Board proclaims Young Waterfowlers Day, hears CTE update and bond progress; public urges West Carteret tennis repairs

The Carteret County Board of Education on Feb. 4 added a proclamation to its agenda and formally proclaimed Feb. 13 as Young Waterfowlers Day in the Carteret County Public School System.

The board also heard a regional recognition for East Carteret High School—s Math I team from Kathy Spencer of the Southeast Education Alliance, which presented the school with a certificate of appreciation and a $500 check to support mathematics instruction and leadership work.

In public comment, Macy O'Connor and Andrew Logan, representing West Carteret, urged the board to prioritize reconstruction of the school—s tennis courts. "Right now, our courts are unsafe," O'Connor said, describing a sinkhole on one court, rotten backboards, broken fencing, and an athletic program that this season trained 24 players on two usable courts. The speakers requested resurfacing, a new fence, and the addition of three courts; they asked the board to consider prioritizing the work in an upcoming budget cycle.

Lucy Bond, representing the Carter County Retired School Personnel, announced three scholarship endowments managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation. Bond said the Carteret County Retired School Personnel Scholarship offers a minimum first-year award of $1,000 and is renewable for up to three additional years for students pursuing education degrees; a Geraldine Mayo Beverage scholarship was updated to reflect modern CTE teaching pathways; and the Wayne H. Shriver Math and Science Scholarship Endowment supports students majoring in math or science.

Allison Deas, CTE director for Carteret County Public Schools, briefed the board on CTE Month and district career-technical education programs. Deas said students in 2023—24 earned more than "31 industry recognized credentials," including ServSafe and OSHA certifications, and that more than 70 students had internship support from over 20 local businesses and organizations. She described upcoming CTE events including a district CTE Expo for eighth graders and CAPE internship partnerships.

Facilities staff provided bond project updates: Broad Creek remains on a punch list with outstanding mechanical items; East Carter High School—s culinary lab demolition is largely complete with plumbing and electrical work underway; and West Carter High School projects are in varied stages, including a mostly completed band room awaiting fire alarm work, a completed cafeteria with added restrooms, and an advancing science wing with new windows and HVAC work in progress.

On policy, staff presented second-read policies taken from the North Carolina School Boards Association—s fall 2024 update packet. The board voted to adopt the listed policies with no changes; policy 51.50, "reporting to external agencies," was noted as a newly required policy that lists mandatory reports the district must file.

The board approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda during the session and scheduled a special-called meeting to address a parental grievance; the next regular meeting is set for March 4, 2025, beginning with advisory chair presentations at 5 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Addition and adoption of proclamation: Young Waterfowlers Day (adopted; unanimous/no objection recorded) - Approval of meeting agenda: motion approved (unanimous/no roll-call recorded) - Consent agenda: approved (motion by Mr. Jenkins; second by Mr. White; unanimous/no roll-call recorded) - Policies from NC School Boards Association update: adopted (motion by Mr. White; second by Ms. Wheatley; unanimous/no roll-call recorded) - Academic calendar for 2025—126: adopted 5— (see separate article for details)

No formal board vote on the West Carteret tennis request was recorded at the meeting; the petitioners asked the board to prioritize the project in a future budget cycle.