legal cases.  

Before the meeting’s business began, the Board heard a Good News Spotlight, which highlighted the accomplishments of OCS staff and students. There was also a public comment period with two speakers.  

The first item of general business was a presentation from the OCS Instructional Services team, who shared information about continuous improvement and Parent Academy.  

First, Dr. Chris Barnes, chief academic officer, and Dr. Mark Bulris, executive director of elementary education, shared with the Board information about accountability results from the state for the 2023-2024 school year and how schools and the district use data to make plans for improvement. Of the district’s 39 schools that receive school performance grades from the state, 25 improved their scores. Twelve of our schools increased their letter grades. Twenty-eight of the 39 schools improved their growth index. Overall, the district saw an increase in proficiency and growth and a decrease in “priority schools” with a low performance grade.  

Dr. Bulris shared the timeline for school improvement planning, saying that schools would present their improvement plans to the district in mid-October. All revisions to the plans would be made by October 29, with final plans being approved by the Board of Education and shared with NCSTAR in November.  

Next, Dr. Michael Elder, director of college and career readiness, presented information about the OCS Parent Academy. Parent Academy is a series of information and help sessions designed to give families the information and tools they need to successfully navigate their children’s education. Dr. Elder shared some of the program’s upcoming sessions, including college application completion events on October 3 and 10, an NC Governor’s School overview on October 17, a college fair on October 22, and an NCSSM overview on October 24.  

Before adjournment, the Board went into closed session to meet with legal counsel and discuss the following cases: AMS (minor) by parents RAS & SW Petitioner v. Onslow County Board of Education, Case Number 23 EDC 03873; LA by parent or guardian BM v. Onslow County Board of Education, Case Number 24 EDC 02791.