[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6469432,"mediaKeyId","5780944-3029349ec41e14a27bedbc0f656d132c","parentId",5780944,"title","Wilson County Board approves capital projects, safety upgrades and multiple policy revisions; directs administration to respond to public equity questions","audioSeconds",347,"startMs",4345000,"endMs",4692000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780944-3029349ec41e14a27bedbc0f656d132c&start=4345&end=4692","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780944-3029349ec41e14a27bedbc0f656d132c/thumbnail_4345000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6469432/Tennessee/Wilson-County-Board-approves-capital-projects-safety-upgrades-and-multiple-policy-revisions-directs-administration-to-respond-to-public-equity-questions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469432-b4cce986de4d75951c8b2afc7a2959b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156056&Signature=UMkkalrpW5-R0ZGYi2GWAFm~B42VDE6TyXPiPkfyULX4IcR8MphzDiEPgiSih1lfN50l5SNcnbgvNt7wUZ-hnuOlxESRkq~77CDY1XBPZfWYGwWHmbUoSpMU200CBxf2bVDJMzHbh1eCxP4dfsD61XA-EVPLNnx6tHeTY-sxAS24vuYHT2GURcDnNQc7zKI2Vca4Lc2gHddwvxFOdtEnnfiP48pe92uw-1qi~I8Llrbv~zXKNqqo5ii2q7X~R4t8WCBTJ1ef8NygBu4aO2QS7hMJPAhvwg5ViBqE62LVqYNPQYEbvEgBTZzp~c4lTawYUB1uvBnTLAaR2~2MiPxlkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wilson County Schools","date","2025-09-16T11:56:39Z","article","At its Sept. 15 meeting the Wilson County Board of Education adopted a $2025–26 proposed capital priority list and approved several contracts and policy revisions after committee reports and public comment.

On capital priorities, the board approved funding allocations that include a bus lease ($287,344.04), installation of security vestibules and cameras at several schools (estimated $70,000 each for Fike High School, Elm City Middle School, Hunt High School and Vick Elementary School), soccer field lights at Fike High School (estimated $242,539) and playground mulch replenishment ($137,174). The board also approved smaller security and facilities items such as site‑specific camera installations and playground fencing at Barnes and Garner’s elementary schools. Board members said some items had previously been approved and this vote finalized how they will be funded.

The board approved vendor and contract information reported by the administrative services committee: furniture and desk purchases and assembly for Springfield Middle School (School Specialty $77,445.06; BRAIN $81,789.72; Donnell Robinson $32,000) and an AngelTrax bus camera upgrade contract for $79,349.32 (installation of two cameras per bus). The instructional services committee recommended and the board approved a nursing services contract with Biotta for special education (EC) nursing services not to exceed $100,000.

On safety and security, district staff reported measures implemented or in progress: weapons detection systems and open gate screening in high schools in 2024–25 and expansion of open‑gate weapons detection to middle schools starting this school year; security vestibule construction at most schools with remaining schools on the capital list; a visitor management system (Raptor); school resource officers in middle and high schools with an additional rotating SRO funded by the Center for Safer Schools safety grant for elementary coverage; drills (quarterly lockdowns/semester, monthly fire drills), and planned full‑scale reunification training in June 2026. The district also noted trainings such as Stop the Bleed, Narcan distribution and online monitoring/anonymous reporting platforms (Gaggle, Say Something).

During public input the board heard two local nonprofit representatives from Casa Sol de Wilson (Daniela Mojica Uriostegui and Elizabeth Herrera) describe outreach work and requested continued partnership after an MOU termination; the board voted to direct administration to respond to the concerns. A separate public commenter raised questions about district policy language and recent presidential executive orders; the board similarly directed administration to respond.

The board approved a slate of revised policies on second reading, including policies on school safety, Title IX harassment procedures and grievance processes, board member travel, remote participation in board meetings, voting methods, staff‑student relations, child abuse and human trafficking reporting, student transportation insurance and licensure. The board also approved the installation of two signs requested by Darden alumni to honor historically related school names at Darden Middle School and Vick Elementary.

All recorded motions during the meeting carried unanimously by voice vote. The board concluded the public portion of the meeting and entered closed session for confidential personnel, student and emergency response planning matters under cited North Carolina statutes and federal student privacy law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wilson County Schools BOE Meeting - September 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board adopted the 2025–26 capital priority list (including bus lease, security vestibules and field lighting), approved contracts and multiple policy revisions on second reading, accepted two alumni signs and directed administration to respond to public comments about equity and federal/state guidance. All recorded votes were unanimous.","taxTitle","Wilson County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",13503,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6469436,"Wilson County Schools posts modest proficiency gains; district honors student adviser and first STEM‑distinction school",0,1027000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780944-3029349ec41e14a27bedbc0f656d132c&start=1027&end=1027","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780944-3029349ec41e14a27bedbc0f656d132c/thumbnail_1027000.jpg","/articles/6469436/Tennessee/Wilson-County-Schools-posts-modest-proficiency-gains-district-honors-student-adviser-and-first-STEMdistinction-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469436-e67d57cce4f71764a76e19e0f2ddc2bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156056&Signature=DjGHG4fWWvhaf-5FwtmFmlI02qGWtCdehY7wzgCgIok38Do9XegX889QSokBOayqqDe67suwKG-4M6Nc8kmmdWuzbu85pUt0hY1NwH09w5shfb7sVKwrL4R8odyvnArvmK-lbE7QPEpksxwiQdbvG0b7hmWcvbAzKTevO7tuyKiycORxMW9XRNz4EidzU4ZzBf8fHvDvRdwuD1rHE7XxBSZ0tz8442gysaRBunJQsmR1PHlbYZZyYcZ-HnkqG4k5Suy-cMy9UwK4x374vy7SQdNko7Ehj3dpkkT1UNkX~1VSfuH7Vbt13~4yDQxN58r8lqGXZwK-b8FGEakt5lLQUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wilson County Board of Education members heard a presentation on Sept. 15 showing modest student achievement gains across the district and recognized two local honorees: Daniela Mojica Uriostegui, the district’s newly appointed student adviser to the North Carolina State Board of Education, and Frederick Douglass Elementary School for earning the North Carolina STEM School Distinction.

\"For another year, Wilson County Schools increased the overall grade level proficiency by 3 tenths of a point,\" said Dr. Daniel Barnes, executive director of accountability, as he summarized the 2024–25 accountability results. He reported the district’s grade‑level proficiency rose from 56.1% to 56.4% and that the district moved from the 30th percentile to the 30th‑fourth ranking in statewide comparisons (as presented to the board).

Barnes told the board the district is now 2.5 percentage points from a top‑20 ranking and noted that summer testing added 699 proficient scores; the district was 335 scores short of the top‑20 threshold. \"Our cohort graduation rate for the third straight year is above 80% — it is back to 83 percent,\" Barnes said.

The presentation listed additional district results: three of four middle schools and five elementary schools exceeded expected growth; 21 of 24 schools that receive a growth grade met or exceeded expected growth; the district had no F‑rated schools for the first time since 2018; and several schools and programs posted first‑time achievements (for example, Wilson Academy of Applied Technology surpassed 90% grade‑level proficiency for the first time). Barnes also reported subject‑level changes: combined grades 3–8 reading/English rose 3.2%, grades 3–8 math rose 3.6%, middle schools showed strong year‑to‑year gains, and science declined amid a new statewide science assessment with no retest opportunity.

Superintendent Dr. Mills and board members praised the reported progress. \"This sustained high level of performance over time is something to be proud of,\" a board member said during remarks following the presentation.

In the \"good news\" portion of the meeting, board members recognized Daniela Mojica Uriostegui, identified in the meeting as a junior at Wilson Early College Academy, on her appointment as student adviser to the North Carolina State Board of Education. The board said she will represent public school students statewide during a two‑year appointment.

The board also formally recognized Frederick Douglass Elementary School for receiving the North Carolina STEM School Distinction — the district’s first school to earn that designation. Dr. Christine Mitchell, district STEM coordinator, described the STEM designation process as a multistep evaluation that included a district STEM strategic plan, a site visit by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and documented evidence of STEM practices across grade levels. Principal Casey Wester Wooten and members of the Frederick Douglass leadership team attended the meeting to accept the recognition.

Board members and district staff said the STEM recognition has generated interest from other districts and highlighted partnerships supporting STEM work, including Wilson Community College, STEM East, the Smithsonian, and industry partners. Dr. Mitchell said local programs such as robotics teams, FIRST robotics participation and the district STEMposium help expand hands‑on STEM opportunities.

The board took no formal action on the accountability presentation; the information was presented for the board’s review and discussion.","District officials reported a 0.3 percentage‑point rise in overall grade‑level proficiency to 56.4% and highlighted several firsts, including no F schools and Frederick Douglass Elementary’s North Carolina STEM School Distinction. The board also recognized student adviser Daniela Mojica Uriostegui.","actionData","errors"]

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Wilson County Board approves capital projects, safety upgrades and multiple policy revisions; directs administration to respond to public equity questions

Wilson County Schools posts modest proficiency gains; district honors student adviser and first STEM‑distinction school