Education

Gov. Mike Easley has released the 2008 Teacher Working Conditions Initiative Survey, a survey that measures teacher satisfaction with curriculum, instruction and school operations.

The survey, which has been given to North Carolina teachers since 2002, was completed by 923 teachers in Brunswick County and more than 100,000 teachers statewide.

Ninety-eight percent of teachers in Brunswick County responded to the survey, 11 percent higher than the state average.

The College of Engineering and Science at Clemson University has received a $1.1 million gift from Samuel and Patricia Deal of Holden Beach. The money is earmarked for research on alternative energy sources.

The announcement came at the 2008 Major Donors Breakfast recently at the Madren Center.

Communities in Schools of Brunswick County (CIS), local chapter of the nationwide dropout prevention program, is preparing to begin the school year with a new board chairman and five new board of director members.

Jim MacCallum was nominated to be the new chairman. MacCallum and his wife moved to Brunswick County about seven years ago in hopes of retiring. Instead, he opened a new law firm and they both became involved in various community organizations.

MacCallum joined CIS board of directors about two years ago and previously served as the vice-chair.

Brunswick County Board of Education member Ray Gilbert may have lost his seat during the primary election in May, but his name will still appear on the ballot for November’s general election.

Gilbert filed to run for the board as the Libertarian candidate on July 1.

“After much thought and consideration of options on how to continue to work toward a sound education for all students, I decided to continue as a Libertarian candidate for the Brunswick County Board of Education,” Gilbert said in a statement.