Middle and High School Consolidation? Community Input Sought
Vance County Schools
For Immediate Release
January 9, 2018
The Vance County Board of Education at its January 8 meeting directed Superintendent Anthony Jackson and school system staff members to seek community input on a potential facilities consolidation plan that would impact current Vance County middle and high schools.
Jackson provided information at the board meeting outlining a process to gather input on the feasibility of consolidating middle and high schools. The proposal includes the possibility of consolidating Henderson and Eaton-Johnson Middle Schools for the 2018-2019 school year. It further proposes the possibility of consolidating Northern Vance and Southern Vance High Schools for the 2019-2020 school year.
Jackson stressed that the consolidation proposal is the result of several years of declining student enrollment across the district and the need to improve the efficient and financial sustainability of school operations.
The matter was brought to the full board following a recommendation from the board’s Building and Grounds Committee with a motion from the Committee’s Chair Mrs. Ruth Hartness to begin the process of gathering input from the local community.
Several public meetings to discuss the proposal are scheduled. The meetings include: January 25 at 10 a.m. in the school system’s Administrative Services Center; January 25 at 6 p.m. at Henderson Middle School; January 29 at 6 p.m. at Eaton-Johnson Middle School; January 30 at 10 a.m. in the Administrative Services Center; January 30 at 6 p.m. at Northern Vance High School; and February 8 at 6 p.m. at Southern Vance High School. There also will be a meeting on January 17 with principals at a time and location to be determined as well as meetings with middle and high school faculties.
Included in the report to the board, it was noted that enrollment in Vance County Schools has declined from 6,848 students in 2012-2013 to 5,980 students in the current school year. The consolidation proposal seeks to improve and enhance services and programs for students.
At the direction of the board, the proposal should not impact any of the district’s 10 elementary schools.
Initial projections indicate that by consolidating the two middle schools on one campus, the district could save an estimated $1 million annually. One consolidated middle school would serve approximately 835 students.
A consolidated high school could see estimated savings of approximately $1.4 million each year. One high school would serve approximately 1,500 students.
The consolidation proposal projects a reduction of approximately 19 positions at the middle school level and 25 positions at the high school level, plus operational and monthly cost for facilities no longer needed.
The community engagement process will involve the public meetings to gather input from all stakeholders in the community through February. The staff will compile this information and bring a final report with recommendations to the board for its review in March.
It is important to recognize that all savings realized by these proposals will be redirected back into the consolidated schools to support our students and staff and to improve program offerings.
It is important that the staff receive ample input from the community, so that they might be able to make the best recommendation to the board in March. The Board reiterates that no final decisions have been made. They need to hear from the community to ensure that the plan has the necessary support for success moving forward.
#VANCECoProud – Wills Delegate to Congress of Future Medical Leaders
— courtesy Vance County Schools
For Immediate Release
January 10, 2018
Kianna Wills, who is a junior at the Vance County Early College High School, has been selected as a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Lowell, Ma., June 25-27.
The Congress is an honors program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of the event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be physicians or medical scientists to stay true to their dream. It also helps to provide a path, plan and resources to help students reach their goals.
Wills was nominated for the Congress by Dr. Mario Capecchi, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and the science director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. She will represent her school based on her academic achievements, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.
During the three-day Congress, Wills will join students from across the nation and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science recipients talk about leading medical research. Students also will be given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school and they will learn about cutting edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.
The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists offers free services and programs to students including: online social networks through which future doctors and medical scientists can communicate; opportunities for students to be guided and mentored by physicians and medical students; and communications for parents and students on college acceptance and finances, skills acquisition, internships, career guidance and more.
Maria Parham Health welcomes Dr. Aidevo Igbide
The following is a press release from Maria Parham Health, not a paid advertisement.
Henderson, NC – Maria Parham Health (MPH), a Duke LifePoint hospital, is excited to announce that Aidevo S. Igbide, MD has joined their primary care physician practice, Maria Parham Primary Care. Dr. Igbide joins our community from Surrey, BC, Canada where she practiced family medicine. Dr. Igbide has over 17 years of experience as a doctor and has worked in multiple countries throughout the world. You can continue reading this article here.
Dr. Igbide earned her medical degree from the University of Benin, School of Medicine in Benin City, Nigeria. She completed a residency program at London Deanery, Sidcup Training in Family Medicine and also trained in internal medicine at the Queens hospital, London Deanery both located in London England. Dr. Igbide holds several licensures including North Carolina medical Board and College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. She previously
held a teaching license with the Washington State Medical Board. She is also certified through multiple organizations and societies including, Board certification by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. She is a Member Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP), United Kingdom and a Member Royal College of Physicians (MRCP), United Kingdom. She is ECFMG certified and board eligible with the American Board of Family Physicians (ABFM).
Dr. Igbide holds several active professional memberships in the following organizations, Canada Medical Protection association, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Canadian Medical Association and the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom. When she is not working, Dr. Igbide enjoys swimming, aerobics and Zumba dancing, cooking and traveling. She is also a soprano soloist and enjoys taking time to practice her skill.
Maria Parham Primary Care is located in the Vance Medical Arts Building across from Maria Parham Health. This practice offers primary care services for the entire family including preventative care, annual wellness care, childhood illness, well child care, women’s health, treatment of chronic illness and geriatric care. Dr. Igbide joins Dr. Gary Smith and Dr. Kavitha Subramanian at Maria Parham Primary Care.
Dr. Igbide is now accepting patients at Maria Parham Primary Care located at 511 Ruin Creek Rd, Suite 101 in Henderson. To reach Maria Parham Primary Care, please call 252.436.0040 appointments can also be made online by visiting mariaparham.com.
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(Maria Parham Health is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid advertisement.)
Frank Beamer, Mack Brown, Calvin Johnson and Ed Reed Selected for Induction to College Football Hall of Fame
ATLANTA – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced Monday the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame Class, which includes two players and two coaches from Atlantic Coast Conference schools. Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Miami defensive back Ed Reed were selected to the 2018 class and will be joined by former ACC coaches Frank Beamer of Virginia Tech and Mack Brown of North Carolina.
The 13 total inductees (10 players and three head coaches) were selected from the national ballot of 75 All-America players and six elite coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and the 98 players and 31 coaches from the divisional ranks.
FRANK BEAMER
Murray State University (1981-86), Virginia Tech (1987-2015)
Head Coach, 280-144-4 (65.9%)
The winningest coach in Virginia Tech history, Frank Beamer’s 280 career victories rank sixth in FBS history and are the 13th most by a college football coach at any NCAA division. He led the Hokies to their first-ever national title game appearance as part of an impressive streak of 23 consecutive bowl berths in his final 23 seasons.
Beamer began his 35-year head coaching career at Murray State from 1981-86, and he ranks fourth in school history in wins after leading the Racers to a 42-23-2 record in six seasons. In 1986, he guided the team to a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title and a trip to the FCS Playoffs.
In 1987, Beamer became the head coach at his alma mater Virginia Tech, where would win a school-record 238 games in 29 seasons (1987-2015). Arguably, his best season came in 1999 when he earned consensus National Coach of the Year honors after leading Virginia Tech to an appearance in the BCS National Championship at the Sugar Bowl following the program’s first 11-win season and first undefeated regular season in school history. Under Beamer, the Hokies posted five top-10 finishes and became one of only six programs in college football history to go to a bowl game in at least 20-straight seasons. After just one win in six bowl games prior to his arrival, Beamer would win 11 of his 23 appearances, including marquee wins in the 1995 Sugar Bowl, 2009 Orange Bowl and the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl. His Hokies are also one of just four teams in Division I history to produce 10 wins in eight or more consecutive seasons (2004-11), and his 23-straight seasons of seven or more wins are a school record.
A five-time conference Coach of the Year, Beamer won three BIG EAST titles and added four ACC titles in five conference championship game appearances. Overall, he coached 16 First Team All-Americans, two NFF National Scholar-Athletes, 79 first team all-conference selections, three ACC Players of the Year, three BIG EAST Offensive Players of the Year, two BIG EAST Defensive Players of the Year and two BIG EAST Special Teams Players of the Year.
One of his lasting legacies is “Beamerball,” the name given for the Hokies’ ability to make big plays and score on offense, defense and special teams. Beamer’s teams blocked more kicks in the 1990s than any other FBS program, helping him earn BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Decade laurels.
Beamer started three years as a cornerback at Virginia Tech for College Football Hall of Fame coach Jerry Claiborne. Before becoming a head coach, he served as an assistant coach at Maryland, The Citadel and Murray State. A member of the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame, Beamer’s No. 25 jersey was retired by the school in 2002, his name adorns the Hokies’ locker room and the street in front of Lane Stadium is known as Beamer Way. He currently serves as a special assistant to the athletics director at Virginia Tech, and he is a member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.
MACK BROWN
Appalachian State University (1983), Tulane University (1985-87),
University of North Carolina (1988-97), University of Texas (1998-2013)
Head Coach, 244-122-1 (66.6%)
Highlighted by a national championship win at Texas, Mack Brown led his teams to 22 bowl games during a remarkable 30-year career as a head coach. His 244 career victories are the 10th most by a coach in FBS history.
Brown began his successful head-coaching career with a one-year stint at Appalachian State in 1983, leading the Mountaineers to a 6-5 record. After a successful season as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma under Hall of Fame coach Barry Switzer, he became the head coach and athletics director at Tulane in 1985. He led the Green Wave to a 6-6 record in his final year in 1987 and a trip to the Independence Bowl, its first bowl appearance in seven years.
During 10 seasons as the head coach at North Carolina from 1988-97, Brown won 69 games – tied for the second most victories in school history. Brown’s Tar Heels would post winning records in his final eight seasons and go to bowl games every year beginning in 1992, including a win in the 1993 Peach Bowl, the program’s first bowl appearance since 1986. The 1996 ACC Coach of the Year led North Carolina to three 10-win seasons, and the team finished in the top 25 four times, including a No. 10 ranking in 1996 and the No. 4 spot in 1997.
It was at Texas from 1998-2013 where Brown would see his greatest success. Boasting the highest winning percentage (76.7%) in school history among coaches with at least 10 years at the helm, his 158 career wins are second only to Hall of Fame coach Darrell Royal in Longhorn history. During the 2005 season, Brown guided Texas to its first national championship in 35 years after defeating Southern California at the Rose Bowl in one of the greatest games in college football history. The 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year won two conference titles (2005, 2009), four Big 12 South Division titles and led the Longhorns to another appearance in the BCS National Championship following the 2009 season. A two-time National Coach of the Year at Texas, Brown won more than 10 games in nine consecutive seasons, and his teams posted 13 top 25 finishes, including seven in the top 10. He posted a Big 12 record 21 consecutive conference wins from 2004-06, and he led the Longhorns to bowl games in all but one season, winning 10.
Over his entire career, Brown coached 37 First Team All-Americans, six Academic All-Americans, 110 first team all-conference selections and 11 conference Players of the Year. He also coached two College Football Hall of Famers in Dre Bly (North Carolina) and Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams (Texas), and four NFF National Scholar-Athletes, including Campbell Trophy® winners Sam Acho and Dallas Griffin at Texas. Brown posted 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1990-2009, and his 225 wins from 1990-2013 were the most among FBS coaches during that span.
A native of Cookeville, Tenn., Brown played running back at Vanderbilt and Florida State. Before his first head coaching job at Appalachian State, he served as an assistant coach at Florida State, Southern Miss, Memphis, Iowa State and LSU. A member of the Texas Longhorns Hall of Honor, Brown is also enshrined in the Rose Bowl, State of Texas Sports, State of Tennessee Sports and Holiday Bowl halls of fame. He currently serves as a college football studio and game analyst at ESPN and as a special assistant at Texas.
CALVIN JOHNSON
Georgia Tech
Wide Receiver, 2004-06
Arguably the greatest wide receiver in Georgia Tech history, Calvin Johnson rewrote the school record books and ended his career receiving the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the nation. He is the 14th Yellow Jacket player to enter the Hall.
One of just six Yellow Jackets to be a two-time First Team All-American, Johnson earned unanimous honors as a senior and became the first three-time First Team All-ACC selection in program history. The Tyrone, Ga., native remains Georgia Tech’s all-time career leader in receiving yards (2,927), touchdown receptions (28) and 100-yard receiving games (13). Johnson’s best year came in 2006 when he won the Biletnikoff Award and was named the ACC Player of the Year after leading the Yellow Jackets to the Coastal Division title. A team captain that season, he placed in the top 10 for the Heisman Trophy after setting single-season school records for receiving yards (1,202), touchdown receptions (15) and 100-yard receiving games (7).
The 2004 Freshman All-American and ACC Rookie of the Year helped Georgia Tech to three consecutive bowl games, including a win in the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl. A seven-time ACC Player of the Week, Johnson ranks 15th in conference history in career receiving yards and is tied for seventh in career touchdown receptions. “Megatron” also sits in the top 10 in Georgia Tech annals in five other receiving categories, currently ranking second in both career and single-season receptions. He was elected to the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
The second overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Johnson spent his entire nine-year career with the Detroit Lions. The Lions’ all-time leading receiver was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and owns the NFL record for single-season receiving yards.
Off the field, he founded the Calvin Johnson Jr. Foundation to help at-risk youth and provide financial assistance to community organizations. He is currently working as a private wide-receiver consultant, working with players at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, and he says he plans to return to college.
ED REED
University of Miami (Fla.)
Defensive Back, 1998-2001
One of the best defensive players in Miami history, Ed Reed twice earned First Team All-America honors while guiding the Hurricanes to a national championship. The St. Rose, La., native becomes the seventh player in school annals to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
A unanimous First Team All-American in 2001 and a consensus honoree in 2000, Reed led the Hurricanes to four consecutive bowl victories, ending his career with a perfect 12-0 record and a national championship after defeating Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl. He also led Miami to a win over in-state rival Florida in the 2001 Sugar Bowl. The 2001 Big East Defensive Co-Player of the Year led the Hurricanes to consecutive conference titles as a junior and senior. A finalist for the 2001 Jim Thorpe Award, Reed was a three-time All-Big East selection, earning first team honors his last two seasons after receiving second team laurels as a sophomore.
Reed’s 21 career interceptions and 389 career interception return yards both stand as Miami and Big East records. The standout defensive back led the Hurricanes and the conference in interceptions in 2000 and 2001, posting four consecutive games with a pick in both seasons. Reed also holds Miami’s career record with four interceptions returned for touchdowns, and his 206 interception return yards in 2001 are a single-season conference record. Overall, he led the Hurricanes to an impressive 41-8 record in his four years at “The U.”
Selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Reed played 11 seasons with the franchise before ending his career with the Houston Texans and New York Jets in 2013. The nine-time Pro Bowl selection led the Ravens to a championship in Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 season. Reed is a member of the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor and the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
Off the field, he established the Ed Reed Foundation to help youth in underserved communities. He hosts charity golf tournaments and football camps while annually providing full Thanksgiving meals to approximately 600 families. Reed is a member of both the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame and the Hurricanes’ Ring of Honor.
SELECTION CRITERIA
1. First and foremost, a player must have received First Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise their consensus All-America teams.
2. A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation’s honors courts 10 full seasons after his final year of intercollegiate football played.
3. While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and fellow man. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
4. Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years*. For example, to be eligible for the 2018 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1968 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
5. A coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage.
* Players that do not comply with the 50-year rule may still be eligible for consideration by the Football Bowl Subdivision and Divisional Honors Review Committees, which examine unique cases.
Oxford Board Joint Committee Meeting Jan 17, 2018
CITY OF OXFORD
JOINT MEETING OF THE PLANNING, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY COMMITTEE AND THE PROPERTY, BUILDINGS AND REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE MEETING
There will be a joint meeting of the Planning and Property Committees for the Oxford Board of Commissioners. They will meet on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 1:00 PM. The meeting will be held in the First Floor Training Room, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street.
The purpose of the meeting is to review Chapter 20 of the City of Oxford Code of Ordinances and to discuss the Armory property.
All those interested are invited to attend.
Cynthia Bowen
City Clerk
City of Oxford
Daddy’s Boys: Broken Promises – Sat, Jan 13
The following is a press release from McGregor Hall, not a paid advertisement.
New Play Coming To McGregor Hall Delves Into Issues Facing The African-American Family
‘Daddy’s Boys: Broken Promises’ Debuts On McGregor Hall Stage On MLK Jr. Weekend With Promise To Entertain & Educate Audience
HENDERSON, N.C. — “Come out and support issues facing the African-American family during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend,” declared Garrett Davis, the award-winning urban theatrical playwright who recently announced that his latest stage play, “Daddy’s Boys: Broken Promises,” is coming to McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson, N.C., on Saturday, January 13, 2018.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the play starts at 8 p.m.
The play delves into the role of men as fathers, according to Davis, who said the issue of a fatherless home has become “a widespread problem, especially in the black community.” Davis, who is not one to shy away from hard issues, further explained that the play “takes audience members on an emotional journey that stresses the importance of fathering.”
During the production, the character Jessie known as Pops (Chris Ross) wasn’t always there for his three sons; however, when he’s faced with the last days of his life due to cancer, he comes to realize he needs to do more to be a better parent while he still has time. The three sons include Junior (Kenneth Pierce, Sr.), Punkin (Devonte Wells) and Charles (Dartez Wright).
“Each role will entertain you with humor, singing and an honest message that’s especially fit for young men, fathers and mothers,” Davis said, adding that “Daddy’s Boys” also educates men about prostate cancer.
According to the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer and second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. Furthermore, PHEN reports the African American prostate cancer incidence rate is 60 percent higher, and mortality rate 150 percent higher compared to any other racial or ethnic group.
According to Davis, one of the major contributors to the prostate cancer crisis is a lack of awareness and knowledge about the disease. “Knowledge is critical to surviving prostate cancer,” he advised, noting that black men need to know about the their risk level, early detection testing and treatment options. “‘Daddy’s Boys,’” he said, “aims to help educate African American men about prostate cancer.”
This is not the first time Davis has created a play with a mission to educate and advocate. His plays, “Mama’s Girls” and “Mama’s Girls 2” partnered with American Association of Retired Persons to launch the “Prepare to Care” project — a national outreach effort that raises the awareness of caregiving as well as with the American Diabetes Association.
Another production, “Forget Me Not” is more personal for Davis as it was written to provide closure for his real-life inability to cope with and care for his Grandma Goodness stricken with Alzheimer’s. His outreach, advocacy and awareness for Alzheimer’s led to successful partnerships with the US Against Alzheimer’s Network, Emory Hospital’s Brain Center and AstraZeneca that allows him to reach more people and make a difference in people’s lives. His partnership with Emory Hospital’s Brain Center successfully registered over 100 participants for clinical trials.
Davis explained, “I would hate for there to be a cure but it didn’t apply to us for lack of knowledge.” In addition, as U.S. Ambassador for the National Alzheimer’s Association, Davis learned more about the disease, and the regulatory laws as well as the platform to educate and further share the importance of the caregiver. He co-founded The African American Network Against Alzheimer’s with Honorary Co-Chairs former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, Rev. Al Sharpton, The Honorable Kay Coles James and Melody Barnes, formerly of the Obama Administration.
Davis’ brand of reality infotainment as he calls it, impact the way we learn, feel, think and live our best lives. For “Daddy’s Boys: Broken Promises,” he invites you to join others in the region for this life-changing message.
Tickets are on sale for $25 or $22 plus sales tax. Group and student rates are available.
Tickets can be purchased directly at the McGregor Hall Box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Box Office is located at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson. The Box Office can also be reached by phone by calling (252) 598-0662. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.McGregorHall.org by using the secure and trusted purchasing platform, eTix. Online fees apply.
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Vance County Food Giveaway Thurs, Jan 11, 2018
Vance County Food Giveaway Thurs, Jan 11, 2018
NEWS RELEASE: For Immediate Release – Wednesday, January 10,2018
From: Turner Pride, County Extension Director
Community agencies and the faith-based community have joined forces to help feed Vance County! On Thursday, January 11, 2018 the NC Central/Eastern Food Bank will be distributing bags of food to community members who are in need of food at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. The distribution will begin at 10 a.m. with volunteers from various agencies from across the county. Citizens will receive disbursements using a drive through method, as bags will be bought to individual cars when citizens arrive at the site. Citizens are asked to not arrive until 10 a.m. and to refrain from lining up ahead of time blocking traffic. This project is being sponsored locally by St. James Missionary Baptist Church, Vance County Department of Social Services, Vance County Cooperative Extension Center, and the Vance County USDA Farm Service Agency.
Vance County Center
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
305 Young St.
Henderson, NC 27536
Phone:252-438-8188