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The Dare County Board of Education welcomed three new members – Anna Tynch, Sherlyn Mendicia-Lozano and Isabella Alexander – on Sept. 18, 2023. The three young women are the first student advisors to the board.

Swearing in was the first order of business at the regular board meeting. Individually, the student advisors recited the oath, administered by R. Gonzalas, deputy clerk of Superior Court.

Each student advisor comes from a different high school: Tynch from First Flight, Alexander from Manteo and Mendicia-Lozano from Cape Hatteras.

The majority of the meeting was consumed by eight presentations:

– District Performance for 2022-2023. Dare County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight made the presentation, saying “this is a real good start at getting there.”

– Staff Vacancies for 2023-2024. Presented by Oliver Holley.

– Attendance Data. Presentations made by Basnight and Caitlin Spruill on Awareness Month. Attendance is an accreditation standard. The average attendance for 2022-2023 was 91.6%. Spruill listed the truancy steps. “This is not ‘I gotcha’,” said Spruill.

– Science of Reading. Presentations by Spruill and Rhys Lamberg, the system’s early literacy specialist.

– Monitors/Projectors for Classrooms. It’s time to replace the projectors that are hanging from the ceilings in each classroom.

– Cybersecurity and Data Privacy. Presentation made by Holly King, who listed the items attended to since July 2023.

– Early College. Presentation by Denise Fallon. The initial application was sent for review on Sept. 15, 2023. The early college will feature college transfer and career-technical programs.

The board approved a student records policy change.

The board adopted on first reading six proposed policies that stem from the Parents’ Bill of Rights.

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