WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – In his first year as superintendent, Eddie Beck wants to make long-term changes that he hopes will benefit students and staff.
According to Beck, they have developed a six-year learning framework plan for the new school year. The plan serves as a blueprint for school leadership. The end goal is to create consistency and equity for all students and staff.
“I want to provide students with the same opportunities for educational initiatives that I had as a student. Hopefully, I want to help enhance their experience so they can be successful in their future endeavors,” Beck said.
The plan also provides support to students after graduation, whether they plan to join the military, pursue a career or attend college.
Beck says the district wants to improve student test scores by 6%. The framework was developed in response to data released last school year. Several schools performed below average. A major problem is chronic absenteeism among teachers and students, Beck says.
“We need teachers in the building to teach. When teachers are happy and morale is high, they are prepared and want to come to work. That’s why we place a lot of emphasis on morale and also place a lot of emphasis on student morale, because education is supposed to be fun,” Beck said.
In addition, the school district plans to use COVID funds to renovate the rear of West Columbus High School and remove old infrastructure.
Thanks to a $52 million need-based grant, Acme-Delco and Halsboro Artisia Elementary will merge into one school, with the school scheduled to open in July 2027.
According to Beck, Columbus County Schools also has only six teaching positions open for the new school year. He says the majority of teachers working in Columbus County grew up in the area and he has lived and worked with them for years.
“It makes me really proud. There’s a new social studies teacher in West Columbus who was actually a student when I was principal in South Columbus. So I’ve seen her leave her role as a student, go to college and then come back to education as a teacher and coach. Stories like that just make me feel good because you want students to go to college. But you also want them to come back home,” Beck said.
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