NEWBERRY — The Newberry County School District Board of Trustees recognized multiple students from around the district during their monthly meeting.
Up first were the students who were selected as Junior Scholars.
“To qualify to become a Junior Scholar an eighth grade student must take the PSAT and score 50 or higher in math, verbal and/or writing. Seventh grade students can also qualify to become a Junior Scholar if they are identified by the DUKE Talent Identification Program,” said Pam Arrington, executive director of Human Resources with the District.
The following students from Newberry County were selected as Junior Scholars: Journee Ballenger, McKenzee Chadwick, Clayton Cooley, Katy Mae Crooks, Giada Fanara, Davis Franklin, Cassidy Johnson, Olivia Martin, Ella Morales, Haley Patterson and Rachel Redd.
Next up were the students from Mid-Carolina High School, Newberry High School and Whitmire Community School who were Senior Beta Club State winners at the annual Beta Club Convention held in February.
“Each one of these students worked very hard to prepare for these competitions. Each one of these students placed in their selected categories, winning against hundreds of students from across South Carolina, and they will have the opportunity to compete at the National Senior Beta Club Convention this summer,” Arrington said.
The following students from Mid-Carolina High School received state awards.
For first place Visual Arts, Division I (Recyclable Art) and first place Best in Show, Visual Arts – Ashlyn Kinard; second place Visual Arts, Division I (Painting) – Bailey Gause; second place Speech, Division I – Tyler Shackelford; second place Social Studies, Division II, 11th grade – Drew Bunce; first place Service Learning Showcase – Emma Wicker, Ashlyn Kinard, Emily Davis, Erica Davis and Josie Blanchard.
MCHS also received the Club Award – National Beta School of Merit.
From Newberry High School, first place Marketing and Communications – Zerolar Chapman, Ana Morales and Melanie Perez; third place Onsite Art, Pencil, Division I – Connor Shannon; third place Robotics – Sydney Glasgow, Mohamed Hassan, Shevante Powell and Mattison Rumfelt.
Lastly, from Whitmire Community School, first place Speech, Division I – Alexus Sanders; second place ELA Academic Testing – Barrett Martin; first place Engineering – Garrett Davis, Garrett Jenkins, Caleb Bowers, Matthew Prather and Wyatt Crase; first place Photography – Grayson Brock; third place Fiber Arts – Hanna Wagner; third place Marketing and Communications – Chelsea Goggins, Ka’Isjah Hall, Deja Livingston and Jordyn Brooks.
Students and staff were also recognized for receiving state awards in sports.
From Newberry High School, Nick Paul was recognized for being selected to play in the South Carolina Basketball Coaches’ Association North/South All-Star Game.
Paul was also selected as Player of the Year in Region Three A and selected to the All-State Team.
NHS Athletic Trainer Caitlin Hart was also recognized for being selected as head trainer at the South Carolina/North Carolina All-Star Basketball Game.
The Board also recognized the following District Administration.
Emily Saddler, coordinator of Parenting/Family Literacy, was recognized with the 2019 Kevin Swick Family and School-Community Partnership Award.
“This award is given annually to honor the memory of Dr. Kevin Swick and his lifelong work in the field of family/school-community partnerships. Dr. Swick spent his career helping educators design and support family engagement programs at the local level,” Arrington said. “This award recognized early childhood individuals or programs which demonstrate exemplary family and community partnerships. The award funds can be used to support ongoing or innovative practices in this area. This award is sponsored by the South Carolina Early Childhood Association.”
Last up for recognitions was Dr. Lynn Cary, assistant superintendent for Instruction.
“Dr. Cary received the South Carolina Association of School Librarians’ Administrator of the Year Award. The award recognizes her support of literacy and librarians, especially her efforts to help fund much-needed materials updates to our library collections,”Arrington said.
In other business, during the public forum Gwen Davenport and Artie Livingston spoke before the Board in regards to building a new track and field facility at Mid-Carolina High School.
“The one piece we are missing is up-to-date regulation facilities for these athletes to use, especially our track athletes to move this program from good to great. This track facility would also benefit other sports programs at the school, football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, wrestling. All of these athletes can condition and use this track,” Davenport said. “A track is a versatile facility where all students, athletes or not, could benefit from.”
Davenport added if Mid-Carolina had a track facility, they would be able to host meets and have all athletes participate. The team recently competed at Emerald High School where the coaches (Mid-Carolina), according to Davenport, were forced to leave some of the team behind because Emerald limited the number of students who could participate and transportation issues.
“If we had a track facility we would be able to host meets and all of our athletes would be able to compete at home,” she said.
Livingston also spoke in favor of providing Mid-Carolina with a track and field facility.
“Of the six schools, Clinton, Emerald, Union County, Woodruff, Newberry and Mid-Carolina, Mid-Carolina is the only school without a rubberized track facility,” he said. “It is our understanding the new track facility has been and remains a top priority for Newberry County Schools, however as of February 2019 in Board Meetings, there have been no reported costs or time estimates for a track facility at Mid-Carolina.”
He added with a rubberized track facility it will enhance the athletes performance, boost morale for the program, decrease the bus rides, etc.
“In conclusion, we ask the following questions be addressed and responded to within the open session of the April 2019 School Board Meeting. One, what is the current status and planning stage for a newly constructed track and field facility? Two, has there been a budget discussion by the Newberry County School Board of the construction of a new track and field facility? If so, what is that proposed budget? Three, is there a proposed cost estimate submitted by a licensed contractor for a Mid-Carolina track and field facility? Four, is there a short list of potential bidders identified for the construction of a track and field facility? Five, is there an estimated start date for a track and field facility at MCHS,” he said.
In other business:
• The Board approved the second reading of the Medical Homebound Instruction Policy.
• The Board approved the second readings of the Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity, Professional Staff Recruitment, Posting and Advertising of Professional Vacancies, Professional Staff Hiring and Support Staff Hiring policies.
• The Board approved the 2019-2020 School Calendar – Draft One.
• The Board approved the 2019-2020 textbook adoptions.
