RFP Staff
♦ The Highlights of Yesterday’s Rowan-Salisbury School’s Board of Education Meeting:
• The Director of Technology Candace Salmon-Hosey told the Board of Education they would learn of the final quotes on the proposal to start providing video recordings for the board meetings. At the next meeting it would be clarified what equipment will be employed and how the video would be edited and uploaded. An online video represents a large leap forward in transparency for the Board of Education and as a valuable tool to educate the public about what they are doing.
• Yesterday some contention arose over the naming of the new Central Office to go up at 500 N. Main. According to our files the previously seated school board agreed in writing that the name “Wallace” would be used on the upcoming Central Office. The document was based on an agreed upon exchange of properties by Lee and Mona Lisa Wallace and the school system. In short the couple would give the school system land to construct the new Central Office at 500 N. Main in Salisbury in exchange for the North Ellis Street administration building and property. At yesterdays meeting it was mentioned that Superintendent Moody would choose a naming committee to offer up a Central Office name utilizing the Wallace Family name. In turn the suggested name would be forwarded to the school board for a vote.
During this naming discussion both Travis Allen and Vice-Chairman Dean Hunter voiced objections to the name Wallace being used. Both board members said they would not vote for the Wallace name to be used because they took issue with how the agreement between the school system and the Wallace family came about. Dean Hunter insisted that people in the community were not happy with the agreement. Chairman Josh Wagner pointed out that the previous board entered into a “legally binding contract”. Wagner downplayed the naming conflict, mentioning “Is it the end of the world no matter what the building is named?” Superintendent Moody chimed in saying the agreement with the Wallace family was worth more than the $200,000 originally mentioned at the time. She spoke of the Ellis Street Office being rent free for 2 years. And then the specter of going to court over not honoring the agreement was raised. The board will vote on the naming at the very next meeting on February 26th.
• The board discussed how Drew Charter School, a purpose built school in Atlanta, Georgia, could be a model for the Rowan-Salisbury Schools. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Julie Morrow, Director of Secondary Education Eisa Cox, Knox principles Dr. Michael Waiksnis and Dr. Latoya Dixon and Dean Hunter visited its campus at the start of the year. The Drew Charter School is located in a community with a 99% poverty rate, offers pre school through 12th grade education and maintains community partnerships. Superintendent Moody is considering a similar learning situation involving Overton Elementary, Knox Middle and Salisbury High School. These ideas will be taken up by the board at a later date.
• Assistant Superintendent Vann provided the board of education with an updated timeline for the central office project.
