LUMBERTON — The PSRC Board of Education appointed Crystal Weindel Monroe to the District 6 seat on the board during a regular meeting held Tuesday.
A motion was made by Tre’ Britt to appoint Crystal Weindel Monroe to fill the District 6 seat left vacant by the resignation of Mike Smith in October. The motion was seconded by William Gentry.
A substitute motion was made by Craig Lowry to appoint Caroline Sumpter to the seat. Dr. Linda Emanuel seconded the motion. The substitute motion failed in a 6-4 vote.
The original motion to appoint Crystal Monroe carried in a 6-4 vote.
The appointee, once sworn in, will serve in the seat until a successor is elected and qualified in the election scheduled for March 5, 2024. A swearing-in ceremony is set for Jan. 9 during the next PSRC Board of Education meeting.
Monroe released a statement after the meeting about her appointment to the District 6 seat.
“Having my own children in PSRC and being involved with them has given me the desire to serve in this position,” she said. “My focus is on the children, staff and stakeholders of PSRC and I am committed to ensuring a brighter future for all.”
The appointee and anyone else who may be interested and qualified to hold elective office may file to run for the District 6 seat to fill out the remaining two years of the term, from 2024 to 2026.
According to PSRC Policy 2115, “All vacancies in the membership of the board of education caused by death, resignation, or otherwise will be filled by a person appointed by the remaining members of the board to serve until the next election of board members, at which time the remaining unexpired term will be filled by election. In the case of a district seat vacancy, the board must appoint a resident of that district. In the case of an at-large seat vacancy, the board will appoint a resident of the county without regard to the districts.”
In other business, Melissa Thompson, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, said that ESSER Funding (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funding) ends June 30, 2024.
Due to budget constraints, a hold has been placed on teacher assistant positions with the exception of TA positions including Exceptional Children’s teacher assistants and Pre-K teacher assistants, which are required by the state.
Superintendent, others offered new contracts
Also, following a closed-door session of the meeting, board members voted to extend PSRC Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson’s contract to Dec. 12, 2027.
Contracts also were extended to that date for the following individuals:
- Jennifer Freeman, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Intervention and Support
- Dr. Windy Dorsey-Carr, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability
- Bobby Locklear, Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary Services
- Erica Setzer, Chief Finance Officer
- Jessica Sealey, Chief Communications Officer
- Dr. Debra Dowless, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
- Jamal Campbell, who will serve as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources effective Jan. 17, 2024.
Administration moves
Board members also approved the following administration moves:
- Joyce Brown will serve as Red Springs Middle School’s principal effective Jan. 2, 2024. She currently serves as principal at Tanglewood Elementary School.
- Steven Sinclair will serve as principal at Red Springs High School effective Jan. 16, 2024. He currently serves as principal at St. Pauls Middle School.
- Amanda Hastings will serve as principal at St. Pauls Middle School effective Jan. 16, 2024. She currently serves as assistant principal at W. H. Knuckles Elementary School.
- Melinda Sellers will become interim principal at Tanglewood Elementary School effective Jan. 2, 2024. Sellers previously retired from the district and had served most recently as principal at Peterson Elementary School.
- Carolyn Fowler will serve as an interim assistant principal at Red Springs Middle School effective Jan. 2, 2024. Fowler currently works as an academic coach at the school.
- Charlette Imbufe will serve as assistant principal at Red Springs Middle School effective Jan. 2, 2024. Imbufe currently works as an educator at Lumberton Junior High School.
- Jordan McGirt will serve as assistant principal at St. Pauls High School effective Jan. 2, 2024. McGirt is currently an assistant principal at Red Springs Middle School.
Also approved was advertising for a new position of director of personnel. The administration moves were approved in a personnel report.
Additionally, board members voted to rescind the original approval of a right-of-way easement for NCDOT at Lumberton High School. The motion was then made by William Gentry to approve changing the previous utility easement to a permanent easement. Vonta Leach seconded the motion.
The monthly financial report was approved unanimously by board members with John Simmons making the motion for approval, which was seconded by William Gentry.