Dr. Narendra P. Sharma, Founder and Chair, NOC, made a presentation to the Board of Education and senior staff of the Beaufort County School District on August 7, 2014, to discuss accomplishments of the NOC/BCSD partnership over the past five years.  The presentation also focused on challenges we face in Beaufort County to reduce the significant gap between minority and non-minority students and between students from high-income and low-income families.

Dr. Sharma noted that by maintaining a strong presence and connections with parents in the neighborhoods served, bringing teachers and technology into its program centers in these neighborhoods, and focusing only on education, NOC is strategically placed to supplement learning in the schools. NOC has established a solid track record in generating results and showing academic gains among students participating in its programs.  He added that NOC wants to bring more children and additional underserved neighborhoods in Beaufort County into its programs. To accomplish this aim, NOC seeks a stronger partnership with BCSD, as well as help from BCSD in the following areas:

(a)    Funding of 50% of the cost of qualified teachers in NOC’s current 4 program centers (2 in HHI and 2 in Bluffton),

(b)   Pre-school learning for children in low-income neighborhoods.

(c)    Timely sharing of data (including test scores).

(d)   Joint grant proposals for funding to expand into new neighborhoods, especially North of the Broad.

Further discussions are anticipated by both sides to strengthen collaboration in order to help high risk children excel academically and graduate on time.

View a summary of Dr. Sharma’s presentation: BCSD Presentation, 2014