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Union County Board honors student and staff; superintendent lists graduations, summer programs and staff changes
Summary
The Union County Board of Education presented the June John H. Crowder service award to a Parkwood High School senior and named two UCPS "influencers" for June. Superintendent Andrew G. Houlihan reviewed graduation dates, summer feeding and reading programs, and announced staff transitions and a new director of safety and security.
At its June 2025 meeting the Union County Board of Education recognized student and staff achievements and heard a superintendent report on graduations, summer programs and personnel changes.
The board presented the John H. Crowder service award for June 2025 to a Parkwood High School senior identified at the meeting as Braylon Hartis, who was described by presenters as an Air Force Junior ROTC cadet with multiple leadership roles, color guard participation and awards. The board asked attendees to join in congratulating Hartis before his planned departure for Marine Corps training in July 2025.
Superintendent Andrew G. Houlihan announced graduating class totals and summer services. Houlihan said the district will celebrate about 2,025 graduates with comprehensive‑high‑school ceremonies scheduled next week in high‑school stadiums and that ceremonies will be livestreamed. He said the UCPS mobile book bus and summer meal service will resume beginning Monday, June 16; the mobile book bus will travel across the county with free books and summer lunches will be served Monday through Thursday at specified schools.
The board also recognized two UCPS "influencers" for June: Xinjiang Chen, a Mandarin immersion teacher at Marvin Elementary, and Kristen Cutse, a bookkeeper at Waxhaw Elementary. Nominators Jerry Prosser and Kimberly Thomas read submissions praising the honorees’ dedication, communication and classroom or school‑community contributions. The board read a formal proclamation naming the two staff members UCPS influencers for June 2025.
Educational honors: Houlihan noted that Cuthbertson High School’s band was recognized by the National Band Association with a program‑of‑excellence blue‑ribbon award, described as the first in North Carolina and one of five nationwide recipients.
Personnel announcements: Houlihan said that Jared McCraw and Don Novak attended their final board meeting and thanked them for their service. He also welcomed Steve Hancock as the district’s new director of safety and security.
Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows routine procedural motions were approved by voice vote: approval of the minutes, approval of the consent agenda, and adjournment. The transcript records affirmative “Aye” responses but does not provide a roll‑call tally.
No new policies were adopted in the session; four policies and two administrative guidelines were listed for first review and board members were invited to ask questions and comment.
