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The Dare County Board of Education accepted and recognized a gift for Manteo Middle School from the Charles W. Gaddy and Lucy Finch Gaddy Endowment Fund at their November 10 meeting.

The grant in the amount of $100,000 will be used to support the following education initiatives: $15,000 to the school’s shooting team; $20,000 to aquaponics; $25,000 to the school’s library, $15,000 to video/technology; and $25,000 to mini-grants and field trips.

“We were speechless” when the grant was offered, said Keith Parker, the school system’s secondary school and digital communications director.

Dare County Schools recognized Fin Gaddy and Nancy Gaddy with a special presentation during the meeting. The Charles W. Gaddy and Lucy Finch Gaddy Endowment Fund is a component fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation.

In the consent agenda, the board approved a $686,308 budget amendment allocating additional state funds for school technology, teacher and principal bonuses, non-instructional support, Career Technical Education Grade Expansion grant, non-contributory employee benefits (guaranteed allotment for longevity and leave payout) and coronavirus relief funds.

The board moved ahead with the Manteo High School roof replacement project. Three bids were received. The board awarded the work to the low responsive bidder, LaFave’s Construction Company, Inc. of Landis, with a bid of $888,600. Additional expenses for construction and administration and replacing a single rooftop amount to $124,000. The total cost for the second phase of the roof replacement is $1,012,600.

An amended operations agreement between Dare County Schools and Dare Education Foundation for Run Hill Ridge Affordable Housing for Teachers was approved. Under the agreement, Dare County Schools will conduct routine and light maintenance at the Run Hill Ridge property. In exchange, Dare Education Foundation will compensate the school system with $2,500 per month which will be used to hire an additional maintenance person, specifically a licensed plumber.

November is Career Development Month in North Carolina and Career Development Coordinators were saluted with a special day on Nov. 18. Recognized at this meeting of the Dare Board of Education are career development coordinators Ashley Basnight, First Flight Middle; Debbie Poland, Manteo Middle; Suzanne Jennette, Cape Hatteras Secondary; Tara Wheeler, Manteo High; and Jennie Rooks, interim career development coordinator, First Flight High.

Principal Curtis Price at Manteo Elementary School recognized outstanding teachers:

– Hollie Writtenberry, the school’s 2020-21 Teacher of the Year. She is currently the specials team leader and music teacher.

– Sabrina Ramirez, third grade teacher, who was a team member in choosing the book choice for the school’s Virtual Read Aloud.

– Marli Boyd is the school’s librarian. She joined Manteo Elementary in March. With a grant from the Dare Education Foundation, bilingual texts have increased by 60%. Boyd is in charge of social media within the building.

– Carol Dunn, is a specials teacher and information technology facilitator, working on remote learning and rollout of hardware. She has been an editor for the school’s Virtual Read Aloud program.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

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