The Anson County Board of Education recognized spelling bee winners at its regular meeting on Monday.
Shymari Robinson, from Morven Elementary School and Malik S. Gaddy, from Lilesville Elementary School, both accepted congratulations and an award from Interim Superintendent Michael Freeman. Gaddy also competed in the Charlotte regional spelling bee. Several other students were also honored, though they were not present: Julian Suriba, from Peachland-Polkton Elementary School; Jessica Hall, from Ansonville Elementary School; seventh-grader Dequandre Watts, from Anson Middle School; and eighth-grader Jalen Powe, also from Anson Middle School.
During the public engagement portion of the meeting, several board members discussed things they had done, including visiting Anson New Tech and seeing a robotics project students were working on, being impressed by school security and the amount of students who had completed their coursework for December graduations, and attending community prayer at Anson High School. Board members were also impressed with the event Morven Elementary School recently held during which 48 computers were given to students thanks to a combined effort between Morven Elementary, HOLLA! and the Kramden Institute, which provided the computers.
The board also heard from Allison Schafer from the North Carolina School Boards Association. Shafer outlined how the NCSBA could help the board with a search for a superintendent and provided material detailing what the search would entail. The NCSBA would charge a flat fee of $14,500 in addition to any expenses, but Schafer estimated that the whole process should not exceed $20,000. The nonprofit would not make the final decision or screen candidates but would help the board find as many candidates as possible.
Freeman updated the board on his first month as interim superintendent and said that he had made efforts to partner with the community, including speaking at the Wadesboro Town Council retreat and working with South Piedmont Community College, the Chamber of Commerce, discussing security with law enforcement, and talking with many other community groups.
Additionally, the board’s long search for a math teacher has ended, leaving only a position for a school counselor for elementary children at Peachland-Polkton Elementary School open.
The board went into closed session before adjourning.









