🇺🇸A special Thank you to the Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from East and West Bladen High Schools for leading the Pledge of Allegiance—Janiyah Peterson, Ryne Priest, Shania Thurman, Ayana Murchison, TaMya Elliott, and William Yandle.
✨Spotlights and Recognitions✨
🕊️ The Board paused to honor the memory of Mr. Dawson Singletary, a former member of the Bladen County Board of Education who recently passed away. A special presentation was made in his recognition and remembrance.
💫Students and Employees of the Month💫
Each month, Bladen County Schools recognizes students and employees who exemplify what it means to be learners and leaders in our district.
Our Students of the Month demonstrate kindness, responsibility, academic effort, and a commitment to growth—modeling Leader in Me habits that make their schools better places to learn.
Our Employees of the Month show outstanding professionalism, teamwork, and care—leading with heart whether in the classroom, on a bus, in the cafeteria, or behind the scenes.
Congratulations to all of our February honorees.
Bladen Lakes Primary School
Students of the Month: Jaxson Wallace and Esther Sandoval Barrios
Certified Employee of the Month: Tarah Woodruff
Classified Employee of the Month: Brooke Johnson
Bladenboro Primary School
Students of the Month: Tinsley Meares and Cray Boswell
Certified Employee of the Month: Kelsey Morrison
Classified Employee of the Month: Chasity Wilkins
Dublin Primary School
Students of the Month: Carmelo Graham and Hayden Turner
Certified Employee of the Month: Courtney Brisson
Classified Employee of the Month: Nickie Ellison
East Arcadia School
Students of the Month: Abdiel Cabrera and Olivia Drayton
Certified Employee of the Month: June Power
Classified Employee of the Month: Frederick Mitchell
Elizabethtown Primary School
Students of the Month: Sayonna Baldwin and Geremiah Graham
Certified Employee of the Month: Arlanda Pridgen
Classified Employee of the Month: Patricia Watkins
Tar Heel School
Students of the Month: Josiah Fields and Blue Jones
Certified Employee of the Month: Mary Quinn
Classified Employee of the Month: Sharon Trent
Bladenboro Middle School
Students of the Month: Ruth Martinez Villeda and Braxton Ventura
Certified Employee of the Month: Lisa Barnes
Classified Employee of the Month: Retta Wilkins
Clarkton School of Discovery
Students of the Month: Dazyiah Renee Beatty and Khristian Omari Neill
Certified Employee of the Month: Jermonte Fleming
Classified Employee of the Month: Wilson Bolden
Elizabethtown Middle School
Students of the Month: Janiya Whittington and Dylan Crescencio-Colorado
Certified Employee of the Month: Debra Manegre
Classified Employee of the Month: Ronald Williams
Bladen Early College
Students of the Month: Kevin Aguilar-Saraoz and Mallory McDuffie
Employee of the Month: Caralee Stevens
East Bladen High School
Students of the Month: Easton Bostic and Zy'eria Ripley
Certified Employee of the Month: Erica Huffman
Classified Employee of the Month: Nancy Howell
West Bladen High School
Students of the Month: Brandon Nowling and Cylee Lugenbell
Certified Employee of the Month: Ron Autry
Classified Employee of the Month: Sandra Davis
🏆 State Board of Education & State Superintendent Awards
The following schools are being recognized for their outstanding academic achievement during the 2024–2025 school year:
Bladen Early College – 100% Club
Recognized for an outstanding graduation rate and achieving academic growth for 2024–2025.
The following schools are recognized for achieving academic growth for 2024–2025:
• Bladenboro Middle School
• Bladenboro Primary School
• Bladen Lakes Primary School
• Clarkton School of Discovery
• Dublin Primary School
• East Arcadia School
• Elizabethtown Primary School
Elizabethtown Middle School – Recognized for exceeding academic growth for 2024–2025.
🎤Citizen Participation
Four community members spoke during Citizen participation, with all remarks focused on East Arcadia School.
📋Information Items
💰Marietta Bethea presented financial summaries for November 2025, December 2025 and January 2026.
🏘️Elly Johnson and Anastasiia Chapman presented an overview of the Community Schools Programs, including outreach efforts underway at Elizabethtown Middle School.
🎓Cheryl White-Smith shared a headcount and funding update for the Inclusive Education Department, highlighting several funding developments:
118 Grant: $71,484
NCSIP Grant: $5,500
Pending Medicaid reimbursement: $72,525.69
State reallocation of $91,582 from the 24-25 school year
Regional Sandhills grant: $560,000 (regional grant with partner districts)
💰Dr. Atkinson shared the district’s local budget message and initial priorities for the upcoming year. This was information only, no vote was taken. Capital needs discussed included:
Rolled-over capital items from the prior year, with approximately $1.7 million in local match anticipated (including tax credits returned from the Tar Heel project)
Safety entrances at schools, similar to the Tar Heel School model, pending receipt of safety funding allocation
Updates to playground equipment, prioritizing accessible equipment
Paving projects across the district
Concerns regarding bleachers at Elizabethtown Middle School
🏗️Bennie Lennon presented updates on several facilities projects, including drainage and band room repairs at East Bladen, and HVAC replacements at Clarkton School of Discovery and Bladenboro Middle School gyms, utilizing NC Public School Repair and Renovation Funds.
Action Items
✔️The Board nominated and elected Anthony Thomas to serve on the North Carolina School Boards Association Legislative Committee.
✔️The Board voted to schedule an additional public hearing regarding the proposed closure of East Arcadia School and consolidation with Clarkton School of Discovery.
✔️The Board approved a partnership with Daybreak Mental Health Services to provide telehealth mental health support to students.
✔️The Board approved the replacement of the lower-level bleachers at Elizabethtown Middle School.