[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6390028,"mediaKeyId","2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8","parentId",2112746,"title","Public commenters urge measured book-policy process, safe firearm storage and mental-health supports","audioSeconds",1402,"startMs",4031000,"endMs",5433000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8&start=4031&end=5433","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8/thumbnail_4031000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6390028/North-Carolina/Public-commenters-urge-measured-book-policy-process-safe-firearm-storage-and-mental-health-supports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390028-e2e7fda2d6b0e453f3ef7d0930b72ef9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204205&Signature=AIsTHSyAMKUTz-8a6bqwH4bb9WjXCyu8g4cOlnwA46r3cRg551Ac3ldBjRoGNE6RnftvkY0NKUc5vsFxt~ZVxus9OR3rzoQqyhXLcqBKeAzvevZ61X0rQ~khHpWbKkm5lyUIL4JDlUoBs4rVHKXIfD~d2iE7C9SxMDNeXcVkcH1RMn0P86wypXt0rHiU4FwDC739iT1UGi8MbGCMmpiLQ9WpW9N2yVoQOxCaSOV9tPGuyET0iRIacYrhrQZzU2mKTEh4ndwIFpfuQ6zCb6ROil1FvhFBws6ZfEaMiIF2a5DocZFu4x7P8Tcw8cJWIZ2~ON6m692TclrGl3a2SKt6-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Henderson County Schools","date","2025-01-14T12:03:27Z","article","During the public comment period on Jan. 13, residents addressed several issues before the board, urging a balanced approach and offering concrete suggestions.

Carol Cannon, speaking as a long-time library user and former recipient of library outreach, urged trustees to adopt a “comprehensive policy to consider and carefully evaluate challenges” to materials in school media centers, emphasizing that librarians’ expertise and age-appropriateness reviews should guide decisions. “The best protection for our children is not to avoid exposing them to new ideas,” Cannon said, while also urging context-based judgments when considering materials some parents find objectionable.

Anne Twiggs urged the board to include parent guidance on safe gun storage in the district safety policy and suggested the district use state resources such as the North Carolina Department of Public Safety materials and governor-led initiatives. She cited what she described as rising incidents and recommended a policy that asks parents to acknowledge receipt of safe-storage guidance. “It is imperative that our schools do all they can to educate parents on safe gun storage,” Twiggs said, and offered to serve on a committee to develop such guidance.

Other speakers supported teaching well-researched history, including Martin Luther King Jr. topics, and warned against language such as “indoctrination.” Multiple speakers — including supporters of school gardens and community volunteers — described successful projects (for example, a pollinator and outdoor classroom at Upward Elementary and a calm-corner program funded by a congregation) and urged the board to support related partnerships.

Parents also raised concerns about high school attendance and tardy policies, arguing punishments such as full-day in-school suspension for repeated minor tardies can be excessively punitive and may disproportionately affect certain students. One parent urged the board to analyze which student groups are most affected by current attendance discipline to ensure equity.

Speakers praised the district’s teacher and staff recognitions and asked trustees to continue relying on professional judgment when reviewing materials, while encouraging clearer processes for parental concerns without removing access for other students.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 01/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple public speakers during the Jan. 13 meeting urged trustees to adopt a careful book-challenge policy, to promote safe firearm storage guidance for families, and to support school gardens and classroom mental-health resources; speakers also raised concerns about attendance and tardy policies.","taxTitle","Henderson County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14094,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390034,"Trustees ask for numbers on district-funded student lunches as budget season opens",1166,7499000,8665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8&start=7499&end=8665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8/thumbnail_7499000.jpg","/articles/6390034/North-Carolina/Trustees-ask-for-numbers-on-district-funded-student-lunches-as-budget-season-opens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390034-a0ad35bf9a14282b4021a9ae101b12ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204205&Signature=er4-SP67yKDWPeKmCNCPuMz0o3k0gRnxcch6Oq57Yu0~r0jbmsAwj3S8y0bkT20Yfy8~B5IhIfegZHeozErzYWtLJefN4wi2aNDTaScU4ZFMniqmcuSmRPTfzfJ6i64OiBwB3VsqJPvNDkFMP~uQpUkXhexVXWOJV7UAJPFmlCFs-iUz18yavqDAvt7PGO83R7vWd6v8o2nmLH2uDj16h-bX0dWZiTZwJfr8ppz52~wQBj8A7STVAfHevVgAZd~twyo-DE219~zDWcSMhXOMyAtQsxVNVvyAgiQaBFPZrQ0fRWyv3laAC5PyCwLdbpm~SPZVEuMd9H5mQUMEfrYjoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members renewed a request on Jan. 13 for district finance staff to present concrete costs for providing lunch to all students and to include the estimate in upcoming budget work sessions.

Board member Kate Campbell opened the discussion, citing Henderson County cost-of-living data and saying many families fall short of local basic-needs thresholds even if they do not meet the federal free-and-reduced-income cutoffs. “Who can cook something for a family for $2.74 a meal?” Campbell asked, pressing the board to consider a district-funded lunch program for all students rather than maintaining a school-by-school Federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) patchwork.

Finance and nutrition staff said they will prepare per-plate cost figures (including food, labor, equipment and benefits), an estimate of the annual local cost to provide lunch to every student, and an analysis of how keeping some schools on CEP would affect the district’s local outlay. Staff told the board they will bring those numbers to the February budget work session and noted that CEP and state/federal reimbursements affect the local cost calculation.

The discussion was paired with a district strategic-plan briefing. Superintendent Dr. Marlow summarized work the district has done to set baselines for 2024–27 goals — including graduation-rate targets, school readiness partnership measures, teacher retention metrics, and facility and transportation efficiency indicators — and presented a proposed schedule for budget development. The board agreed to a budget work session at noon on Feb. 10 and an April check-in timed to the state budget calendar; May 15 remains the statutory deadline to submit the board’s local funding request to the county commissioners.

Board members asked staff to return with: the current per-plate cost for lunch (including all overhead); the estimated local annual cost to feed every student; how CEP-qualifying schools would be handled if the district provides universal lunches; and an updated sustainability estimate for a district-funded lunch program. District finance staff said they would provide those figures for the board’s Feb. 10 budget workshop.","Trustees discussed adding universal school lunches and asked staff to provide per-plate costs and the annual local cost estimate ahead of February budget work sessions; the board also reviewed strategic-plan baselines and a two-year budget timeline tied to state processes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390038,"Board approves $301,000 contract to expand access-control panels at 11 schools",150,7307000,7457000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8&start=7307&end=7457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8/thumbnail_7307000.jpg","/articles/6390038/North-Carolina/Board-approves-301000-contract-to-expand-access-control-panels-at-11-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390038-b426928a973c2ec272d50c74e72602ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204205&Signature=C9ZD9vwYLKLkPH0U0VaRpcvfpBiCdpT~TjKBJnF1HWpPoHXm-EP32WLc~rCYOyavO3fPAJrhOuc9rxnYdCF9v3rkAU8hy-Yuw-NnIZ5Hndf0zlFCgdbLbD0CZ4sGQgtZPimIaI~Fe2CSNeqDz7134onV4rEr8H0KL-bCvKO0xeAPC9H9ip9R8Hh-bbX-VBPHa18msoHHWdpGweWIV7Cc6BltHw1OQO7ZpMWpMVmw4RSF6Z5oNwR6wxfpSMmlniZ7NrmEyCZTwRhYSSkJxvFmeuFwDXJSExaQaeROLmsU1TXKOnaF5A9dGGqWnapNLmVAM23981-Qqgf9VczzTHABCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Henderson County Board of Public Education voted to authorize a contract with Haynes Technologies to expand access-control panels at 11 district schools.

Chief facilities staff and finance staff told trustees that a competitive bid recommended Haynes Technologies for the $301,000 project. The district has $200,000 in grant funds awarded late last year and approximately $110,000 in local capital available; the administration said it would apply the grant and local capital to the contract and pursue additional grant dollars as available. “The work is to be completed before the end of this year,” district staff said.

A motion to approve the contract was made and seconded; the board voted in favor. The motion passed and the contract was authorized for execution.

Board members asked how the capital allocation would be handled if additional grant funds arrive; staff said any subsequent grant awards would remain in capital or offset local contributions and that the district would return funds to capital if appropriate.

In the same meeting the board also approved the consent agenda — a bundle of routine items including a budget amendment for a Dogwood Foundation CTE grant — by voice vote.","The Henderson County Board of Public Education voted Jan. 13 to contract with Haynes Technologies to expand card-access controls at 11 campuses; the board applied $200,000 in grant funds and local capital to the purchase. Work is scheduled to finish before year-end.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390042,"Henderson County principals describe NCSTAR as a \"living\" school improvement tool",956,2613000,3569000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8&start=2613&end=3569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112746-91052eba99173b9006b7a5b8aecbcce8/thumbnail_2613000.jpg","/articles/6390042/North-Carolina/Henderson-County-principals-describe-NCSTAR-as-a-living-school-improvement-tool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390042-057e0b2c0ff9df7fc6c11faed1a526c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204205&Signature=OGc2gFCs27c6RCWv3cQFhfU-RRCHmRyWBpkGL6PycZIVwcyR4oIH46SM8bKTe3KJEbHjrZ3q4ckQjtvEpZZo9Ou74Im3RF-QkylYnVmxaHG5-M33o97yEUtvMBTzWtX6e4Bxroi2ryM7t3G~DvgvRQ83THVOLrPINHK-EA-oRol46dI12qcklqDW88tl7wCzQpptG5IMtk9kP7htiv6M1tYoYV80E03IXj9xwl2tTu9E9XokNOctAR3n9FC1djaNwhcEQhLyMPLKUDQFz-UJdnlcznnvk51PKgJjTXXIb4~m7x~i97GsmieNJ0GJXI2dSBUYXCS~KD2zAte20XpdiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Henderson County school leaders told the school board on Jan. 13 that the district's move to NCSTAR (Indistar) has changed how schools monitor improvement work and set goals.

Joni Allison, principal of Hendersonville Middle School, and Heather Knapp, a Flat Rock Middle School teacher and SIT chair, walked trustees through how their site improvement teams use NCSTAR to track cohort proficiency, growth measures and other indicators. “NCSTAR has definitely been a learning curve on how to make it work,” Allison said, explaining that the platform houses mission statements, goals and a needs assessment that includes achievement, attendance and discipline data.

The presenters said schools are using cohort data from state end-of-grade tests to set proficiency targets and state achievement-level breakdowns to identify groups needing additional growth. Allison said Hendersonville Middle chose indicators including classroom data use, professional development aligned to needs, MTSS/tiered interventions and consistent classroom management strategies to reduce students’ cognitive load and increase instructional time.

Knapp described how Flat Rock uses Indistar to facilitate collaborative SIT meetings: agendas and minutes are uploaded, staff can supply anonymous talking points, and action steps are assigned and tracked. She said completed actions and monthly updates make NCSTAR a “living” document that supports transparency and district alignment. “It's a shared platform,” Knapp said; “if my name’s attached to something and it's live, I better do what I'm supposed to do.”

Board members asked about frequency and expectations; district staff said monthly SIT meetings are the expectation and are required by the NCSTAR process. Board members and presenters also discussed that some survey instruments used to inform plans (the state teacher working conditions survey) are administered biennially, and the district plans a short, focused interim survey in off years to monitor progress.

District staff said the platform lets schools borrow common language and evidence-based practices from one another; instructional services staff can post coaching comments directly in NCSTAR and monitor progress across schools. Trustees heard that the system had helped schools identify targeted interventions and evidence-based professional development tied to school goals.

District staff and principals said NCSTAR does not replace local collaboration: teams still meet, review norms, assign ownership for action steps and monitor student-level indicators weekly or monthly. Board members asked district staff to return with examples of how NCSTAR data translates into classroom-level interventions and outcomes at a future meeting.","Principals and district staff demonstrated how Henderson County schools are using NCSTAR (Indistar) as a live document to set goals, track progress and coordinate professional development, with monthly SIT reviews and data-driven action steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters urge measured book-policy process, safe firearm storage and mental-health supports

Trustees ask for numbers on district-funded student lunches as budget season opens

Board approves $301,000 contract to expand access-control panels at 11 schools

Henderson County principals describe NCSTAR as a "living" school improvement tool