The Weldon City Schools Board of Education on Tuesday responded via email to the state concerning two reports — one that could end in the possible suspension of its duties and another which docked the system for its interim superintendent’s pay.

The email, sent to state board of education Chair Eric Davis, was penned by Tiffany Hale, vice chair of the Weldon City Schools Board of Education, with authorization by the full board, the email says.

The email notes that the local school system has serious concerns about the state’s August 1 notice and says there are inaccuracies contained in it. It also expresses disappointment in the state’s decision to dock the system for Interim Superintendent Rodney Shotwell’s pay.

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In the email, the Weldon is requesting the following:

The State Board of Education acknowledge and accept the corrections to the factual record identified in the letter.

The State Board of Education reconsider its August 1 Notice in light of the significant inaccuracies upon which it was based and in light of these corrections to the record.

The State Board of Education modify its list of expectations in a way that they are objective and provide clarity to both the Weldon BOE and SBE.

The Weldon board is also requesting the following clarifications in response to the August 1 motion to withhold and the SBE's August 8 contract with Shotwell:

In light of the SBE's decision to extend Shotwell's contract through June 30, 2025, with reduced hours at reduced pay in November and December due to retirement income caps, the Weldon board is asking for a detailed plan as to how the work of the superintendent will be completed in his absence.

A clarification on whether the SBE will re-engage in negotiating the proposed memorandum of understanding between the SBE and Weldon BOE for the voluntary transfer of funds to support Shotwell's salary, benefits, and reimbursement for travel and related expenses. 

The SBE's counsel sent a draft MOU July 18. “The Weldon BOE's counsel made revisions and sent it back on July 19. There was no further communication from the SBE until the SBE issued its August 1 motion to withhold. The Weldon BOE respectfully requests that the SBE continue to negotiate in good faith for a mutual agreement for the continued support of Dr. Shotwell.”

The email notes that, “The Weldon BOE has received several communications from the State Board of Education over the past several weeks, including two documents approved by the SBE during its August 1, 2024, meeting.” 

Those documents are the ones which state the reasons the state is considering suspending the local board’s duties and the other the one concerning withholding the funds for Shotwell’s appointment as interim.

“To be clear, every single member of the Weldon City Board of Education shares a deep and abiding commitment to our students and community. We understand the crucial role of public education in improving communities and lives,” the email says. “The board's mission is to create and maintain a highly effective educational system in which every student in Weldon receives the highest quality education.”

The email says, “The board's vision is to serve as a model district for the state of North Carolina. This mission and vision serve as our guiding light. Our students are our top priority. Every decision we make is made with their best interests in mind.”

Hale writes, “The Weldon BOE is proud of our school district, our amazing and hardworking students, our tireless staff, and our community. There are exciting things happening in Weldon, including the building of a new 6-12 middle and high school. This is a once in a generation opportunity to transform and instill pride in our community and our school district.” 

In addition, the school system is awaiting the official results of the 2023-2024 school performance grades. “According to preliminary grades shared by Dr. Shotwell, Weldon City Schools is no longer a low-performing school district. There is much work to be done, but our students, staff, and schools deserve to be recognized for their hard work and growth.”

Hale wrote that while the board is proud of the Weldon City Schools, “We recognize that we can and must continue to do better. Any continued low student test scores and school performance grades are unacceptable. 

“We are a small and tight-knit community. Our students include our own children, the children of our relatives, and the children of our friends. They deserve the best. We will not be satisfied until all of our students receive the best education possible.”

The email says, “We are thankful that the SBE shares the board's commitment to the students of Weldon. We have the same goals to improve opportunities for our children. The Weldon BOE has and will continue to support any and all assistance it can receive in support of its mission from the NC Department of Public Instruction and the SBE. The board is particularly grateful to the NCDPI school assistance teams for their support of our students and staff. The board is committed to continuing to work with NCDPI and the SBE both now and in the future.

“It is because of our shared goals and focus on students that the Weldon BOE chose to collaborate with the SBE over the last several months in an effort to improve educational opportunities in our district.”

Hale wrote that collaboration led the board to suspend its permanent superintendent search in February and to hire Shotwell as its interim superintendent in March. “The board is grateful for Dr. Shotwell 's leadership and experience, and thankful for his shared commitment to our children.” 

Even after he was appointed by the SBE as its interim superintendent on July 11, the board has cooperated with him, the email says.

“At the one and only meeting held between Dr. Shotwell's appointment by the SBE on July 11 and the SBE's August 1 Notice, the Weldon BOE approved every single recommendation he made, as well as a draft agreement with the SBE to voluntarily continue funding his state salary and continue reimbursing him for travel and related expenses even though he was an SBE employee and no longer employed by the Weldon City Schools.” 

The board also approved every single recommendation Shotwell made at the most recent August 15 board meeting, Hale wrote.