Gaston County Schools approves multiple principal and assistant-principal contracts after closed session

After returning from closed session on June 15, the Gaston County Board of Education approved several administrative contracts recommended by Superintendent Dr. Hushard.

Dr. Hushard presented a slate of assistant-principal four-year contracts; the board moved and approved those contracts. The superintendent then recommended multiple principal four-year contracts, which the board similarly approved by voice vote. The board also approved a two-year principal contract for Mary Clark and announced her assignment to North Belmont Elementary School.

The closed session had been authorized earlier under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(A)(3) and (6) for consultation with the board attorney and personnel matters; the formal motion to enter closed session was made by Mr. Moore, seconded by Mr. Ramsey and carried. After the closed session the board returned to open session and approved the personnel recommendations; the transcript records unanimous approval for the principal and assistant-principal contracts.

Names announced for assistant-principal four-year contracts included Wahiba McCrae, Alice Ballard, Trevor Boone, Kelly Brown Thompson, Katherine Cochran, Stephanie Crump, Stephanie Denton, Charlotte Friday, Shante Hinkle, Logan Maguire, Emily Morton, Aara Patterson, Gloria Powell, Andrea Thompson and Kathy Withers. Principal four-year contract recommendations included Stacy Bradley, Glenn Cook, Kelsey Elms, Mariah Harvey, Melissa Nick, Nicole Lawson, Anna Miller, Allison Ry, Matt Riker, Courtney Williams, Rebecca Wilson and William Winston. Mary Clark was recommended and approved for a two-year principal contract.

The board did not provide further public detail about the selection criteria in the open-record portion of the meeting. The superintendent and board chair said the meeting’s business was concluded and the board adjourned.