Starmount alumnus Jacob Craver (center) is recognized for his time serving as student liaison on the Yadkin County Board of Education.
Courtesy photo
A joint meeting of the Yadkin Board of Education and County Commissioners on Aug. 31 began with recognition of student representatives who served on the Board of Education last school year. Samuel Crews, Samantha Anderson and Jacob Craver represented Forbush, Yadkin Early College and Starmount respectively for the 2019-20 school year.
“This is the best of the best,” Superintendent Dr. Todd Martin said of the three student representatives.
“It’s been a great pleasure getting to know all three of you,” Martin told the students. “You’re going to be missed but you’re going to go on to bigger and better things, but never forget where you came from. You’ll take those values and morals with you.
County Manager Lisa Hughes gave a short presentation at the meeting, noting that the second phase of the Yadkin County Memorial Park at Lake Hampton would soon be completed. The new phase will include additional trails, a primitive campsite and a disc golf course. The new section of park is expected to open with a ribbon cutting ceremony later in the month. Hughes also mentioned a possible school bond for capital needs that may be forthcoming in the state legislature.
County Chairman Kevin Austin spoke briefly regarding a pathways initiative report on ways to reach disconnected youth, those ages 16 to 19 who are not in school or in the workforce.
Austin said as of 2017 Yadkin County had the highest percentage in the state of disconnected youth at 19 percent.
“What I’m really concerned about is the effect COVID is going to have on disconnected youth,” Austin said. “We may have an even bigger problem on the other side.”
Austin said he wanted to get the report into the hands of school board members and leaders to review and discuss at a future meeting.
Boomer Kennedy, director of secondary schools, spoke in detail to the Commissioners and School Board on the months of preparation over the summer that school leaders undertook to find the safest way to get students back in the classroom for the fall.
School Board members thanked administrators for the hard work in preparing for such an unusual start for the new school year.
Kitsey Burns Harrison may be reached at 336-679-2341 or on Twitter and Instagram @RippleReporterK.