The Bedford Board of Education elected Angelique Carter as board president and Sharon Macklin as vice president during its Jan. 6 organizational meeting and then moved on to routine operational business including approval of an AVID service contract, a revised CTE insurance agreement and several personnel and budget items.

The newly elected president, Angelique Carter, won confirmation by board vote after nominations at the start of the organizational meeting. Sharon Macklin was approved for vice president in a separate vote. The board then approved the slate of organizational resolutions for 2025, set the regular meeting dates and times for the calendar year and named a public‑records designee as required by state training rules.

Board members discussed and approved several operational items that followed the organizational business. The board unanimously approved a service contract to implement AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at the high school level, the appointment of Antoine McCormick as supervisor of instructional technology, a revised CTE liability insurance agreement that expands coverage to all CTE programs for three years, an overnight field trip, gifts and donations, and the district's alternative tax budget. The board also adopted policy 1530 (evaluation of principals and other administrators) on second reading.

District staff described the AVID contract as a multi‑tiered program of professional development and student supports aimed at building capacity to place more students into honors, Advanced Placement and college‑credit courses with scaffolded supports. "AVID stands for advancement via individual determination," said Dr. Harrington, describing the program's focus on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading strategies and on forming a site team of teachers and counselors to attend a Summer Institute before a ninth‑grade cohort begins.

On CTE insurance, the board heard that the district previously paid $3,100 for a one‑year policy covering a single program; staff presented a revised agreement totaling $9,830 that covers all CTE programs for three years. The district's staff said the November payment of $3,100 came from the CTE budget and that the remaining $6,632 will be paid from the general fund to complete the multi‑year coverage. Board members asked for documentation showing the prior payment and the calculation of the remaining balance before the vote; the board approved the revised agreement by roll call.

Board members also approved the superintendent's personnel recommendation to hire Antoine McCormick as replacement supervisor of instructional technology. "He was very articulate, he was very knowledgeable," said Mr. Walters during discussion of the hire, describing the candidate's interview performance.

Other approvals included: the district's organizational resolutions (Resolutions 2025‑8 through 2025‑37 and associated exhibits), Resolution 2025‑38 setting regular meeting dates and times for 2025, designation of the public‑records training recipient under House Bill 9, an overnight field trip, acceptance of gifts from Giant Eagle and Kenyatta Johnson for intramural youth basketball, and the alternative tax budget required by Catawba County. The board adopted Policy 1530 (evaluation of principals and other administrators) on second reading.

Board members debated committee assignments and whether committee meetings should be scheduled at 5 p.m. on board meeting days versus other times; they agreed to circulate proposed committee dates and to be flexible where possible. Members also discussed moving audience participation later in the agenda (to just before new business or before the superintendent's report) to allow members of the public arriving late a better chance to be heard.

The meeting concluded with routine closing items and a 5‑0 roll call on the final motions that adjourned the meeting.