Moss Brennan and Abi PepinOctober 4, 2020|418 Views, The following questions were sent to each candidate for the Watauga County Board of Commissioners. Andrew Rice, Kaitlyn Potochnik, K. Slade, and Mia SeligmanNovember 7, 2022|819 Views. I think its about hiring the best teachers out there and that we hire people who will teach appropriately and properly so that our kids can have the best education possible, Kerley said. WATAUGA COUNTY North Carolina. AppKids is a program established to raise funds for underprivileged WCS students which allows App State employees to take these students shopping during the holiday season. I was elected to the Watauga County Board of Education in 2010 and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and 2016. This position will provide counseling services to our consumers. These candidates will focus on giving our schools the resources they need, supporting educators, and keeping our students safe. In working with others, a plan is developed, making adjustments when necessary. . I think if we can just work with our counselors and support services to help boost these kids confidence and just make them feel like social optimists and get them back on track and feel like school is the best time of their life, Kerley said. Email: Clinical Recruiter. If we do this, then we can establish relationships and build circles of care and support for those who need it the most. The growth of App State has caused development to expand outside of the Town of Boones boundaries. Kerley also spoke on embracing the diversity represented in the student body and coming to terms with differences. $("div.vis_widget_title").each(function(index) { response time to have one station on each end of the county. Your email address will not be published. Counties | Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute: Business and Industry Liaison, High Country Council of Governments - High Country Area Agency on Aging: Aging Services Coordinator, Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation: Camp Buckeye Counselor, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church: Audio/Visual Ministry Facilitator, Watauga County Economic Development (EDC), Watauga County Business of the Year Awards. Ashcraft pointed out the policies used regarding specific reading material which parents may be uncomfortable with their children reading. My pronouns are she/her. Watauga County Schools has provided laptops and technology to every student who has a need. I hope that everyone in our community will follow guidelines set by our local health leaders, our governor, and the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). If we continue to keep the small businesses shut down it will really hurt our sales tax revenue in this county and that accounts for nearly 25% of our county revenue. All membership applications for the BACC must be approved by the Board of Directors. The university continues to admit more students, and while they are adding dorm space it still will be insufficient. chevron.addClass('fa-chevron-up'); We must continue to support this vital work. Giving them the support and structure to help them do their job and let them do their job, Fenwick said. I am married and have a 12-year-old daughter. Miller will complete the seat's three-year Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. to update your address. Provided bio:My name is familiar to many: I have been providing health care to women in Watauga County for more than 25 years as a public health nurse, as an owner of a private medical practice, and now as an Advanced Practice Nurse at Harmony Center for Women. ClickHERE for Map 1 As a board of education member, I would like to be an advocate to help find long-term solutions to these issues. The Watauga County Planning Board is made up of seven members appointed by the County Commissioners. Cities | We will be convening at the Watauga County Courthouse, in Courtroom 1 on March 11th, 2023 to elect officers, vote on resolutions, and rally the base to build on our successes from the 2022 Elections! Guidelines are already in place and happening, Fenwick said. widget_load_check_dom() As a testament to this, I spent three years helping the homeless in downtown Seattle, Washington. Where are the barriers to creating a better pipeline of minority role models in education and how can these barriers be addressed? I am a teacher at CCC&TI and an active member at Boone United Methodist Church. If elected, it would be essential for the board to listen, do their best to understand the issues, and provide the support and care needed in making the best decision they are able. It is essential that eastern and western Watauga County have an ambulance station. Cole believes that all students should have access to books that both fit the curriculum, and also ones that fit their beliefs. Their direct services and their ability to help connect families to additional services in the community play a vital role in helping students succeed. We are both multi-generational Watauga County natives. } Our Blue Ridge Mountains and pristine rivers are treasures of the High Country and should be valued as such. Our board has invested in our health department to bring it to a more stable financial situation and provide it with the resources to protect our citizens. This issue was addressed in the answer to the first question above. My priorities have not changed since the first time I was elected. To do that will require action from state and local government. Our school board cannot directly cure this problem, but we can and should advocate for the legislative changes and public investments needed to achieve a lasting solution. Mailing Address: They have the ability to investigate and lay the foundation for what we need to grow. Our schools do not have the funding or infrastructure to solve these problems alone. If we are to have housing that both students and locals can afford, then it needs to be built. I will continue to emphasize investments in public education (early childhood, pre K-12 and community college), public safety, public health, environmental protections and recreation infrastructure. PO Box 528 Finally, support personnel such as school nurses and school social workers are important to all students, but are especially valuable to lower income families. This is a big need, but a necessary one as our community continues to grow and expand into the western and eastern areas of the county. The 2022 General Election results will be finalized in a county canvas 10 days after the election. It is difficult to determine the course of the pandemic in the coming months but Watauga County must position itself to respond to any challenge that may come our way. The questions and responses below are curated from The Boone Chamber of Commerces Meet The Candidates event held at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country Oct. 6. COVID-19 is still a global problem. For those unable to attend in person, this event will be broadcast live, in its entirety, on, Watauga County Economic Development (EDC), Watauga County Business of the Year Awards, 559 West King Street Boone, NC 28607-3536 United States. The board ultimately has the responsibility for these issues but all of us on the board know that teachers ultimately make the best decisions for their classrooms and we believe those decisions are good.. We do not want the Board of Education to be an institution that dictates what students are learning or reading.. I know our current school system leadership is aware that we need to create a more diverse workforce and that this awareness shapes their recruitment efforts. I have lived in the High Country for 30 years. By treating everyone with kindness and love. Members of the community are encouraged to submit questions in advance by emailing info@boonechamber.com. Provided bio: I am a current Watauga County Commissioner. Candidates running for US House of Representatives, Watauga County Sheriff, Watauga County Board of Education, North Carolina State House, and the Watauga County Board of Commissioners have been invited to participate. We have more school nurses, more school counselors, a PreK program, middle school and elementary day programs which have helped us significantly close the learning gap, Fenwick said. We have had a home in the Mountains since 2006, originally from the coast of Morehead City, NC. My name is Mia Seligman. This is difficult to measure, but we need to demonstrate that we are leading from the heart in our commitment to racial justice and fair treatment for all students and school personnel. The third thing I think is that were at a time now when we have to examine very carefully the forces that are trying to influence what we teach and how we teach in our schools.. Comments (-1) I have been honored to serve as the chairman of the board since 2016. Childers emphasizes the importance of narrowing the gap between the learning lag the pandemic had on students. Full Time. Sample Ballot for 2022 Please observe closely and remember that ALL Republican candidates have been vetted by the Watauga GOP. Posted 12:00:00 AM. Sign up to stay up-to-date with the WataugaOnline.com email list. Our members in Watauga County have endorsed a slate of trustworthy public-school advocates for the Watauga County school board. Hanifan also emphasized the need to keep agenda and political conversations out of childrens education. What were the early voting start and end dates? Job specializations: HR/Recruitment. chevron.addClass('fa-chevron-down'); Our board has prioritized investments in improving Watauga County Schools facilities, expanding public safety services by adding ambulance coverage and improving emergency communication infrastructure. I believe my experience with the Watauga County Planning board uniquely qualifies me for County Commissioner. If elected to the board of education, that individual protocol should not change. One thing that most citizens do not know is that the Towns of Boone, Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils all have authority for the projects in their town limits. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Walking with those who struggle taught me a very important lesson.It is more important to be who we are, than whom or what others want us to be. The Appalachian has curated responses to questions on certain policy positions of candidates in local office. I also want to go back to the previous question and add that the Town of Boone plays a big part in this as well with apartments and other items they can do to help with this. The school board recently purchased land in the Valle Crucis community to replace a school that is prone to flooding. He said he wants to make sure that the history that is being taught is not the history that America fought to get away from.. Listing for: Sidley Austin . First thing that comes to mind since weve been dealing with this a lot lately is the need for improving our facilities. This is not something that you can sit back and wait on. 91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines Eric Eller - Member To promote racial equality means we must model and expect racial justice in all we do. Boone, NC 28607. For the past eight years I have had the pleasure of serving on the Watauga County Planning Board. The Talent Services team is dedicated to candidate advocacy in the technology market and is specialized in cities across North America. Im from Asheville, and my intended major is still undecided, but journalism has my heart. 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As great as this is, it is unfortunately still not accessible for all of Watauga County students or staff. The pandemic has unearthed several shortfalls in local communities across the state and connectivity is one of the largest gaps we face. We also helped set up a fund for businesses to be able to get a loan to help them bridge the gap. Election Day is Nov. 8 and with 19 candidates on the local ballot, Watauga voters have many decisions to make. Kerley explained how the security measures have been very beneficial in creating multiple security doors. Education equals social mobility. What are my voting districts? NC DOT Construction Project Maps Id like to add that I have experience in all these areas having developed safety plans for three different schools.. In helping students succeed years I have been very beneficial in creating multiple security doors care and support for who... 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