From staff reports
United Way of Henderson County announced the recipients of distinguished awards to community leaders and corporate giving partners at its virtual Annual United Way Celebration Wednesday. While we couldn’t gather in person this year, we wanted to celebrate the great things that support from individuals and companies made possible last year amid an ongoing pandemic,” Executive Director Denise Cumbee Long said in a news release.
Three awards were presented to individuals receiving special recognition. The Rob and Ginger Cranford Community Service Award is presented annually to an individual or couple who exemplify the extraordinary community service that Rob and Ginger Cranford demonstrated throughout their lives.
The county schools AIG program exemplifies a Critical Action outlined in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Call to Action: Guidebook, which was guidebook was recently presented at the State Board of Education on March 4.
Over the last two years, NCDPI’s Division of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education has collaborated with school districts’ AIG coordinators to develop a strategic initiative to realize equity and excellence in gifted education programs across the state. Part of this initiative, the Call to Action: Guidebook details six “Critical Actions” or best practices, including mitigating systemic barriers to accessing gifted education (Critical Action 2), providing a range of services within an AIG program, (Critical Action 3) and intentionally cultivating student strengths and talents (Critical Action 4).
11 HCPS teachers earn National Board certifications
They are:
Steve Sigman: The North Henderson High’s band director has dedicated his 13-year teaching career to the Knights.
Rachel Miller: A new teacher to the district at North Henderson High in January, she previously worked for Wake County Schools.
Benjamin Morris: A math and science teacher at Henderson County Early College High since 2017.
Matthew Witt: A Henderson County Early College High social studies teacher for his six-year teaching career.
Ryan Drake: A Hendersonville High social studies teacher since 2017.
Cody Merriman: A fifth-grade teacher at Hillandale Elementary. He began his teaching career there in 2015.
School enrollment & growth; Where are houses being built, which schools are at capacity?
With several schools at or near capacity, the results of a $30,000 land use study will aid Henderson County Public Schools in strategic planning for facility use over the next 10 years.
The study, by the North Carolina State University Institute for Transportation Research and Education s Operations Research and Education Laboratory, or OREd, provides enrollment and staffing projections.
That information will be used with the results of a facility assessment completed two years ago to make decisions about school system initiatives, facilities use and building renovations as well as the consideration of new construction and reassignment, Superintendent John Bryant told the Times-News.
Inside look: Hendersonville High construction on track for 2023 completion
Construction at Hendersonville High School is on track for completion in 2023.
The $59.1 million plan involves construction of a two-story building as well as renovation of the Stillwell Building and 1974 gymnasium.
So far, costs are under budget, according to Henderson County Business and Community Development Director John Mitchell.
Carl Taylor, Henderson County Public Schools chief administrative officer, updated the Board of Education on the progress of the project during its meeting Monday.
Floors in the auxiliary gym have been painted and work continues there. Tile work in the locker rooms below the auxiliary gym is complete. The pedestrian bridge that connects the new building to the Stillwell Building has been built and concrete poured.