Board of Education talks about Goldsboro High School, audit
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 6, 2016 1:46 PM
Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Michael Dunsmore said the district is "aggressively pursuing" ways to improve Goldsboro High School -- from curriculum to certification of teachers -- he told the school board during a special called meeting Monday.
The two-hour session had been prompted in part by the need to discuss the latest audit report, presented to the board at its March 7 meeting. Approval at that meeting was tabled after several members took issue with not receiving the 2014-2015 audit in advance to review and ask questions.
Michael Jordan, auditor with Carr, Riggs and Ingram, the firm contracted by the district to provide the yearly finance report, gave a presentation Monday, fielded questions and explained the delay in providing the report.
He attributed it to a "management" decision, in part because the audit had to first be approved by the state.
"It was thought that bringing it to the full board (was appropriate), but I was available at any given time to present it to the finance committee," he said.
There appeared to be nothing overtly glaring or problematic, he said of the findings. Still, several board members said, they appreciated having the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the information.
"This was completed as of Jan. 7. What was the process, the reasoning for not getting this book to us before the last meeting?" asked board member Jennifer Strickland.
Jordan said he gave the full report to management and it had to then be reviewed and approved by the state. He said he was "told to wait" and bring it to the full board.
When asked why it took until March for that to happen, Jordan replied, "I like to give the board the full package."
In previous years, a presentation has been made to the finance committee prior to the regular board meeting. Board Vice Chair Arnold Flowers, chairman of the finance committee, said that process allowed for discussion before being put to a vote at the next board meeting.
"I think a lot of conversation this morning could have been alleviated if the report had been given to the board," he said. "I don't rubber stamp things.
"In the future, if we could get it as a first reading, let us have a chance to look at it, then we can come back at our next board meeting. I think that would be a much better process."
Jordan maintained he had been available to do so once the state approved the report in February.
The board accepted the audit report, 5-0. Two members, Dwight Cannon and Rick Pridgen, were absent.
Dunsmore discussed efforts being made to alleviate GHS's low-performing status through the state's "Restart Model," which gives districts flexibility in the calendar and schedule for teacher certification. An application has been made to the state board to adopt that model, he said.
Wayne Community College will play a key role in that, developing a CTE, or career and technical education, program for GHS students.
"Rather than us developing, hiring and putting together a CTE class, our students will go to GHS in the morning, take the core curriculum classes," he said. "We will transport them out to WCC in the afternoon for their CTE classes."
The other component is teacher certification, he said, as the district strives to have all of the educators out there being highly qualified.
One way to accomplish that, he said, is by accessing a "huge resource" on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, he said. Filling the need for foreign language, for example, he can get "college-educated, gifted linguists" to come out and teach that one period.
"The other thing that opens up, which is unique to SJAFB, is a lot of their students are coming in and out at different times of the year that don't align with our schedule," he said. "We've been working with N.C. Virtual Public Schools, that they're going to give us rolling admissions for when those students come in mid-year."
Dunsmore said he has met with parents on the base, who have expressed interest in getting a satellite campus there to do online classes.
"The governor is really pushing to make North Carolina a military-friendly (state)," he said. "We're hoping this is going to get a lot of traction.
"My goal is to make Wayne County the most military-friendly (county)."
Dunsmore said he has also spoken with city and county leadership about trying to adjust teacher stipends, recruiting teachers specifically to staff the low-performing schools. It can start at Goldsboro High and filter down to middle and elementary schools, he said.
"It's going to be a lot of work. It's a commitment that we're not going to staff this school with long-term substitutes," he said. "We want to bring people in here that really want to turn this school around and make a difference."