The Moore County Schools Board of Education heard presentations Oct. 22 from principals across the district as schools delivered two‑year improvement plans focused on raising proficiency and regaining positive growth. Principals described specific targets for English/language arts, math and science, expanded intervention blocks (including a K–2 common intervention), data‑tracking for students and staff, and local efforts to boost teacher capacity and student ownership of learning.

Why it matters: board members and district staff said the districtwide focus on consistent PLCs (professional learning communities), MTSS (multi‑tiered systems of support), and curriculum fidelity is intended to convert short‑term gains into sustained growth, with several schools pointing to concrete targets (5–10 percentage‑point gains over one to two years) and action steps to reach them.

At the start of the meeting the board approved the agenda by motion of Miss Davis, seconded by Mister Benway. The presentations began with Northmore High School and continued through Union Pines High School, New Century Middle School, Southern Middle School, McDeeds Creek Elementary, Sandhills Farm Life Elementary, Vast (Vass) Lakeview Elementary, West End Elementary and West Pine Elementary. Each principal presented current performance data, subgroup results, and two‑year goals plus the action steps intended to reach them.

Highlights and school takeaways

Northmore High School (Principal Joe Patterson) emphasized rebuilding growth after a year of declines, and set explicit two‑year targets — for example, raising the overall proficiency composite from 47 to 57 and increasing English II, Math I and biology proficiency by 10 percentage points each. Patterson described increased use of common planning, deeper analysis of formative “check‑ins,” and a part‑time assistant principal and district specialists supporting writing across the curriculum. “We live everything up at Northmore through the Mustang Way with respect, responsibility, and integrity,” Patterson said.

Union Pines High School (Principal Andy McCormick) reported steady GLP and highlighted expanded use of IXL for individualized learning and a co‑teaching model to support students with disabilities. McCormick said the school aims for incremental increases (5 points in year one, 10 by year two on many measures) and to restore a positive student growth index. He described faculty expectations for weekly common planning and a required minimum number of positive parent contacts logged in the district system.

New Century Middle (Principal Kim Coe) and Southern Middle (Principal Sandy Beyer) both reported multi‑point growth for subgroups after targeted interventions. New Century described MTSS refinements, rewards programs and expanding Tier 2/3 supports during flex times; Southern Middle emphasized “Dragon Time” intervention blocks, vertical planning and a weekly student rundown where students track grades, missing work and behavior and set weekly goals.

Elementary highlights

McDeeds Creek Elementary (Principal Mackenzie Sobe) described an intervention block that also gives extension opportunities to students already at grade level and student data folders for quarterly progress conversations. Farm Life (Principal Julie McPherson) emphasized a vertical writing plan and math fact fluency through a program (Reflex Math) and continuing MTSS refinements. Vass Lakeview (Dr. Bennett) and West Pine (Dr. Amy O’Neil) reported strong science results (despite statewide test renorming), expanded use of Eureka math and focused PLC time. West End (Principal Katie Lockmey) stressed clubs and student ownership practices and a master tracker that gives staff access to common formative‑assessment results across grades.

Board members asked for additional cohort and senior‑class views of the data (particularly at the high school level) and pressed principals to track and share the local impact of new tools such as IXL and Reflex Math. Several board members also asked about staffing status; most principals reported being staffed for the start of the school year, with a few midyear or upcoming retirements noted.

Formal actions recorded

- Motion: approval of the meeting agenda. Mover: Miss Davis; second: Mister Benway. Outcome: approved. (Recorded at the start of the session.)
- Motion: adjourn meeting. Mover: not specified in the transcript; second: recorded. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

What principals want next

Principals repeatedly asked for continued district support (coaching visits, specialist time and professional development) and recommended continued sharing of best practices across schools — for example, a school’s successful K–2 intervention calendar, PLC tools or classroom walkthrough focus — so other campuses can replicate effective strategies.

Ending note

Board chair and district leaders closed an intensive two‑day round of school visits and presentations, thanking principals and staff for the work underway to push proficiency and growth upward. Several speakers framed the district’s progress as the product of steady implementation of the Moore County Schools approach: protecting PLC time, pairing data with instructional support, and increasing student ownership of learning.