Vance County Middle and High School Consolidation Update 3-28-18

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By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire

The Vance County Board of Education’s recent approval of the school system’s proposed consolidation plan will result in the combining of Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools and Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year.

The consolidated middle schools will be housed in the current Northern Vance High School building, while the consolidated high schools will be housed in the current Southern Vance High School facility.

In the planning stages of the consolidation proposal, school system administrators initially discussed a completion date of 2018-2019 for the middle school consolidation, with the high school consolidation to follow in 2019-2020.

According to Terri Hedrick, public information officer for Vance County Schools, feedback from the public at the multiple community meetings held over the last three months indicated the majority of participants favored consolidating the schools all at once and as soon as possible.

When the consolidated schools open their doors this August for the new school year, the middle school is expected to have approximately 840 students, while the high school’s population will be close to 1,350.

As for the names of the consolidated schools, Hedrick says the school system will seek student and community input. “With extensive input from students, parents and school staff members, consideration to the names, mascots and school colors of the new middle school and the new high school will be decided over the coming weeks,” said Hedrick. “We especially will seek the opinions of the current middle and high school students.”

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has recently ruled that the consolidated high school will remain in the Northern Carolina 1A/2A Conference and compete at the 2A level for the 2018-2019 school year. The school will be considered for placement in a conference of the classification in which its enrollment applies for the 2019-2020 school year and beyond at the NCHSAA Board of Directors meeting in December. The most likely scenario for the 2019-2020 school year will see the new consolidated high school competing at the 3A level as a member of the Big East 3A.

Future use of the vacated middle school buildings will be discussed by Vance County Board of Education members, with information provided by school system administrative officials. According to Hedrick, by state law, the board of education must first decide if it has any use for the buildings. If the board decides it does not have a use for the property, then the buildings will be offered to Vance County officials. If Vance County officials have no use for the buildings, they will revert back to the board of education, which can then make the decision to sell the property.

One area that is expected to remain fairly unchanged after the consolidation is school bus transportation. “The bus routes should have minimal changes. We anticipate keeping the same number of buses. Our buses already cover each half of the county for the middle and high schools [students share buses]. This isn’t likely to change,” Hedrick said.

The school system also anticipates that very few currently occupied jobs will be eliminated due to the consolidations. “As we reported in our public meetings about the consolidation proposal, we expect that no more than 20 jobs will be eliminated,” said Hedrick. “Many of these are already vacant positions, especially for teaching positions. We have staff turnover each school year and we expect that again this year.”

Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools, will provide a detailed consolidation implementation plan to the board at its April meeting. The consolidation planning process is being led by Dr. Jackson and senior staff administrators for the school system. Current principals and other administrators of the affected middle and high schools are also directly involved in the planning process.

The next Vance County Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018, at 7 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administrative Services Center at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson.

Beckford Drive Improvements Around Easter

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A significant portion of Beckford Drive is being “milled and filled” according to one of the Department of Transportation workers on site.  He told WIZS News the work would continue for about a week unless there were weather related issues.

If you use Beckford Drive as a cut through from Andrews Avenue to Dabney Drive, or to access Roanoke Avenue or Radio Lane from either direction, you should allow extra time or consider an alternate route through midweek next week on or about April 4th or April 5th.

Workers are not present all the time, but, when they are, there can be delays, flagmen and restrictions that allow cars to go only in one direction at the time.  So far, work has been confined to normal working hours during the week.

The road construction extends from the F-V-W Opportunity driveway to just east of Parkview Drive where you enter the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

This has nothing to do with the recent talks about widening Beckford Drive.

U.S. Department of Justice

Henderson Man Detained on Federal Firearm Charge After State Arrest in Granville County

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— courtesy United States Department of Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY – March 28, 2018

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announces the detention of a defendant after his arrest on a federal firearms charge.

An indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on March 15, 2018, against ODELL OVERBY, of Henderson. The indictment charges the defendant with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on December 17, 2017.

OVERBY was arrested December 17, 2017, by the Granville County Sheriff’s Office.

The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Granville County Sheriff’s Office and by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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NC Dept of Agriculture

Be careful when burning debris in spring

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— courtesy NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018

Be careful when burning debris in spring
Wildfire risk typically higher through May; burning debris is the No. 1 cause of wildfires

RALEIGH – The N.C. Forest Service is urging residents across the state to think safety and exercise caution during the spring fire season, which typically lasts from March to May.

“Burning debris is the No. 1 cause of wildfires,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “If you’re thinking about burning debris, contact your county forest ranger first. The ranger can offer technical advice and explain the best options to help maximize safety for people, property and the forest.”

During the spring fire season, people do a lot of yard work that often includes burning leaves and yard debris. There are many factors to consider before doing any burning. Following are tips to protect property and prevent wildfires:

  • Consider alternatives to burning. Some yard debris, such as leaves and grass, may be more valuable if composted.
  • Check with your county fire marshal’s office for local laws on burning debris. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours; others forbid it entirely.
  • Make sure you have an approved burning permit, which can be obtained at any NCFS office, county-approved burning permit agent, or online at https://ncforestservice.gov.
  • Check the weather. Don’t burn if conditions are dry or windy.
  • Only burn natural vegetation from your property. Burning household trash or any other man-made materials is illegal. Trash should be hauled away to a convenience center.
  • Plan burning for the late afternoon when conditions are typically less windy and more humid.
  • If you must burn, be prepared. Clear a perimeter around the burn area of flammable materials.
  • Keep fire tools ready. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, a steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire.
  • Never use flammable liquids such as kerosene, gasoline or diesel fuel to speed burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out. In North Carolina, human carelessness leads to more wildfires than any other cause.
  • These same tips hold true for campfires and barbeques, too. Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfire thoroughly with water. When the coals are soaked, stir them and soak them again. Be sure they are out cold and carefully feel to be sure they are extinguished. Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.
  • Burning agricultural residue and forestland litter: In addition to the guidelines above, a fire line should be plowed around the area to be burned. Large fields should be separated into small plots for burning one at a time. Before doing any burning in a wooded area, contact your county ranger, who will weigh all factors, explain them and offer technical advice.

For more information on ways you can prevent wildfires and loss of property, visit https://ncforestservice.gov.

Home and Garden Show 03/27/18

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News 03/28/18

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Vance County Community Foundation Grant Apps by 5-1-18

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For Immediate Release

The board of advisers of the Vance County Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications for projects funded from its community grantmaking fund, according to Fagan Goodwin, board president.

Funds are available for nonprofit organizations that serve general charitable needs in Vance County. Applications are available online beginning March 30. Visit nccommunityfoundation.org for information about applying. The deadline for submitting applications is noon May 1.

About the Vance County Community Foundation

The Vance County Community Foundation was founded in 1997 and is a local affiliate foundation of the North Carolina Community Foundation. VCCF is led by a local volunteer advisory board that helps build community assets through the creation of permanent endowments, makes grants and leverages leadership – all for the benefit of Vance County. In addition to Goodwin, board members include: Anthony Adams (secretary), Sara Wester (grants chair), Sarah Baskerville, Kay Curin, Wendy Meyer-Goodwin, Terri Hedrick and Amy Russell.

Tax-deductible contributions, made payable to the Vance County Community Foundation, can be mailed to the North Carolina Community Foundation, 3737 Glenwood Ave. Suite 460, Raleigh, NC 27612. Contributions can also be made online at nccommunityfoundation.org. For further information, contact NCCF Regional Director Quinn Novels at 919-256-6914 or
qnovels@nccommunityfoundation.org or visit the NCCF website at nccommunityfoundation.org.

About the North Carolina Community Foundation

The NCCF is the single statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has administered more than $130 million in grants since its inception in 1988. With nearly $247 million in assets, NCCF sustains 1,200 endowments established to provide long-term support of a broad range of community needs, nonprofit organizations, institutions and scholarships. The NCCF partners with a network of affiliate foundations to provide local resource allocation and community assistance across the state. An important component of NCCF’s mission is to ensure that rural philanthropy has a voice at local, regional and national levels.

For more information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org, like us on Facebook  and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @NCCF.

United Way of Vance County Yard Sale 4-14-18

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— submitted by Terri Hedrick, president of the United Way of Vance County

The United Way of Vance County will host a yard sale to raise funds for the local organization to support the needs of citizens in our community on Saturday, April 14, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the parking lot of the United Way office at 715 South Garnett Street in Henderson.

Our United Way is currently accepting items for donation from local citizens to be sold in the yard sale. Proceeds from the donated items will go to our United Way to support its efforts. Anyone interested in donating items for the yard sale may contact Terri Hedrick at 252-915-9420 or Jane Haithcock at 252-432-3778.

The yard sale is open to the public. Please plan to attend and find some great deals!

VGCC to hold event aimed at homeschoolers

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— courtesy VGCC

VGCC to hold event aimed at homeschoolers

Vance-Granville Community College, in partnership with The College at Southeastern, will soon hold an information session specifically designed for high school-aged homeschoolers and homeschooling parents. The event, called “Generation Connect,” is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3, 2018, from 1-3:30 p.m., in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County.

Attendees will learn about the educational opportunities available at both institutions, and the unique partnership that VGCC and The College at Southeastern have recently formed. The colleges will be helping students (at any age) who want to enroll at both institutions at the same time, in order to maximize their career options.

Vance-Granville offers more than 40 degree, diploma, and certificate programs to prepare students for further education or to enter a career directly after graduation. Students will find opportunities through programs in business, computer science, construction, education, engineering, health sciences, human services, industrial technologies, law and public safety, public services and transportation technologies. The college operates four campuses, one each in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, while also providing unique online opportunities, with six degrees available totally online.

The College at Southeastern began in 1994 as an undergraduate school of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, located in Wake Forest. The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees at Southeastern consist of a core curriculum which includes vital training in biblical studies, Christian worldview, world history, theology and English. In addition to their selected Bachelor of Arts major, all students complete a minor in Christian studies with the option of adding a second minor in their area of interest. For students on a Bachelor of Science track, all students have the option of transferring in credits from an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree, dual-enrolling in a vocational program at another institution like VGCC, or completing the business minor.

For more information and to RSVP for the information session, contact VGCC TechHire Project Manager Ken Wilson at wilsonk@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3259.

–VGCC–

(This is not a paid advertisement)

NC DIT Cybersecurity Pilot Program for Veterans a Success in First Run

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— press release from NC DIT

Cybersecurity Pilot Program for Veterans a Success in First Run
Apprenticeships help connect disabled vets with a new career

Raleigh, N.C. – Disabled veterans are getting access to skills and experience in the growing field of cybersecurity thanks to a unique partnership between state government, the tech sector and community colleges.

The Disabled Veterans Cybersecurity Apprenticeship program is a collaboration between the Department of Information Technology (DIT) and other state agencies; ISG, a Raleigh-based IT firm specializing in cybersecurity; and educational organizations in the state, including Wake Technical Community College and other community colleges. Only disabled veterans who are honorably discharged from service qualify to participate.

More than 200,000 members of the US military return to civilian life each year with 20,000 of them in North Carolina alone. Getting used to civilian life after a career in the military can prove difficult, especially for those who sustained service-related disabilities. The pilot program gives soldiers a new way to serve their country.

Five apprentices work eight-hour days Monday through Thursday, guided by mentors in their work. On Friday, the apprentices meet for training at ISG in Raleigh. They receive regular salary and benefits, and by the time they graduate from the program in October, they will be eligible to take the examination for and obtain a CISSP – Certified Information System Security Professional Associate certification. The two-year, $500,000 pilot program is in its second year.

“When I was selected for this program, it said to me, ‘Thank you for your service’ on a whole different level. It didn’t just thank me for my service, it thanked my family for the sacrifice that they made…. I really feel like the state is giving back. This is the thanks for my service, and now I am able to take care of my family,” said Vicky Steward, a retired first sergeant in the U.S. Army. Steward was injured almost 22 years ago in the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia.

ISG has a job placement program in place to ensure that all of the participants are employed after they complete their training, said Maria Thompson, DIT’s chief risk officer. Employers will gain well-trained, reliable, and dedicated workers in cybersecurity, a field that does not yet have enough qualified workers, and veterans receive training and expertise in a rising and lucrative IT field. Veterans are comfortable with changing environments and learning new things, Thompson said. They have been trained to protect, they have already proven themselves able to work hard with high integrity, and they are adept at working on teams.

“All of those things are things that you need in cybersecurity,” says Tony Marshall, ISG’s president and chief executive officer.

DIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Eric Boyette said he and the department will work to bring more veterans into the program. The department intends to ask the General Assembly in the coming legislative session for support to double the size of the next apprentice class.

“It’s great to be able to offer these positions to these individuals, and watch them grow, watch them succeed, watch them teach others, watch them learn, and just be able to be supportive,” Boyette said. “This initiative really needs to grow … and we are going to figure out ways to make it grow.”

For an inside look at the program and to hear from participants, visit: https://youtu.be/fmVfifI_JxQ

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