Superintendent Lynn Moody and former State School Board Chairman Phil Kirk, left, talk for a moment following a presentation to the State board of Education about Rowan-Salisbury Schools' renewal school district application. Rebecca Rider/Salisbury Post

I wish all the Post’s readers could have been at the State Board of Education meeting last week when State Board member Greg Alcorn, Superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody, and the Rowan-Salisbury Schools were in the spotlight for an hour.

Greg made a presentation on the ApSeed project which he and his wife, Missie, are providing to young children in Rowan County and also in Davie County, thanks to the Mebane Foundation.

He was passionate in his description of how technology is helping young children, their parents and often their grandparents.  Board members were equally passionate in their comments about Greg, his leadership and commitment to public education and his service on the state board.  He received a standing ovation from the board and the audience!

Then a DPI staff member presented information on the Rowan-Salisbury School System’s plan to become a Renewal School district, the first and only one in the state.  Chosen by the legislature to, in effect, operate all their schools as charter-like schools with maximum flexibility and local decision-making, the board gave its unanimous approval to the initial plan developed by Superintendent Moody and her staff.

Like Greg, Dr. Moody was passionate and eloquent in her remarks to the board.  She came across as the honest and transparent leader that she is when she said there would be “bumps in the road” and that RSSS would rely on the classroom teachers, not the central office, to develop the specifics of the plan.  She also promised regular communication with the community and the state board.

Yes, it was Rowan’s day in the spotlight in Raleigh and made me proud that I started my career in education by teaching at Knox and Salisbury High after attending Granite Quarry Elementary and graduating from East Rowan High and Catawba College.

— Phil Kirk

Raleigh

The writer is chairman emeritus of the State Board of Education.