[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6506903,"mediaKeyId","5529519-ac95281d9b2e737e57d84ceb66bf1b15","parentId",5529519,"title","Pitt County Board spotlights bus drivers, thespians, FFA leader, journalists and educators ahead of new year","audioSeconds",2010,"startMs",6300000,"endMs",8310000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529519-ac95281d9b2e737e57d84ceb66bf1b15&start=6300&end=8310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529519-ac95281d9b2e737e57d84ceb66bf1b15/thumbnail_6300000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6506903/North-Carolina/Pitt-County-Board-spotlights-bus-drivers-thespians-FFA-leader-journalists-and-educators-ahead-of-new-year","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506903-55f5de130352f4f6715ad16bb9c517b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771473888&Signature=brO~why8SPWp3sWqeAttpw0Npz3MBqzMLh7vGKmei-M7HDRTYqliWobvjnLnGxGHc9-LkOl3sK0F~Tjpio6txDSXkHqBHT1e3q1B9kySjtwbBzymzOjiqWzDIaQGZYm6dsjbza14rFJpZ5W87Xevwevc5LPpslc1VsI1AldduKHIK9sWoWOzVJq5BpsRjPUAkaqi2-vH4zoItc-GKupRLOYr6zsIJGFeS4LA~mZlAF~8shncsN2b4E-zl~zOF2LdTXJ4MZr3b3D47XSWMX22PNPVEmHFBoD1QQxAk9N8-PXHFo8m7ux5wP3sG6jZ~WfEF67b-rbQ0pdTIH5qW53jEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pitt County Schools","date","2025-08-05T01:24:39.96Z","article","Pitt County Schools used Monday's board meeting to highlight student achievement and staff accomplishments ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

Transportation staff recognized three bus drivers who represented Pitt County at the DMV District 1 Bus Rodeo. The district said its drivers tested skills such as precision and safety; Joshua Briley placed first in the district and later finished 10th at the state competition. Board members thanked drivers for their role in safely transporting students.

The board honored J. H. Rose High School's International Thespian Society troupe 894 for earning superior ratings and two ESPY awards at the International Thespian Festival; the troupe's group musical number \"Mamma Mia\" received critics' choice and was performed on the festival's main stage.

Walt Moore, a 2024 North Pitt High School graduate and a newly elected state FFA vice president, was introduced. Moore, who helped welcome more than 4,300 attendees to the state FFA convention this summer, is now a rising sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill.

J. H. Rose's journalism program and its student editors were also recognized for multiple awards from the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association, including several first-place entries to be featured in that organization's Book of Firsts.

DH Conley High School student Seth Hartley was congratulated after selection as one of 44 North Carolina students chosen for the 2025 Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.

The board acknowledged two district staff, Courtney Atkins (teacher support coordinator) and Elizabeth Myers (career pathway specialist), for earning the Associate Certified Coach credential from the International Coaching Federation, a credential staff said involved more than 125 hours of coaching experience, mentor coaching and a standardized exam.

Superintendent Steve Latsiter announced a districtwide campaign, \"I Love Our Schools,\" asking families, staff, civic groups and partners to show support on the first day of traditional school (Aug. 25) through shirts or signs. Staff said the campaign will continue beyond that day as part of an effort to build community pride.

Board members welcomed new senior staff, thanked food service and operations teams for summer work, and extended condolences to local families who lost students over the summer.

These recognitions precede a busy start to the academic year, district leaders said.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 04th 2025, Pitt County Schools Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 4 meeting the board recognized bus drivers who won the DMV District 1 rodeo, J. H. Rose Thespian troupe honors, state FFA vice president Walt Moore, J.H. Rose journalism awards, a student selected for an electric youth tour, two staff who earned ICF coach certification, and launched an \"I Love Our Schools\" campaign.","taxTitle","Pitt County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14093,"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},6506908,"Board approves nearly $958,000 project to renovate culinary lab with county funds",180,9000000,9180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529519-ac95281d9b2e737e57d84ceb66bf1b15&start=9000&end=9180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529519-ac95281d9b2e737e57d84ceb66bf1b15/thumbnail_9000000.jpg","/articles/6506908/North-Carolina/Board-approves-nearly-958000-project-to-renovate-culinary-lab-with-county-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506908-680e31b9c64e40eab9175fb91bd7540d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771473888&Signature=Nw4e4uYHu6TZvEXqdX1KUcK3TppfS~TaL8fClaSKFptP74WrM8UhyX0JMQ~8YG7G7uTRfhQlIAbSZVMPSby6NXmHdbX6j0fFwN8aVsUQxNKnCU4~z2Rro4HiB0~0oFzwihxSVlQauF3O6WO802oOBAj0xnzJfLiaTRNZUoBY7ESKy5E6lLD5oynTEz6WWuh~TIDKPw1P-QtWuG3bQvBY9LZ1HaIz0rYlAYuG2bQibOOlFOjZBdvMDxUetiVe8RcDs72eLIEAZRpdoyA6YFbFEMS0cQBE1VRdEMNGAtTnOTO8cLH3IjArtL2UWie3T4J0HLMCr0NuwCHjb-1HnIYwsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pitt County Schools on Monday authorized a renovation of a career and technical education culinary lab, approving a contract with Waters Contracting after value-engineering reduced the project cost to $957,871.49.

District staff said the county provided $1 million to support CTE lab improvements and that a competitive procurement received a June 17 base bid of $1,027,000 from Waters Contracting. After a value-engineering (VE) process and including design fees, the recommended total project cost is $957,871.49; the actual construction contract is $895,207, staff said.

The board voted to approve the contract following staff reviews of bid bonds, performance bonds, contractor licensing, insurance, small-business participation, and references. Staff noted a comparable package: Coastal Carolina Community College had a similar culinary renovation completed for $883,968 and provided positive references for Waters Contracting.

Board members thanked county commissioners for the $1 million contribution earmarked for CTE and discussed transparency in the contractor selection process. One member said he would not vote for a construction contract in the future without first reviewing recommendation letters and contractor portfolios; district staff responded that the requested materials had been provided to the board and that further information would continue to be included in work sessions when appropriate.

Staff said the district solicited bidders, reviewed reference checks and Better Business Bureau status, and verified state licensing and bonding requirements before recommending the award. The motion to award the contract passed unanimously.

The district did not provide a specific construction schedule in the presentation; staff said design and VE work are complete and the contract amount covers construction. The project will be administered by the district's facilities team.","Pitt County Schools accepted a low bid after value engineering and approved a contract with Waters Contracting for a culinary lab renovation at A.G. Griffin High School; the project will be funded largely by a $1 million county contribution directed to CTE improvements.",{"_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},6506912,"Pitt County Board outlines school-level plans to implement state cellphone restrictions, sets Aug. 25 start",1920,9300000,11220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5529519-ac95281d9b2e737e57d84ceb66bf1b15&start=9300&end=11220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5529519-ac95281d9b2e737e57d84ceb66bf1b15/thumbnail_9300000.jpg","/articles/6506912/North-Carolina/Pitt-County-Board-outlines-school-level-plans-to-implement-state-cellphone-restrictions-sets-Aug-25-start","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506912-e7598befbd6277d90016d8c83d5ef0ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771473888&Signature=ZCLYgpxDcqHdSmY8n~oppaZpLnaFhv3SaqvUzLgYew96XiLDXOBpDj0UatoB0MlR0vV0uPp4rxIs2VyZGVSsWD9qnZ5ABHCI3PYzMvmBW6KE2lG2Bf6pLsFCX5lto0wgDlCG88pcWtA3G0STwaCdZp3yaNOfL7iIv-r6qN6fyJJQ9bwbE~mP6HRHCsYRKrsjHvIEjR-kxQPU6bFXXqN-ENwvyQsXFPotCFJJafIYgSFfQdy0AeEzyJ4TEcf1eXZntLpkajke9YAuDAydWTS~zb1RTTFXymNYE27AOwm4gpquPBB3~lihWAAqmSC54fd4YR1WZ-c4uHhedRhw9CMYrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pitt County Schools officials on Monday presented a first reading of updated policies meant to comply with the General Assembly's House Bill 959 (session law 2025-38), laying out three school-level options for restricting student wireless devices and setting an implementation start date of Aug. 25, 2025.

District staff said the law requires school systems to adopt a policy banning unauthorized wireless communication devices in schools and that principals must notify the district which option they will use. \"No student shall have in sight, have turned on or use any unauthorized personal communication or electronic device on school property during school hours without permission from a school official,\" Miss English read aloud while describing the district's current code of conduct.

The board heard three baseline approaches for principals to choose from: (1) bell-to-bell (no visible devices from the start to the end of class), (2) put away/out-of-sight for instructional periods, and (3) a check-in/check-out system in which students surrender devices to teachers for the class period. Principals may adopt additional measures such as lockboxes or magnetic pouches at their discretion.

Board members pressed staff about enforcement and equity. Several members said consistency across schools will be critical. One board member noted schools that previously required devices to be stowed reported significant drops in discipline referrals. Staff acknowledged that not all campuses will choose the same approach and said the district will ask principals to report their chosen method in advance so families know what to expect.

The presentation addressed special cases. Smartwatches may be worn but wireless features that connect to a smartphone must be disabled during school hours, staff said. Exceptions are allowed for medical needs, approved safety plans or administrator-authorized communications in emergency situations. The district also said administrators can limit device use on school buses when safety is a concern, and that bus riders may use devices with headphones and low volume per state law.

Board members asked about costs if principals opt to provide lockboxes or pouches. Staff said schools could use existing state-provided funds or local school funds to pay for equipment; the district's baseline guidance was deliberately set to an \"out of sight/out of mind\" option that does not require immediate spending by the district.

No formal vote was taken on the policy at Monday's meeting; staff asked that the updates return for a second reading at the September board meeting. Administrators said they will require principals to communicate each school's chosen approach to students, families and staff before classes begin.

The discussion took place amid broader public comment about parental rights and curricular materials. Julie Anderson, speaking for the group Moms for Liberty, referenced a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision she identified as \"Mahmood v. Taylor\" and urged the district to provide advance notice and a formal opt-out process for lessons on gender identity and related topics; she said parents should be offered \"meaningful equivalent educational opportunities\" when students opt out. Tricia Wuerck offered a public poem urging vigilance for students she described as vulnerable.

District leaders said the cellphone policy changes are intended to align current code of conduct language (last amended in 2016) with the new state mandate and to reduce instructional disruptions. The board will consider a second reading of the updated policy in September and monitor schools after the Aug. 25 start to determine whether additional tools or resources are needed.

The district emphasized that principals must communicate their chosen approach to families before the school year begins to ensure consistent enforcement and clear expectations.

Sources: Presentation and discussion on House Bill 959 policy revisions at the Pitt County Board of Education meeting, Aug. 4, 2025.","At a first reading, Pitt County Schools administrators presented policy options to comply with House Bill 959\u0000(session law 2025-38), including \"bell-to-bell,\" \"out of sight\" and check-in/check-out approaches; principals must pick an approach before the district implements the policy on Aug. 25, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pitt County Board spotlights bus drivers, thespians, FFA leader, journalists and educators ahead of new year

Board approves nearly $958,000 project to renovate culinary lab with county funds

Pitt County Board outlines school-level plans to implement state cellphone restrictions, sets Aug. 25 start