The Alamance-Burlington School System Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Dain Butler announced more than two dozen administrative leadership changes for the 2023-24 academic year at today's work session.
“This intentional reshuffling of principals is a proactive step towards enhancing educational outcomes by leveraging each leader's unique skills, expertise, and perspectives,” said Superintendent Dr. Dain Butler. “I’m confident this will result in positive changes across the District.”
Dr. Matt Haley will serve as the new Executive Director of High Schools, a pivotal role that will provide crucial support and guidance to all ABSS high school administrators. Christy Tramble, Assistant Principal at Hawfields Middle, will be assuming a significant position at Central Services as the Director of Accountability.
Current Eastern Alamance High School Principal Dr. Whitney Fliehman will be moving to the ABSS Early College at ACC. Current South Graham AP Rebecca Marsh will become the new principal at Alamance Virtual School.
Clifton Davis has been selected as the incoming principal of the ABSS Career & Technical Education Center, taking over the position previously held by retiring principal Dr. Darrell Thomas.
Dr. Helena Thomas has been named the new principal at Cummings High School. Thomas is the current principal at Williams High School.
Assistant Principal Alexis Magill will be joining the team at E.M Yoder Elementary. She is the current AP at Highland.
Eastern Alamance High School will welcome back a familiar face as its principal, Suzanne Simpson. She is currently serving as the principal at the ABSS Early College.
Current EAHS Assistant Principal Larry Watson will join the team of Assistant Principals at Graham High School.
Western High School's Assistant Principal, Michelle Thompson, is set to become a part of the Hawfields Middle School community as AP.
Current Cummings High School Principal Latasha Fonville will become the new principal of Haw River Elementary.
Newlin Elementary is set to welcome a new leader as Will Price, the current Assistant Principal at E.M Yoder, takes the helm to lead the team.
When Southeast Alamance High School opens its doors this August, a new Assistant Principal will be welcomed - Quinn Robins. Robins is the current Assistant Principal at SAHS. He will join Principal Eric Yarbrough in the exciting endeavor of launching the new school building.
Woodlawn Principal Brian Williams and Grove Park AP Leslie Ray will form the new leadership team at Smith Elementary.
Southern Alamance High School AP Kristy Mills is stepping up to take the helm at SAHS. Kim Foust from Eastern High will serve as AP along with Paul Kuczkowski.
Southern Alamance Middle School will see the return of a familiar face as Principal Liz Fogelman takes charge, accompanied by Assistant Principals Tyler Kelly and Emma Lindsay, to lead the dedicated team.
Current Turrentine AP Tara Miles will join Principal Elizabeth Stamper at South Graham Elementary.
Dr. Julie Hancock, the distinguished ABSS Principal of the Year, will assume the role of Turrentine Middle School's new principal. She will be joined by Assistant Principals Melissa Ringwalt, who is currently serving as an AP at Cummings, and Jacob Fleming. Additionally, the team will welcome Sarah Rickman as a new Assistant Principal, bringing valuable leadership experience from her tenure at Smith Elementary.
Hawfields Middle School AP Scott Moore will join the leadership team at Western Alamance High School led by Bear Bryant, Principal.
John David Swajkoski, Jr. was named the new AP at Western Alamance Middle School.
Curry Bryan is returning to his alma mater as principal of Williams High School. Robert Dail, Steven Fine, and Marlene Bennett will remain as Assistant Principals.
Tom Kazimir, currently serving as an Assistant Principal at Graham Middle School, has been appointed as the new principal of Woodlawn Middle. Joining him will be Roderick Pitt, the current Assistant Principal at Turrentine, as they embark on their leadership journey together along with Karen Morris.
A full list of the changes by school can be found here: https://5il.co/1wfvr
Leadership Academy
The Alamance Board of Education also recognized seven Assistant Principals as part of the District’s first Aspiring Leadership Academy. Current assistant principals with three or more years of experience applied to attend the academy, which is aimed at preparing them for a principalship role.
"We're all about cultivating our own leaders right here in the District and keeping them with us," said Revonda Johnson, ABSS Chief Academic Officer. "We want to empower our educators by offering them professional development opportunities, quality time with our Central Services staff, and the chance to shadow experienced principals. It's a win-win situation where they were able to really grow as a leader.”
The following assistant principals completed the program, many of whom will be moving into principalship roles next year:
Clifton Davis - Cummings High School
Thomas Kazimir - Graham Middle School
Rebecca Marsh - South Graham Elementary
Kristy Mills - Southern High School
Cynthia O’Neal - Garrett Elementary
Will Price - EM Yoder Elementary
Summer Rogers - Graham High School
School Breakfast/Lunch Price Increase
The Board unanimously approved a necessary adjustment to breakfast and lunch prices for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. This decision was made to counterbalance the rising costs of food and labor. Student meal prices have remained unchanged since 2018, despite the increasing expenses. Currently, breakfast is priced at $1.50, while lunch costs $2.60. Beginning in the new school year, the new prices will be $2.00 for breakfast and $3.10 for lunch.
The school nutrition program operates on a self-sufficient basis. As with many industries, the cost of conducting business has escalated over time. Food costs have seen an increase ranging from approximately 2.75% to 4% in recent years. Additionally, labor costs have surged by over 20% due to the mandated pay raises by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for two consecutive years.
DPI enforced a minimum pay requirement of $15 per hour for school nutrition workers, a significant jump from the previous minimum of $11 per hour in 2017.
ABSS meal prices remain in line with other nearby districts. Orange and Davidson lunch prices range from $2.75 to $3.75. Similarly, the cost of breakfast in nearby areas can range from being offered for free to a maximum of $2.25 in Rockingham County. Sixteen ABSS schools qualify for the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) which means students get free breakfast and lunch.
By adjusting the prices, the school district aims to ensure the sustainability of the program.
School Nutrition Bonus
A one time bonus to retain school nutrition workers was also approved. The money is being paid from remaining ESSER funds that must be spent before the end of September.
Summer school nutrition workers will receive a $400 base bonus. Those working the 10 week summer reading program will receive a $175 base bonus.
Those returning next year will receive a one-time $400 base bonus. Subs in school nutrition will get a base bonus of $150.
The total $136,650 in bonuses will be paid by September 15, 2023.
Campus Improvements
The Board also heard an update on the Cummings Track and the Eastern Press Box and Concession stand projects. Hamlett Associates will begin work soon on the Eastern project at a cost of $597,510. Central Builders, Inc of Mebane will be completing the work at Cummings for a total of $1,007,000.00. These projects reflect the District’s ongoing commitment to create top-notch facilities that foster a positive and engaging learning environment.
Sock Puppets Partnership
Board Chair Sandy Ellington-Graves welcomed special guests Wiff and SockSquatch to the ABSS Board of Education work session.
“We're incredibly excited about the partnership between the City of Burlington and the Sock Puppets this year. They have generously provided over 23 thousand tickets so that each and every one of our students can attend the game tonight as part of the fantastic "Schools Out for Summer" event,” Graves told the audience.
“Adding to the excitement, our very own "Inspirations Choir" from South Graham Elementary, under the direction of Ms. Angela Windley, will be performing the National Anthem tonight,” she added.
Vice-Chair Ryan Bowden was invited to throw out the first pitch.
This Wednesday June 14, the Sock Puppets will be treating all of our dedicated Teachers and Staff to a special night at the ballpark. It's their way of showing appreciation for their hard work. Sunset Slush of Alamance County has generously donated meal tickets to the first 100 staff members through the gate.
ABSS also partnered with the ball team and local businesses Chick-Fil-A, Broadway’s Family Fun Center, and Painted Grape to promote summer reading by offering prizes to students who read a total of six hours before the end of July. Full details are available on the ABSS website: https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/summer-reading-program