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Watauga County Board of Education Holding Convocation Friday to Prep Employees for New Year

By Greg Hince

Aug. 1, 2012. Members of the Watauga County Board of Education will attend a convocation Friday morning in the Watauga High School auditorium to discuss loose plans, outline, hopes and goals for the upcoming school year. The meeting will also give new Superintendent David Kafitz the opportunity to introduce himself to school personnel he hasn’t had to chance to meet.

The convocation is for all Watauga County Schools employees, with the understanding that one or two employees may need to remain at each school. The program start time is 8:30 a.m and will last around an hour and a half.

“There is no real agenda and the discussions will be informal,” Marshall Ashcraft, Watauga County Schools Community Relations Director said. “It will serve as a way to set the stage for the upcoming school year.” 

Wednesday Aug. 8 is the first day of school for Watauga County students. Monday and Tuesday are mandatory teacher workdays.

In a Board of Education hearing Monday, all seven board members confirmed that they will be attending and contributing to the convocation.

“My only hopes for the meeting are only that everyone attends and it can be a fun and bright start to a new year,” Deborah Miller, Watauga County Schools Board Chair said.

Kafitz, who was announced as the new Superintendent in June, has had the opportunity to meet many teachers and school employees, but will get to opportunity to address the school system as a whole for the first time Friday.

“I’m sure he will address a number of growing concerns, but this is more of a preview or orientation,” Ashcraft said. “It’s one of the few ways we have to communicate with the entire workforce.”