Three more Beaufort County schools presented updates and improvement plans to the Board of Education at Monday’s meeting.

Charles Clark, principal at Northside High School, said he has seen two problems at his school: overcrowded classrooms and a lack of technology for students taking online college courses.

Many students at Northside are taking an online course through East Carolina University, but the school has to have a certain online program and laptops to offer it, he said.

Clark said the school needs at least six laptops to accommodate the students, but it only has four at this point, made possible by grant money. Northside High School must also have classrooms large enough to accommodate at least 35 students with appropriate technology, especially since the computer labs are already in use by other teachers, he said.

“I really think that this is addressing a lot of issues with the achievement gap,” Clark said of offering college courses. “It’s been really beneficial for our students.”

Although no decisions were made, the board acknowledged the importance of the classes, as well as the need for appropriate technology.

“It’s a good problem to have, yet it’s a problem,” board member Carolyn Walker said.

But despite these issues, Clark said he has a positive outlook of the school’s future, as Advanced Placement (AP) enrollment increased this year, and the 2014-2015 school year’s graduation rate was 86.7 percent with the lowest dropout rate in 10 years.

Jeremiah Jackson, principal of Beaufort County Ed Tech, told the board that his school has been vital to preventing dropouts, serving 71 students to date, although attendance remains an issue.

Beaufort County Ed Tech is a school tailored toward at-risk students who are in danger of dropping out, and in some cases, in danger of falling into criminal activity.

“Our students are pathway students who have had some difficulties during the path of their high school career,” Jackson said.

He said Ed Tech missed its goal of 95-percent participation on state testing last year, but still improved its participation rate to 92.4 percent, as well as its graduation rate to an all-time high of 84.2 percent.

Jackson said Ed Tech staff is working to create relationships with the parents and get them more involved in what is happening with their children’s education.

Board chairman Terry Williams asked about the attendance issues at the school, as many students choose to not attend classes on a regular basis.

“Attendance definitely is an issue,” Jackson said. “We tend to have at least three-quarters of our student population each day.”

Although lower attendance rates are to be expected with students at risk of dropping out, he also said the staff makes sure to follow up with a parent or social worker.

“We have teachers who are constantly letting our social worker know,” Jackson said. “I actually call any students who have missed over eight days. I actually call the parents.”

“We’re looking at reimaging and reimagining what Ed Tech is and what it can be,” he said.

Emily Pake, principal at the Beaufort County Early College High School, gave a good report of her school, saying enrollment has increased, end-of-course (EOC) exam scores were improving and last year’s graduation rate was 100 percent.

“We’re very proud of our students and the hard work of our faculty,” she said.

Pake said there are three goals the Early College wants to implement this school year: emphasis on innovating and excellence recognition; more collaboration among teachers; and to have 90 percent of students score a ‘C’ or higher in college courses.

“I don’t know what to say except great job,” chairman Williams said.

The board gave their support on each of the plans presented to them Monday night and will hold a special meeting on Nov. 30 to hear improvement plans from nine more schools.