Vance County Schools Re-Consolidation: What the Public Is Saying As of Jan 31, 2018
— by Jeff Jenkins, WIZS
Anyone in Vance County who has read the Daily Dispatch or listened to WIZS for the past three weeks already knows that the Vance County School Board is considering a proposal from Superintendent Anthony Jackson to consolidate the County’s two Middle Schools and two High Schools into one Middle School and one High School. When they received Dr. Jackson’s detailed proposal, the School Board immediately called for public reaction to the possible consolidation and set up a number of community gatherings for the public to express their support or opposition, questions and concerns. In addition to these meetings, citizens have been encouraged to e-mail feedback directly to central office.
WIZS has been discussing this issue – on the air during Sports Mayhem with Kemp Collins and on Town Talk – ever since the news broke on January 9, and WIZS news staff have attended some of the meetings and corresponded with the VCS central office. Some of what we found out is included in the posting on our website dated January 30 (click here); but what has the public been saying? Here is a brief summary of what we at WIZS have seen, heard and been told over the past three weeks:
Transportation, or “busing” of students — At the public gatherings, the VCS staff members have pointed out that, because of the small size of our county, and the fact that the two middle schools and two high schools are already lie within about 3 miles of each other, no middle or high school student would have travel more than a mile or two farther than he or she already does.
Teachers or staff losing their jobs — Even people who favor the consolidation in general are concerned about staff cutbacks, which seems logical, if there are two schools instead of four. But Dr. Jackson and his staff have made it clear that one of the reasons for recommending these big changes is that positions have been cut every year anyway, and that they have to recruit teachers every year to fill vacancies. They therefore expect that the 44 middle and high school positions to be cut as a result of consolidation would result in reassignment of duties, rather than layoffs of individual employees.
WHICH schools will be left vacant and which ones will house the “new” consolidated schools — VCS seems pretty far from deciding that. Dr. Jackson has shown each of the public gatherings calculations based on all the possible options, and how much money would be saved in each scenario. In terms of size, Henderson Middle School, with a room for 819 students, would come closest to accommodating the 826 estimated middle school students, without expansion of mobile classrooms, while Southern Vance’s 1475-student capacity could best handle the estimated 1329 high schoolers.
What do Dr. Jackson and the Board mean when they say that “all the money saved through consolidation would be put right back into the schools . . .” — Part of Dr. Jackson’s presentation at the public gatherings has included a sample “repurpose budget” for the $2.4 million per year expected to be saved by consolidation. In his example, he showed $200,000 per year extra going toward scheduled maintenance of buildings and equipment, and $500,000 for a “rainy day fund” for sudden, big-ticket repairs. Perhaps even more important, is the $200,000 that could be used to increase the long-standing $2,500 per year flat local supplement for our teachers, which is too low to keep our younger teachers from jumping to neighboring counties who offer two or three times as much. Finally, $200,000 per year extra appears on the “sample budget” for athletics at the two consolidated schools, along with an additional $100,000 per year for band and other music programs.
And speaking of sports — a majority of the feedback WIZS has heard is very positive toward consolidated high school sports teams, in light of the struggle both high schools have had fielding football teams, soccer teams, softball teams, JV teams of all kinds, and full marching bands. The idea of a consolidated Vance County high school returning to the athletic glory days as a competitive 3A or 4A power seems to fire the imagination of some “more mature” citizens.
The emotional factors were represented in the concerns voiced by some parents that their children, especially high school juniors and seniors would have difficulty making the change, in light of the rivalry, sometimes intense and negative, between NVHS and SVHS. The VCS staff members present at the gatherings have tried to address those concerns by pointing out that plans would be made for shifting the “new culture” of the consolidated schools away from existing school identities by team-building exercises and involvement of the students in choosing new team names, mascots, and colors.
Vance County Chapter of M.A.D.D. Meeting Minutes Jan 23, 2018
Following up on an earlier story, available by clicking here, excitement continues to grow for the local Vance County Chapter of M.A.D.D.
Karen Callahan, a local M.A.D.D. organizer, forwarded the minutes of the January 23, 2018 meeting to WIZS News.
The secretary is James Baines. The minutes read as follows:
January meeting was called by President Lorraine Watkins at 6:00pm.
The meeting was opened with prayer by Curtis Brame.
Minutes were read by Secretary James Baines, then approved by group and voted on as read.
President Watkins introduced special guest speaker Lori Brown, President of MADD in Raleigh NC. Lori Brown spoke to those who attended in reference to victim’s service, law enforcement support, court monitoring, education and training and victim impact panel. During the meeting a joint exercise involving MADD, Law Enforcement, EMT’s and the community was discussed. Bryant Williams, Battalion Chief with Vance County Fire Department, told the group that they had recreated a fatal accident scene last year at a local senior prom. He stated what it took to pull this event together and with that note all those were excited about the upcoming exercise at VGCC. Date and time to be announced later.
At the meeting, the community and law enforcement were given a birds eye view of the Booze It & Loose It Bus. Tonya Skinner of Department of Health and Human Services gave a brief speech about what the Bat Mobile can do. Also speaking to the group was Stokes Barnes and he spoke briefly about what his organization does in reference to MADD.
MADD in Vance County had the honor of DA Mike Waters, Clerk of Superior Court Henry Gupton, members of the NC State Highway Patrol, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, the Henderson Fire Department and County Fire and EMS personnel.
President Watkins told us that she was glad we are finally moving our plan forward to get MADD off the ground in Vance County, but was a little disappointed that more citizens were not at the meeting. She indicated things will get better. We
are moving forward.
President Watkins told the group that she recently attended a conference in Winston Salem NC dealing with various aspects of what MADD does and stands for. She told the group that she is excited to get a MADD Chapter here in Vance County.
Henderson City Council Boards and Commissions Meeting Feb 1, 2018
In a press release, Esther McCrackin, City Clerk – City of Henderson, NC, informed local media:
The Boards and Commissions Committee of the Henderson City Council will meet on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. in the large conference room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue. The purpose of the meeting is to consider applications for various boards, committees and commissions. The public is welcome to attend.
Two Fatalities in Monday Evening Accident, Jan 29, 2018
According to the investigating Trooper with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, two people died in this accident early Monday evening. Norman Soloman, 67, of Warrenton and Jason Plummber, 47, of Middleburg. Both men were riding in a Buick passenger car. The two occupants of a Toyota were transported to Maria Parham with non-life threatening injuries. It happened just outside the Henderson City Limits on Norlina Road, where Old Norlina Road intersects near the old Freeze Maid location. The driver of the Buick attempted a left turn onto Old Norlina Road.
Consolidation Conversations Well Underway for Vance Co. Middle and High Schools
By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer for Hire
Community conversations regarding the potential consolidation of Henderson and Eaton-Johnson Middle Schools and Northern Vance and Southern Vance High Schools began last Thursday, January 25 and continue through the end of February.
The Vance County Board of Education, Superintendent Anthony Jackson and school system staff are seeking community input on the potential of consolidating both middle schools and high schools as a result of declining student enrollment across the district and to increase financial sustainability.
The proposal includes consolidating Henderson Middle and Eaton-Johnson Middle School for the 2018-19 school year and Northern Vance and Southern Vance High School for the 2019-20 school year.
According to Terri Hedrick, public information officer for Vance County Schools, there is no current plan of which particular school buildings would be closed by this consolidation. “All plans, including which school buildings would remain in use, are open for discussion. Nothing is set in stone. No final decisions have been made,” said Hedrick.
At the January 8 board meeting, it was reported that enrollment in Vance County Schools has continued to decline, from 6,848 students for the 2012-13 school year to 5,980 students in the current 2017-18 year.
According to Hedrick, this decline in numbers is due to multiple factors including the increased number of choices when it comes to education. “Students and parents have more choices as to where they attend school in Vance County. This includes private schools, charter schools and home schooling. Students can also go outside of the county to attend charter or private schools as well,” said Hedrick.
In addition to the increased number of educational choices outside of the public school system, research has shown Dr. Jackson and his staff that birth rates in Vance County have been declining in the last few years and that fewer families living in the county have school-age children. “All of these factors play into the discussions we are having on the possible consolidation of two middle and two high schools,” said Hedrick.
Projections indicate that the consolidation of the middle schools could save the district an estimated $1 million annually, with the high school consolidation saving approximately $1.4 million.
The consolidation proposal projects a reduction of 19 positions at the middle school level and 25 positions at the high school level, plus operational and monthly costs for facilities no longer needed.
The board emphasized that if this proposal moves forward, savings created by the consolidation will be given back to the school system to support students, staff and program offerings. Hedrick indicated that these savings could be used for additional funding of advanced placement and honor courses, technical educational courses, athletics, clubs and fine arts programs amongst other areas.
The proposal is not expected to affect any of the district’s 10 elementary schools, the STEM Early High School or the Early College High School located on Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus.
The first two community conversations to discuss the proposed consolidations were held Thursday, January 25 at the Administrative Services Center located on Graham Avenue and at Henderson Middle School. According to Hedrick, approximately 120 people attended the first two meetings with the majority of the comments being positive and in support of the consolidation. “We were pleased with the large turnout and heard a lot of positive feedback and answered a lot of questions,” said Hedrick.
Additional public meetings will be held as follows:
Tuesday, Jan 30- Administrative Services Center at 10:00 am
Wednesday, Jan 31- Northern Vance High School at 6:30 pm
Monday, Feb 19- Southern Vance High School at 6:00 pm
Monday, Feb 26- Eaton-Johnson Middle School at 6:00 pm
Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes a 30-minute presentation from Dr. Jackson followed by smaller group discussions. According to Hedrick, the group discussions are driven by the questions of the public in attendance and have included a range of topics such as academics, staffing, transportation and athletics/extracurricular activities.
Feedback from these conversations will be presented, along with a recommendation, at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 12.
Need for Increased Workforce Among Hot Topics at The Vance County State of Healthcare Forum
By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer for Hire
Community leaders and state health officials met Tuesday, January 23 in the Civic Center of Vance-Granville Community College for an early morning breakfast and to share updates on the state of healthcare in Vance County. One common theme amongst the speakers was the urgent need of an educated workforce to meet the demands of healthcare in both the local area and in the state of North Carolina.
The forum, titled The Vance County State of Healthcare, was hosted by Maria Parham Health and included opening/closing remarks and guest introductions from Robert F. Noel, Jr., MD., a general surgeon in his eighteenth year of practice at Maria Parham.
Bert Beard, the chief executive officer of Maria Parham Health, was introduced by Noel as the first speaker. “Healthcare is something that effects everyone and has been in a constant state of change, which can cause confusion and concern for the people we serve. Our goal for the State of Healthcare program is to bring important information about the healthcare industry and those industries that work with and impact healthcare to our community. We value our partnerships in our community and in our industry and appreciate help in getting important information to our communities,” said Beard.
Beard spoke about population health, the shift in healthcare trends from a hospital-centered focus to a community-centered focus. He explained that hospitals could no longer focus solely on what was happening inside the hospital building, but must expand the focus to the health of the entire community.
Beard also shared updates on Maria Parham’s acquisition of the former Franklin Medical Center, which will be known as Maria Parham Franklin. The emergency department will be one of the first areas to reopen with a slated date of summer 2018. Imaging services including CT, MRI, ultrasound, x-ray and mammography are also scheduled to reopen along with the outpatient lab and a 13-bed geriatric behavioral unit. A new 20-bed unit is scheduled to open in 2019.
Stephanie McGarrah, vice president for public policy for the North Carolina Hospital Association, provided an overview of the healthcare industry in NC, the economic impact on NC health systems and NC workforce challenges.
McGarrah explained that while NC’s population continues to increase rapidly-the state was the ninth most populous in 2014-it ranks an abysmal thirty-second in the nation in terms of overall health. According to McGarrah, sources show that Vance County is considered amongst the most vulnerable of populations in the state with higher levels of poverty and higher levels of citizens without a high school diploma.
North Carolina hospitals and health systems have the unique challenge of serving all people, including the most vulnerable. “The health care industry is trying to determine how to address all health factors, including social determinants of health,” said McGarrah.
Another major issue facing the healthcare industry is that the demand for healthcare workers is outpacing the supply. McGarrah stated there are several contributing factors to this problem including the maldistribution of healthcare workers across the state, high level of worker burnout and new occupations being created by the emerging population healthcare model.
Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Stelfanie Williams and Dr. Levy Brown, the vice president of academic affairs at VGCC, addressed the college’s role in helping educate the next generation of healthcare workers. According to Brown, VGCC currently offers 15 programs in curriculum and continuing education related to various aspects of the healthcare industry with the majority of graduates finding employment at Maria Parham Health or other local healthcare systems.
Williams acknowledged the unique challenge VGCC faces in keeping up with rapid changes in the healthcare industry, but cited Maria Parham Health and Vance Co. newcomer Mako Medical Laboratories as valuable partners in training an educated workforce.
Mark Benton, the deputy secretary for health services for the Department of Health and Human Services addressed the issue of Medicaid and the impact of North Carolina not expanding the joint federal-state insurance plan.
According to Benton, the state has since sought a revised waiver to the federal oversight agency to transform the Medicaid program. The goal is to have the first phase implemented by July 2019.
Benton also addressed social determinants of health and the devastation of the opioid crisis and stated that the DHHS “envisions a North Carolina that optimizes health and well-being for all people by effectively stewarding resources that bridge our communities and our healthcare system.”
The buffet style breakfast was provided by Triangle North Healthcare Foundation. Beard emphasized the importance that Triangle North Healthcare played in making The Vance County State of Healthcare possible and thanked Executive Director Val Short for being instrumental in the planning of the forum.
VGCC schedules leadership series for nonprofits
— courtesy VGCC
The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center is offering a new series of free seminars that provide essential management skills for leaders of nonprofit organizations. The “Packing Your Toolbox for a Strong Nonprofit” series is presented in partnership with the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, a regional grant-making organization that was established in 2011 as the successor to the Maria Parham Healthcare Foundation.
The six seminars include “Leadership Development for Nonprofit Organizations,” on February 8; “How to Write a Business Plan — The Most Important Part of Starting a Nonprofit,” on February 22; “Financial Management for the Nonprofit Organization” on March 8; “Developing Your Nonprofit Board” on March 22; “Fundraising 101 for Your Nonprofit” on April 5; and “Finding & Writing Grants” on April 19.
Each session will begin with lunch at 12:30 p.m. and will end by 3 p.m. The series will be held in room 7109 (Building 7) on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation will cover all costs of this series, including tuition, lunch and reading materials.
Melissa Driver Beard of Driving Force Relations, who has served as executive director for several nonprofit organizations, will be the instructor for four of the sessions. Ed Ormsby, former director of the Small Business Center at Edgecombe Community College, will teach “How to Write a Business Plan,” while Karen Kennedy, Community Development Manager for the City of Sanford, will teach the final session on grants.
Participants in the leadership program will be required to become clients of VGCC’s Small Business Center, which is free of charge.
Small Business Center Director Tanya Weary said that these seminars will be particularly helpful to new executive directors or new volunteer leaders for nonprofit organizations. Space is limited for each seminar. The deadline to register is Jan. 31.
For more information, contact Tanya Weary at smallbusiness@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3240.
Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/small-business-center.
–VGCC–
(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid advertisement.)