Katy Nicholson, Herald Staff Writer

Katy Nicholson | Daily Herald Weldon City Schools received recognition for achievement in financial resource management from the state Department of Public Instruction. Pam Powell, left, purchasing officer and Judith Modeste, payroll and benefits officer, were congratulated at Thursday's school board meeting. Not pictured is Matilda Campbell, finance officer. Advertisement

WELDON - The Weldon City Schools District was one of 40 districts in the state to receive recognition for achievement in financial resource management from the state Department of Public Instruction for the 2006-2007 school year.

The Board of Education recognized the Finance Department at Thursday night's meeting, and Superintendent Elie Bracy III said he plans to take the finance employees out for a celebratory lunch.

Bracy read a letter to the school district from State Rep. Angela Bryant.

“Being able to maintain excellent local control over financial administration is definitely worthy of honor,” Bryant wrote.

In other business, the board:

Congratulated Athletic Director Donnell Handsome for recognition by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Heard a brief presentation by Shanetta Pittman, literacy coach at Weldon Middle School, and watched a video about the state Literacy Coach Initiative. The program began in 2006 when 100 literacy coaches were introduced to middle schools throughout the state. This year, 100 more were added, and an additional 100 are expected to be added next year.

Literacy coaches are intended to work with middle school teachers to effectively teach technological, visual and informational literacy, self-direction and higher-order thinking skills along with basic literacy skills like reading, writing, comprehension and speaking.

Conducted a first reading of the 2008-2009 school calendar. The state has mandated that school begin on Aug. 25 and end on June 10 next year, so most school calendars throughout the state are the same, Bracy noted.

In order to give parents more time to review the proposed calendar, which is available at the schools and central office, the board plans to approve it at next month's meeting.

Learned that a committee will work on revisions to the district's policy manual section by section, and the board will receive the drafts of each section for approval. Bracy said he expects the entire process to take six to eight months.

Heard the superintendent's report, during which Bracy mentioned a community-school forum which will take place from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 5, at Halifax Community College. State Superintendent June Atkinson will be the special guest, and the session will include the screening of a documentary, “Inside Out.”

Superintendents, principals, teachers, parents and students are invited to attend.

Bracy added that the students have just started spring break, and when they return to school on March 31, the district plans to have “tunnel vision” to make sure the students do well on their End of Grade tests.