Halifax County Board of Commissioners Chairman James Pierce made no secret today he believes the three school systems should be merged and Commissioner Rives Manning asked for protocol when the matter is discussed at the board's September 6 meeting.
Pierce's comments came following discussion and votes on the use of Qualified School Construction Bonds for Chaloner Middle School in Roanoke Rapids and roofing projects for Weldon Elementary and Weldon High schools.
The Roanoke Rapids project, a renovation project for Chaloner, totals $1,523,100 while the Weldon projects total $744,323.
Complicating the matter was Roanoke Rapids' request to use $161,223 in state lottery funds for the balance of the project and that a public hearing on the matter must be held on August 15 at 9:30 a.m. on using the funds. Technically, according to County Attorney Glynn Rollins, the buildings are leased back to the county during the projects.
Pierce believes this is what happens when there are schools scattered throughout the county. “One administrative unit would fix that,” he said, apologizing for his editorial comment.
“I respectfully disagree with the chairman on that,” Commissioner Vernon Bryant said.
Asked during a break in the meeting if that was his official position on the school merger matter, Pierce said, “I've been saying that the whole time,” explaining it would be more cost effective and better for children's education to have them go to one school system.
Meanwhile, Manning, bracing for a big meeting in September when a May University of North Carolina Center for Civil Rights study which supports merging the three systems is discussed, said equal time should be given to those who want to refute findings in the study, some of them, he said, erroneous.
Manning said commissioners should also consider opening the old superior courtroom if a large crowd shows up for the meeting, which begins at 9:30 a.m.
“This is a presentation,” Pierce said. “It's not intended for a public debate.”
Board member Carolyn Johnson said, “This meeting is not about rebuttal.”
In a press release issued this morning, building on multiple meetings that have been held on the matter, The Committee to Save Education in Halifax County Eastman Chapter, the Halifax County NAACP, and the Concerned Citizens of Tillery will host a community conversation meeting in Enfield on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at the White Oak Parent Child Center, 3090 Fishing Creek Road.
There will also be a meeting on the matter in Littleton August 16 and the news release mentions the commissioners meeting scheduled for September 6.