By Jessica Groover
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The Cabarrus County Board of Education nicknamed itself “the traveling school board” on Thursday, when members decided to host its monthly work sessions at locations other than the Education Center.
The board usually convenes at the center on Old Airport Road in Concord, but the Feb. 26 meeting will be at Northwest Cabarrus High School at 6 p.m.
“We circulated a suggestion of traveling work sessions, and the response was positive,” said Barry Shepherd, superintendent for Cabarrus County Schools. “We’ll get to see the schools and hopefully that will help us make better decisions.”
Shepherd had suggested in December that the board host meetings at schools with the most critical issues. The board decided to start at Northwest.
“That one being our most critical for capacity,” said Holly Blackwelder, the board’s chair. “That’s why we chose it.”
Board members expressed interest in eventually hosting meetings at every school, but acknowledged there are not enough work sessions left for this school year.
On Feb. 26, board members will tour Northwest with staff at 6 p.m. and begin the work session at 6:30 p.m.
Having these traveling meetings will let the board examine the school and grant the community more accessibility to meetings, members said.
They added that having students at the meetings also would be useful.
“Maybe teachers would suggest an incentive, such as a one-page summary about what they learned [at the meeting],” said Carolyn Carpenter, board member.
The board also decided on Thursday to host a public hearing at its April 6 business meeting to name an elementary school to be built in the lower Rocky River area and a middle school anticipated for the northwest part of the county. Nomination forms are online for anyone who wants to suggest names at http://www.Cabarrus.k12.nc.us
• Contact reporter Jessica Groover: 704-789-9152.