Student athletes recognized, Severne Budd honored along with approval of ‘Shelby Four’ plaque at SHS
- Chuck Thompson
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent
Editor’s note: For more information about the sale of Marion School, and board comments, see the other Board of Education news story published after this one, Tuesday afternoon, 3/10/2026.
On Monday night, during the school board public meeting, Dr. Jason Parker, Executive Director of Elementary Schools and Title 1, recognized students Greyson Wells, as the Cleveland County Schools Spelling Bee winner, and Caleb Marlow as the Cleveland County Schools Spelling Bee runner-up. Parker also recognized Jennifer Bumgardner and Rebecca Padgett for their accomplishment as the district's newest LERS CF Facilitators.
Director of Auxiliary Services and Athletic Director, David Pless, addressed the board, recognizing several student athletes for their recent State Championship wins.
Kings Mountain High School Wrestling State Champion Will Varner; Burns High School Swim State Champion (50 Free) Troy Spangler; and also, Zaryn Ussery, Keynia Trammell-Mason, Olivia Oliver, and Noni Oliver of Shelby High School Track 4 x 200 State Champions.
Approval of the agenda and committee reports were next, with the Finance & Personnel Committee, Safety & Operations Committee and Educational Programs & Policy Committee all provided updates on their meetings and several items from these committees were voted on and approved.
Finance and personnel report presented by Aaron Bridges. He noted they still did not have a budget from the General Assembly and reviewed the committee meeting notes about being required to have an audit. He mentioned general costs and contracts for educational purposes, and standard equipment needed for the schools.
Ledford noted he believes the audit should come before the entire board in a public meeting and not just in committee “It used to come before the board and for some reason it got changed and it should go back in front of everyone,” he noted.
Safety and Operations committee review was presented by Walter Spurling. Noting security updates to central services. “We are blessed with great SRO’s,” said Spurling. He mentioned they have upcoming professional development for student support services after the most recent loss of a student at Crest High from a car accident in Boiling Springs, last month. The committee also discussed pros and cons of seatbelts on school buses and security camera updates at CCS schools. Plus, other items, such as a N.A.A.C.P. plaque at Shelby high School honoring the ‘Shelby Four’ during integration at Shelby High School in 1963. This historic dedication moved forward to the full board during the meeting Monday evening, which was approved unanimously 9-0. Severn Budd, the only living member of the Shelby Four was present in the audience for the historic vote.
Later in the meeting, Board of Education Chairman Joel Shores asked Budd to come to the front, where all board members stood to pay their respects and shake her hand, concluding with a photo of Severne Budd with the CCS Board of Education members.
Board Member Gloria Sherman provided an update on the Educational Programs and Policy, including updates on Headstart, accident reports and high school graduation information that was discussed during the committee meeting.
Then, the topic moved to Marion School (see the other news story for more details). After a lengthy discussion, the board took a vote on a resolution to put Marion on the ‘auction block’ to the highest bidder. A close bid date will be sometime in April with an upset 10-day process after the initial bid.
During the public comments of the meeting, Rene Palermo, a parent to a child at Burns Middle School, spoke on the matter of school lunch. Palermo noted that sometimes the school runs out of full lunches and students are given a ‘ticket’ in place of a full lunch. Palermo insisted that lunches in schools are not acceptable, affecting students’ attention, grades and behavior. She spoke with her child standing next to her – stating she picked up her child one day because she didn’t get a full lunch, only side items.
“When students are properly nourished, attendance improves, grades improve and behavior improves,” Palermo said to the school board. She also challenged each and every board member to have lunch with her child at Burns Middle.
The public meeting of the Cleveland County Board of Education concluded after individual board comments (see the other news story) and proceeded into closed session with CCS Board Attorney Leigha Sink for personnel matters.
The next public CCS Board of Education meeting will be held in the auditorium, April 13, 2026, at 6 p.m.
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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent.
The Shelby Independent.
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