Duplin County October Board of Education meeting recap, graduation rate increases

The Duplin County Board of Education members discussed cohort graduation rate improvements and district goals at the October meeting.

The Duplin County Board of Education held its monthly meeting on October 1, 2024, at the O.P. Johnson Education Building. The agenda included graduation rate improvements, public accountability standards, and support for senior citizens.

A highlight of the meeting was the district’s four-year cohort graduation rate, which saw a significant increase from 81.9% in the 2022-23 school year to 86.1% in 2023-24. In addition, improvements were seen across all student subgroups in cohort graduation rates.

The number of low-performing schools in Duplin County decreased from nine in 2022-23 to five in 2023-24, which is a positive development for the school district. Based on several different factors, Duplin County is no longer identified as a low-performing district.

District goals were set in July at the leadership retreat, one of which is to improve achievement scores by 10%. All schools are actively working on their school improvement plans, which will be presented at the November meeting.

Board members were then invited to comment, and three individuals spoke up, particularly on the heavy reliance on state-mandated testing and evaluation metrics for grading schools. One member called the state’s testing and evaluation method “complex and confusing.” He spoke about how there needs to be a bigger emphasis on growth instead of proficiency.

The conversation then shifted toward broader challenges facing public schools, both locally and statewide. A member pointed to anti-public school sentiment, not just in Duplin but also in Raleigh and Washington, D.C., stating, “There are a lot of folks in this state that want public schools to be non-existent.” He urged the community to support candidates who advocate for public schools.

Another board member echoed these concerns, criticizing the state’s testing model as unfair to teachers and students. “These grades do not reflect the work our great educators are doing,” they said, advocating for a shift toward focusing on student growth rather than proficiency as the primary measure of school performance. They also pointed out that rural districts like Duplin County, where over 80% of students are economically disadvantaged, cannot be fairly compared to wealthier, resource-rich districts like Wake or Mecklenburg County.

One board member expressed frustration with the disparities between public schools and charter or private schools. Public school teachers are required to undergo extensive training and teach state-mandated coursework, yet public schools are compared to charter and private schools that operate under different standards. They also added that the pressure to perform well on tests can have a detrimental impact on student engagement, enjoyment, and even retention. The board agreed on the importance of supporting public school teachers and advocating for a more equitable accountability system.

As the district continues to work on its school improvement plans, which will be presented at the November board meeting, the focus remains on ensuring that every student is supported in their journey from kindergarten through high school graduation. The board emphasized its commitment to preparing students for productive careers, whichever career path they choose. While the board acknowledged the challenges posed by the state’s testing model, they made it clear that they would not allow it to define the success of the district’s students or staff.

Melissa Brown, Duplin County’s Director of Senior Services, also spoke about the Senior Tar Heel Athletic Card program, an initiative aimed at encouraging residents aged 60 and older to stay active and engaged in the community. Brown emphasized the importance of supporting senior citizens, reminding attendees, “If we live long enough, we’re going to be [seniors]. We want to look out for our older ones.”

Other items covered in the meeting included approval of various budget amendments and project change orders, as well as agreements with local organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern North Carolina and James Sprunt Community College. The board also approved several field trips for students, including a Shipyard & Busch Gardens trip to Norfolk, Virginia, and a Junior BETA convention in February 2025.