Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

Vance County Schools Graduation Day 2021

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(WIZS Radio, Your Community Voice, broadcast all four VCS graduations.)

– Vance County Schools Press Release –

Graduation is an important milestone; one that commemorates and honors the hard work of students over the course of 13 years, as well as their families. Vance County Schools held the Class of 2021 Commencement Exercises, in-person, for all four district high schools: Vance Virtual Village Academy, Advance Academy, Vance County High and Vance County Early College.
Each graduation took place on Monday, May 24 with Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent, along with the school principal of each respective school, presenting diplomas as seniors walked across the stage.

Commencement Ceremonies

  • Vance Virtual Village Academy, Vance County School’s K-12 virtual school, graduated 20 seniors in its inaugural class. Principal Jessica Perry awarded diplomas to the students at an 8:30 AMceremony at the Vance County High School gymnasium. Graduate Camron Silvious address the Class of 2021, while Heddie Somerville, Principal at Clarke Elementary, was the keynote speaker.
  • Advance Academy, Vance County School’s flex school, graduated 96 students, with diplomas awarded by Principal Stephanie Ayscue. Commencement took place at a 10 AM ceremony at the Vance County High School stadium.
  • Vance County High School, the district’s traditional high school, graduated 175 students. At a
    1:30 PM ceremony, held at the Vance County High School stadium, Principal Rey Horner awarded
    diplomas. Tymiah Aniece Wimbush, Class of 2021 graduate, shared a poem to her fellow class.
  • Vance County Early College Principal, Travis Taylor, awarded 63 diplomas at a 4 PM ceremony at
    the Vance County High School gymnasium. Jorge Gomez Mancilla and Sarah Elizabeth Parish,
    Class of 2021 graduates, gave a farewell address.

Academic Achievements

As a district we honor and celebrate the academic achievements of our top high school scholars using the Latin honors system: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude. The Class of 2021 worked hard and remained dedicated to their studies during a challenging year. Collectively, Vance County Schools honored 25 Summa Cum Laude, 20 Magna Cum Laude and 28 Cum Laude students.

Additionally, students earned 3,557 college credits while enrolled in high school. Of those, 48 students received their Associates degree. The class boasts 14 North Carolina Scholars, 60 National Beta Club members, as well as 24 National Honor Society members.

The Journey Beyond Graduation

The school district has 14 graduates enlisting into the United States military, including the US Army, US Air Force and US Navy. Additionally, there are 50 graduates who have already secured full-time employment and 158 accepted into college, earning nearly 7 million dollars in scholarships and grants! The Class of 2021 received college acceptances from the following:

Appalachian State University | Averett University | Barton College | Belmont Abbey College | Brevard College | Campbell University | Cape Fear Community College | Catawba College | Chowan University | Clemson University | College of Charleston | Concord University | Durham Tech | East Carolina University | Elizabeth City State University | Elon University | Fayetteville State University | Gardner-Webb University | Grace College | Greensboro College | Guilford College | Hawaii Pacific University | High Point University | Hollins University | Howard University | Jacksonville State University | Johnson & Wales University | Kansas State University | Lees-McRae College | Lenoir Rhyne University | Livingstone College | Louisburg College | Louisiana State University | Mars Hill University | Mary Baldwin University | Meredith College | Methodist University | Michigan State
University | North Carolina A&T State University | North Carolina Central University | North Carolina State University | North Carolina Wesleyan | New Jersey City University | Ohio State University| Old Dominion University | Queens University | Radford University | Roanoke College | Saint Augustine University | Saint Martin University | Shaw University | Southern Mississippi University | Strayer University | The New School New York | The University of Akron | The University of New Mexico | The University of Tennessee at Knoxville | University of California at San Diego | University of North Carolina at Asheville | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | University of North Carolina at Wilmington | University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of California at Riverside | University of Kentucky | University of Mount Olive | University of Nevada at Las Vegas | University of Northern Colorado | University of Oregon | Vance Granville Community College | Virginia Tech | Wake Tech Community College | Washington and Lee University | Western Carolina University | William Peace University | Wingate University | Winston Salem State University

Vance County Schools is extremely proud of the 354 Class of 2021 graduates. They have moved beyond obstacles placed before them, including a public health crisis, proving their resilience. We are confident the Class of 2021 will go forth and do great things!

The Local Skinny! Public Hearing June 7 To Discuss Proposed County Budget

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WIZS – The Local Skinny! May 24

The proposed Vance County budget is in its final stages, and could be approved as early as June 7, when the next public hearing is scheduled, according to County Manager Jordan D. McMillen.

“We are looking to hold the tax rate steady at 89 cents per $100 in value and are not proposing any increases in water usage fees or fire tax,” Jordan said in a written statement to WIZS News Monday.

The solid waste household fee most likely will rise from $117 to $120 to assist in covering increasing disposal costs, as well as a “large influx of solid waste that has been seen during the pandemic,” McMillen said.

The major increase in revenue in the new budget comes from sales tax revenue, he noted. The current budget – created in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – was conservative in anticipated sales tax revenue, McMillen said. He expects an additional $2 million in sales tax revenue over the current budget, and that bump will help the county avoid a tax increase for the coming year.

“Without the increase in sales tax, we would have been in a much different situation that could have facilitated a tax increase for the coming year,” he said.

On the property tax side and tax base we are expecting a $20 million increase in the county tax base, which will bring in roughly $100,000 in property tax revenue. McMillen said the county typically sees between $100,000 to $200,000 in property tax increases each year.

The county will begin a revaluation process in early 2022, which will result in new property values in 2024. Based on the current market, the department of revenue is telling us our tax values are significantly lower than what properties are selling for, McMillen said. “With this in mind, property owners are getting a better value than we are taxing currently.”

“All in all, the board appears satisfied thus far with our budget work for next fiscal year,” McMillen said. He presented the recommended budget earlier this month, and the commissioners have held two work sessions since then – one on May 11 and a second on May 13. Commissioners may elect to approve the budget following the June 7 public hearing, McMillen said, or may decide to call an additional work session before the budget is adopted.

TownTalk 5-24-21 Vance Co. Schools

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John C. Rose and Bill Harris discuss Vance County Schools including graduation, Dr. Anthony Jackson’s resignation and the search for a new superintendent.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Vance County Schools Superintendent Resigning July 2 For New Job

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– Vance County Schools Press Release – 

Vance County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Anthony Jackson, has announced his resignation, after six years of service to the district. Jackson describes his time in Vance County Schools as “the most amazing and professionally fulfilling of my entire career.”

During Jackson’s time with VCS, the district has improved student outcomes, consolidated schools, increased the on-time graduation rate, decreased long-term suspensions and dropout rates, along with, developed a new strategic plan, implemented a digital 1:1 program, started the Arts Alive talent showcase, redesigned innovative programs, launched the new Vance County Center for Innovation, and most importantly, consistently given this community reasons to be Vance County Schools Proud.

Jackson expressed his gratitude for the educators in Vance County being committed to the vision, goals and beliefs of the district. He shared, “We have made tremendous inroads and I firmly believe that the school system is positioned to continue serving as a model of innovation and an engine for growth for our entire community.”

Dr. Jackson’s last day with the district will be July 2, 2021, as he has accepted the position of Superintendent in the Chatham County School System, in Pittsboro, beginning July 2021. The Vance County Board of Education will soon meet to begin the process of identifying the district’s next leader.

Vance County Schools Receives State Inspection of Buses

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– press release – 

Vance County Schools transportation department recently received their annual bus inspection from the state. In the process, inspectors assign point values to violations, meaning a low score is the desired outcome. During the inspection, the state thoroughly examined 10-percent of the school system’s bus fleet.

This year, Vance County Schools achieved a score of 22.43. Since 2017, Vance County Schools continues to improve their inspection score, performing at a level better than the state average.

Mr. David Cooper, VCS Transportation Director, shared “I am very proud of our mechanics, who on a daily basis ensure our buses are safe and running properly. We are elated that one of our buses had a perfect score. Our department strives daily to put the safety of our students and bus drivers as our number one priority.”

Vance County Schools is extremely proud of the attention to detail as our transportation department maintains our fleet. When our buses are well cared for and maintained, we know our students are utilizing the safest form of transportation.

The Local Skinny! Retha White MPH May Employee Of Month

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Thank you for listening to WIZS Radio, Your Community Voice!

Retha White represents the mission and vision of Maria Parham Health according to CEO Bert Beard.  And he says he’s proud to see White honored for her daily commitment.

He said, “She always come to work and uplifts those around her and does the same for patients.”

White’s extra efforts paid off when a struggling patient was ultimately discharged.

Enjoy this audio of our latest “The Local Skinny!” broadcast from May 20th.

TownTalk 05-19-21 Pacific Organics Supplies Mulch, Potting Mixes Up and Down East Coast

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The name can be a little confusing, Bobby Oakley admits, but Pacific Organics is not based on the West Coast: it is a Henderson-based company, alive and well, creating container potting media from pine bark.

Oakley, who has been with Pacific Organics since its inception in 2004, is getting ready to retire, but he told John C. Rose Wednesday on Town Talk that the business continues to thrive, even during a pandemic.

In fact, business has really ramped up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oakley called it “the Covid effect”: “Who knew that the pandemic would dramatically increase sales?” he recounted Wednesday. “Apparently people stuck at home, a lot of them thought about putting plants in the ground,” Oakley said. He said 3,500 truckloads have been shipped up and down the East Coast this year.

Increased demand for the products that Pacific produces – premium potting mix, pine bark media bases and mulch – created a slightly stressful situation for Oakley in the past year, because it meant having to find additional raw materials and then additional transport.

Oakley said Henderson was a perfect location for the business because of its proximity to interstates for shipping and to saw mills and paper mills, which generate the pine bark that they need to create their mulch and mixes.

The pine bark, a by-product of the mill processes, serves as the key ingredient for the Pacific Organics products. They ship in bulk or in loose form – there’s no packaging at their facility, which sits on 23.5 acres on Peter Gill Road.

Oakley said he loves the nursery business and the nursery supply business. When he was contacted by one of the co-founders back in 2004, he was interested in better serving an underserved market. Plus, he said, although he had a great job at the time, he was “bored.”

“I’m Interested in exploring the next phase of my life,” Oakley said of his retirement.

All I know is I’m going to the beach a lot, and read a lot,” he said. Maybe he’ll even play a little golf again. But being bored will not be on his to-do list.

Visit www.pacific-organics.com to learn more.

For complete details and audio click play.