March 28, 2013. Update! Come June, Supt. David Kafitz will no longer be employed with Watauga County Schools, agreeing to accept a buyout of his contract from the Watauga County Board of Education that amounts to $186,110. Watauga County Schools announced the decision on Thursday afternoon, less than 9 months since Kafitz has been at the helm of the school system.
BY JESSE WOOD
Feb. 23, 2013. Includes Kafitz’s Contract! Early Saturday afternoon, at the end of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners two-day annual retreat, Commissioner Perry Yates expressed disgust at the possibility of Watauga County Schools Supt. David Kafitz receiving a raise with supplemental funds from the county.
BY JESSE WOOD
Feb. 11, 2013. In the first Watauga County Board of Education meeting since two incidents involving Watauga County Schools Supt. David Kafitz came to light, the school board didn’t acknowledge the recent controversies surrounding the superintendent, but a board member did make an intriguing motion that came about because of those controversies.
BY JESSE WOOD
Feb. 6, 2013. Whatever was discussed last night, however, comes with some finality. Unlike the initial closed-session meeting on Jan. 30 that was continued until last night, the meeting last night was adjourned, according to those in the meeting.
BY JESSE WOOD
Jan. 31, 2013. Continuation Meeting Scheduled! After the closed session meeting regarding personnel on Wednesday night, no decision was made, according to Watauga County Board of Education Member Ron Henries. Much speculation has been made that the meeting was called to discuss the past behavior of Supt. David Kafitz. Henries wouldn’t confirm or deny that Kafitz was the topic of the closed-session meeting.
BY JESSE WOOD
Feb. 1, 2013. Last Tuesday – the day after Watauga County Board of Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges released a statement regarding a two-month-old conversation between Supt. David Kafitz and a week after the Mellow Mushroom incident – current county commissioner John Welch penned a letter.
BY JESSE WOOD
Jan. 30, 2013. The meeting is scheduled for tonight at 6 p.m. at the Gragg Education Center. While no school board members or school officials are talking about the specifics of the meeting, there is much speculation swirling around town that it regards Kafitz’ future – or lack there of – at the helm of Watauga County Schools.
BY JESSE WOOD
Jan. 28, 2013. Just a few days after Supt. David Kafitz declared the matter of his actions at Mellow Mushroom “settled,” another black eye surfaces. According the director of the Watauga County Board of Elections, Kafitz was “very rude” to her on Election Day, after a dispute between the principal at Green Valley School and elections officials.
BY JESSE WOOD
Jan. 24, 2013. From some points of view, it’s been an inauspicious start for Supt. David Kafitz, who was hired nearly eight months ago, and from a public-relations standpoint, his first year at the helm of Watauga County Schools so far reached a tipping point after a regrettable incident at the Mellow Mushroom in downtown Boone.
BY JESSE WOOD
Jan. 15, 2013. Leaving much to be read between the lines, Barbara Kinsey, one of the three new Watauga County Board of Education members elected in November, read a prepared statement at the school board meeting on Monday night.
BY JESSE WOOD
Oct. 19, 2012. County Schools added a new position recently and the wife of Supt. David Kafitz will fill that role. Starting in November, Amy Kafitz will become the school psychologist for Watauga County Schools.
BY JESSE WOOD
Sept. 10, 2012. After a recommendation from a search committee, the Watauga County Board of Education selected Dr. David Fonseca as the new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for Watauga County Schools.
BY JESSE WOOD
Aug. 8, 2012. Watauga County Schools Associate Superintendent Scarlet Davis recently resigned from her position, effective Aug. 1, three years into a four-year contract and less than two weeks before the start of the new school year.
BY GREG HINCE