Tag Archive for: #reyhorner

TownTalk:Vance Schools Hope To Add SRO Positions Using Part Of $841K School Safety Grant

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Vance County Schools is looking at where to spend the more than $841,000 awarded to the school district as part of a statewide School Safety grant.

Rey Horner, VCS executive director of student services, said the money can be used for basic safety equipment like metal detectors, but also to implement training programs for students and to hire more resource officers.

The total amount of the grant is $841,270, Horner said in an interview that aired on TownTalk Tuesday.

The district’s secondary schools have metal detectors and also have designated SROs on campus, Horner said, but the hope is to put SROs at the elementary schools, too. There is currently one vacant SRO position, but Horner said Sheriff Curtis Brame agreed to provide one of his officers until the school district can hire a replacement.

“The goal is to provide an SRO at all of our schools,” Horner said, but he added it has been challenging so far to find qualified applicants. The grant money can be used for SROs, and Horner said the district has allocated $400,000 for additional SROs.

In light of the challenge of hiring SROs, Horner said the district has asked the Center for Safer Schools if it can use that money designated for SROs on other types of safety equipment.

“We’ve put in a request to reallocate (money) for cameras, 911 beepers – anything that can make our schools safer and more efficient,” Horner said.

There’s a plan to place additional metal detectors at the high school, and to gradually phase them in at elementary schools, he added, so students will be used to them and not feel threatened by them when they move to the middle school.

Protecting the physical safety of students and staff is of critical importance, and metal detectors are one way to filter dangerous items from being brought onto school campuses.

But medical safety also is a concern for school leaders. The schools already have automatic external defibrillators – or AEDs – but the goal is to place more than one at each campus.

In addition to equipment, Horner said the district is taking preventative measures to try to reduce students experiencing crises.

“A lot of the things that we’re seeing are coming from the outside to the inside of the school,” Horner explained. One program – Project ARROW – helps build students’ self-esteem and coping skills to deal with such issues as bullying and negative effects of social media.

Horner said Project ARROW is akin to life coaching for students, who, upon completion of the training, can render the same training to their peers.

Vance County Schools was one of 200 school districts and charter schools across the state that received part of the $74 million grant money.

Horner said the district is working hard to make sure the money is spent according to state guidelines. “With all things dealing with money, you have to be very particular,” he said. “We want to make sure it impacts the kids on the largest scale.”

 

 

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Vance Co. High School & Middle School Principals Reflect on Upcoming School Year

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Vance County High School Principal Rey Horner and Vance County Middle School Principal Heddie Somerville were the guests of honor on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program.

Horner and Somerville, who are both set to welcome students on Monday, August 27 for the start of the 2018-19 traditional calendar year, engaged in a general discussion on the recent high school and middle school consolidation process and their hopes for the future.

Vance County High School

Occupying the former Southern Vance High School building on Garrett Road in Henderson, the new Vance County High School is set to welcome approximately 1,350 former Southern Vance Raiders and Northern Vance Vikings.

“There were some concerns about bringing the schools together because we have been rivals for so long,” said Horner. “I think what helped the process is that we still have members of the community that can remember when we only had one high school.”

Horner himself was a graduate of the last class of Vance Senior High School before it split into Southern Vance and Northern Vance and said he looks forward to the combined high school being the center of the community again.

He also referred back to his own experience with transitioning from middle to high school to explain that he expects any concerns regarding former rivals merging to be largely unfounded.

“I can remember when I was at Henderson Junior High and about to go to Vance Senior High. Our biggest rival was Eaton Johnson and everyone was worried about how we’d mix, but once we got to high school, we became one family.”

Horner said he looks forward to witnessing the Vipers become one team but admits the entire process will not happen overnight. “I’m seeing this consolidation as a three-year process; you won’t see all of the changes immediately. It’s going to be a couple of years before we’re where we want to be.”

During that time, Horner said the high school will be focusing on building up their performing arts offerings – including band and theater.

Building the athletic program has already been a full speed ahead process and Horner reported that the number of athletes who tried out for fall sports has grown exponentially.

While Horner is excited for the athletic program and the hard work of the coaches, he asks that the community set realistic expectations for the first year of the program. “We have extraordinary talent in Vance County and I’m glad we can showcase it. Everyone is assuming because we merged the two schools it is a no-brainer that we will sweep the conference, but there is a little adjustment period.”

Vance County Middle School

Located in the former Northern Vance High School building on Warrenton Road in Henderson, Vance County Middle School will welcome approximately 840 sixth through eighth-grade students this school year.

“We have a strategic plan to enforce a model of creating a culture of unity with the mindset of excellence,” said Somerville. “Sixth graders coming into middle school are combining with students from 10 elementary schools.”

In addition to getting to know new classmates, Vance County Middle School students will also have to acclimate to wearing required school uniforms.

For girls, the uniforms will include white or navy blue collared shirts and blouses and navy blue or khaki uniform pants, skirts or jumpers. Boys’ uniforms include white or navy blue collared or dress shirts, as well as navy blue or khaki uniform pants.

Though there has been some pushback from the community, Somerville, the former principal of Pinkston Street Elementary School, said she has seen firsthand how positive uniforms can be for learning and student behavior. “When we implemented uniforms at Pinkston Street, I saw the difference in the mindset of the children. It levels the playing field and it allows them to come in with the mindset of academics.”

Somerville expressed her appreciation and admiration for how well staff members have worked together to prepare the building for opening day. “There is still some construction work to be done and we are moving quickly to be ready on time. Teachers are coming in to assist with moving furniture and setting up classrooms.”

This camaraderie adds to the “one family” feel that the school hopes to nurture and has Somerville looking forward to being “the new cats in town.”

* Vance County High School will hold an Open House on Thursday, August 23, 2018, from 3 – 7 p.m. at the school – 925 Garrett Rd, Henderson. In addition to students and parents, the entire community is invited to attend. Food trucks will be available on site.