THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
David Cooper, the recently named transportation director for Vance County Schools (VCS), appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Cooper, who has served VCS as assistant principal at both Aycock Elementary and Henderson Middle School, and, prior to, taught for twelve years at Dabney Elementary School, said he brings his experience in building relationships and respect to his new position.
“Working as an assistant principal, you deal with people, you deal with teachers, you deal with students and you deal with parents,” Cooper explained. “You learn how to build relationships and manage situations, which will be an asset in my work with the transportation department.”
In his years with the school system, Cooper said he also served as a bus driver and is familiar with many of the other drivers and transportation staff.
When asked about accepting a new position involving the transportation of students in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper laughed and said that wasn’t part of the original plan.
David Cooper was recently named transportation director for Vance County Schools. Cooper has served VCS as assistant principal at both Aycock Elementary and Henderson Middle School, and, prior to, taught at Dabney Elementary School. (Photo courtesy David Cooper)
“I interviewed for the job back in February, before the pandemic, and was hired in July after things had settled down some. I didn’t plan on going in as director of transportation in a crisis, but I’m going to take it as it is and use it as a learning experience.”
With VCS being on a fully remote learning schedule for at least the first nine weeks of the 2020-21 academic year, Cooper said the transportation department is using this time to inspect the buses and make necessary repairs.
“If you see a VCS bus driving around Vance County, don’t be alarmed,” said Cooper. “It’s just our drivers making sure they are still running. Buses are supposed to be inspected every 30 days. I have a really good group of mechanics who are doing inspections and making sure the buses are on the road. We’ve found that some buses need to be repaired, so this is a good time to do that.”
VCS has approximately 110 buses in its fleet, including activity and smaller transportation buses. According to Cooper, the average school day last year saw 73-75 buses on Vance County roadways.
Calling the decision on bus transportation once schools reopen for in-person learning a “fluid situation,” Cooper said the current discussion is to have one child per bus seat with the possibility of siblings being allowed to share a seat.
Cooper also said the school system will continue to take statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with guidance from other school systems currently operating in at least a partial in-person manner, into consideration before any final decisions are made.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
Franklin Co. Requests Additional 450,000 Gallons of Water Per Day From KLRWS
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington requested a Special Called Meeting of the Henderson City Council on Tuesday afternoon, August 18, 2020.
According to Ellington, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss a request from Franklin County for an additional 450,000 gallons of water per day from the Kerr Lake Regional Water System (KLRWS), of which the City of Henderson is a managing partner.
Discussions about the terms and if KLRWS and its partners will accept are on-going.
Town Talk 08/19/20: David Cooper Named VCS Director of Transportation
/by Kelly BondurantTHIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
David Cooper, the recently named transportation director for Vance County Schools (VCS), appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Cooper, who has served VCS as assistant principal at both Aycock Elementary and Henderson Middle School, and, prior to, taught for twelve years at Dabney Elementary School, said he brings his experience in building relationships and respect to his new position.
“Working as an assistant principal, you deal with people, you deal with teachers, you deal with students and you deal with parents,” Cooper explained. “You learn how to build relationships and manage situations, which will be an asset in my work with the transportation department.”
County Schools
In his years with the school system, Cooper said he also served as a bus driver and is familiar with many of the other drivers and transportation staff.
When asked about accepting a new position involving the transportation of students in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper laughed and said that wasn’t part of the original plan.
David Cooper was recently named transportation director for Vance County Schools. Cooper has served VCS as assistant principal at both Aycock Elementary and Henderson Middle School, and, prior to, taught at Dabney Elementary School. (Photo courtesy David Cooper)
“I interviewed for the job back in February, before the pandemic, and was hired in July after things had settled down some. I didn’t plan on going in as director of transportation in a crisis, but I’m going to take it as it is and use it as a learning experience.”
With VCS being on a fully remote learning schedule for at least the first nine weeks of the 2020-21 academic year, Cooper said the transportation department is using this time to inspect the buses and make necessary repairs.
“If you see a VCS bus driving around Vance County, don’t be alarmed,” said Cooper. “It’s just our drivers making sure they are still running. Buses are supposed to be inspected every 30 days. I have a really good group of mechanics who are doing inspections and making sure the buses are on the road. We’ve found that some buses need to be repaired, so this is a good time to do that.”
VCS has approximately 110 buses in its fleet, including activity and smaller transportation buses. According to Cooper, the average school day last year saw 73-75 buses on Vance County roadways.
Calling the decision on bus transportation once schools reopen for in-person learning a “fluid situation,” Cooper said the current discussion is to have one child per bus seat with the possibility of siblings being allowed to share a seat.
Cooper also said the school system will continue to take statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with guidance from other school systems currently operating in at least a partial in-person manner, into consideration before any final decisions are made.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
Local News Audio 8-19-20 Noon
/by John C. RoseLocal News Audio – Click Play Below For Full Stories
McGregor Hall to Present Free, Online Performance of ‘Melanin Marquee’
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center
McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center will feature “Melanin Marquee – A Black Broadway Cabaret” live via its Facebook page on Sunday, August 30, 2020, at 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy this incredible lineup of the region’s finest performers free-of-charge from the comfort of your home. A donation link will be available to support McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.
Make sure to visit the McGregor Hall Facebook page to read the artists’ profiles before tuning in live for the performance.
RSVP by clicking on this event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/372006713784250
(This is not a paid advertisement)
VGCC Small Business Center Offering Free Counseling Services
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
The Small Business Center Network and Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center have launched the Reboot, Recover, Rebuild (R3) Program offering free counseling services to local small businesses.
Now is the perfect time for small business owners to reach out and receive guidance on solving issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program will be available through December 30, 2020. Interested businesses must complete a Counseling Request Form (click here).
For more details or to sign up, please contact Sheri Jones, director of the VGCC Small Business Center at (252) 738-3240.
Oxford Public Works Committee to Discuss Water, Sewer Projects
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Press Release, City of Oxford
The Public Works Committee for the Oxford Board of Commissioners will meet on Thursday, August 20, 2020, at 1 p.m. The meeting will be held via Zoom.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the water & sewer projects on College Street and the Hatchers Creek PUD. All those interested are invited to attend.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85000949847?pwd=cjNjbTg0bldxOHg3RUJLNUxKaW0rZz09
Meeting ID: 850 0094 9847
Passcode: 461261
Dial by your location – 929 205 6099
Meeting ID: 850 0094 9847
Passcode: 461261
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdkW2BrSUH
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 08/18/20 – Intensive Vegetable Production
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 2 PM Monday – Thursday.
Vance Co. Schools Asks Local Businesses to Serve as WiFi Hotspot Locations
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Letter to local businesses from Dr. Anthony Jackson, Vance County Schools Superintendent:
Vance County Schools values every partnership and, as we are facing unprecedented times, our needs within our school district are ever–changing. We strongly believe that working together is what allows our community opportunities for growth and to become stronger.
Vance County Schools was able, through generous gifts and donations, to obtain a computer/device for every single student. This allows us to ensure our students have the technology they need as we begin instruction remotely. Our next focus is our commitment to having connectivity access for our students throughout Vance County. We have 85 internet hotspots that we are placing in area churches, businesses, and fire departments to ensure our students have the ability to access the internet near their homes. This is where we need you!
If you want to know you are making a difference by opening up a world of learning for students throughout our community, you may be the perfect fit for one of our district WiFi hotspots. The hotspot devices require a standard electrical outlet and can be placed anywhere inside or outside of your facility. One of our district employees will set up a time with you to come out to the designated location and set up the device, which is about 10” x 10” in size. The entire installation process should only take a few moments and the device will be displayed on our district WiFi hotspot map, located at www.vcs.k12.nc.us.
Internet accessibility will be available to anyone within 200 yards, give-or-take based on the line of sight. You can also rest easy that internet filters are set on the devices for the safety of our students. Students accessing the internet will not require them to enter your facility, but your parking area would likely be utilized for those needing the connectivity. The unit will be in place until the district‘s need is no longer necessary.
If you are able to partner with us, please reach out to Aarika Sandlin, Public Information Officer for Vance County Schools, at asandlin@vcs.k12.nc.us or by phone (252) 492-2127. We appreciate your support of Vance County Schools in making our community a better place!
Sincerely,
Dr. Anthony Jackson
Superintendent/Vance County Schools
Town Talk 08/18/20: Sharrow Assumes Dual Role of VCHS Assistant Principal, Athletic Director
/by Kelly Bondurant100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Joe Sharrow, athletic director and recently named assistant principal for Vance County High School, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Serving as athletic director at Southern Vance High School, and maintaining the title after the consolidation of Northern and Southern Vance into Vance County High School in 2018, Sharrow said he has spent the past several years earning credentials and gaining experiences that will help him excel in the administrative position.
Sharrow’s new role comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has many school systems in NC, including Vance County Schools, choosing to operate under Plan C – fully remote learning – at least through the first nine weeks of the 2020-21 academic year.
08 – 18 – 20 Joe Sharrow of Vance County High School
“With all of the changes we are experiencing in our school system right now, I do believe I have a skill set that can be very beneficial from a leadership perspective,” Sharrow stated.
If adding assistant principal duties to his plate was not enough of a challenge for Sharrow, he will also have to contend with an athletic season that is vastly different from the norm.
In addition to making schedule changes to other sports, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Board of Directors voted last week to move football to the spring. The high school football regular season will now begin early February 2021, end in early April and include just seven games. Some form of a playoff is still expected and is currently under review.
Sharrow explained the NCHSAA has asked school systems to hold off on scheduling until September 4, at which time further guidance on a playoff system is expected.
Expressing concern for the health of student-athletes who have previously traveled longer distances to play in Chapel Hill, Durham, or Pittsboro, Sharrow said he supports a sports schedule that focuses on neighboring Granville, Franklin and Warren counties this year.
“I’m very much in favor of a more regional focus on our athletic schedule,” Sharrow admitted. “We need to get creative; desperate times call for desperate measures. I believe that we can make a schedule work that is regional and, quite frankly, something our community would be more interested in.”
While this year in high school athletics promises to be challenging for all involved, Sharrow said he is looking forward to tackling the obstacles while also acclimating to new responsibilities.
“This was always a career goal of mine – something I wanted to try and something I believe I can do,” said Sharrow. “People in this community have come to know me as an athletics person. I do love sports and high school athletics; it’s a passion of mine. In addition, I do have a passion for education. In fact, I went to college to be a teacher. I’ve been working at the school [SVHS/VCHS] in other capacities for nine years, and I’m really excited to be able to impact our school system in another way.”
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
Local News Audio 8-18-20 Noon WIZS
/by John C. RoseClick Play to Listen…
WIZS – Your Community Voice…Noon Local News 08-18-20