Public commenters raise hiring, transparency and student-support concerns; community members honor Dr. Leslie Barnett

Multiple members of the public addressed the board during the Oct. 27 public-comment period.

Trevor Pittman, who identified himself as a Rutherford resident who covers Catawba County in his bail-bonds business, alleged an individual employed by the district had felony charges and said state statute "115C-332(a)(1)" (as quoted in his remarks) prohibits certain individuals with specified convictions from working in schools. He told the board he would provide the employee's name to staff after the meeting rather than read it aloud during public comment. "I ain't gonna throw the name out for you," Pittman said, and he urged the board to respond to his emails and calls.

Greg (Gregory) Meadows, a former teacher and former law-enforcement investigator, accused district leaders of lacking transparency and alleged the board had routinely violated North Carolina open-meetings law. Meadows warned he would pursue legal remedies if he believed constitutional or statutory rights were violated.

Josh Nixon, a district employee and local chapter president of a professional organization, recommended Rhonda Pollock (as referenced from a prior meeting) for the board vacancy and raised questions about a proposed merger discussed at a public town hall: how consolidation might affect low-income students, services such as breakfast and lunch, and workforce levels among district employees. "How does bringing together different school districts affect in particular low income students?" Nixon asked.

Kimberly Turr, a classroom teacher, described students' struggles with study skills and recommended a credit-recovery or homeroom study-skills course and online modules for students in ISS or credit recovery. "If we had online modules ... that would help support their study skills," she said.

Multiple speakers, including Bonnie Shearer and Judy Beeman, gave tributes to Dr. Leslie (Honeycutt) Barnett, recounting her 42-year career in the district, her work as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and district-level director, and her service on the school board. Beeman read an acrostic poem in Barnett's honor and asked the board to recognize Barnett's legacy.

The board did not take formal action during public comment but later approved a motion to name Lisle Creek Elementary Schoolmedia center after Dr. Barnett.

Proper names: Catawba County Schools; Dr. Leslie Barnett; Trevor Pittman; Greg (Gregory) Meadows; Josh Nixon; Bonnie Shearer; Judy Beeman; Rhonda Pollock (referenced).

What happens next: Board and staff may follow up on specific allegations and questions raised during public comment; naming dedication for Dr. Barnett was approved later in the meeting.