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Monday, 09 May 2011 16:50

Report: Merge three school systems


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Report: Merge three school systems UNC Center for Civil Rights

A report on the state of public education in Halifax County recommends merging the economically distressed area's three school districts into one as a "significant first step" to ensuring all children receive the same quality of education, WRAL reports this morning.

The three districts – Halifax County Public Schools, Weldon City Schools and Roanoke Rapids Graded School District – serve approximately 8,000 students but remain among the most segregated in the state, according to the yearlong study, released Monday by the University of North Carolina Center for Civil Rights.

(The executive summary, full report and leadership comments can be found by clicking the respective links)

In a county that is 39 percent white overall, nearly 100 percent of students at Halifax County Public Schools and Weldon City Schools are non-white, while Roanoke Rapids Graded School District is more than 70 percent white.

The former districts have some of the lowest-performing schools in the state and highest teacher turnover rates, the report says.

"Halifax County cannot meaningfully address the educational disparities within its borders without first dissolving the district boundaries that have served since their inception to entitle whites and oppress blacks in the community," the report says.

By unifying the three districts, the report adds, the county would be able to better attract and retain high-quality teachers and "create an environment conducive to true education reform by addressing old racial tensions and providing opportunities for meaningful integration and cultural responsiveness within the county's schools."

 

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comments  

 
+2 #17 Anthony Finney 2011-05-14 15:21
Skippy, I agree. And the reason you may be hearing about RRGSD here more than Weldon City Schools is that maybe those of us responding and posting are in RRGS District. And this is at least the 3rd attempt at a state or county merger since I was in 7th grade!! I am 34 now. Personally, I do not worry about it. It hasn't happened yet and probably won't. Personally, it wouldn't matter too much for me any way. I am getting my family out of this town ASAP. Already looking jobs in another state.
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+6 #16 skippy 2011-05-14 03:31
This is a political issue...not an educational issue. If you read the report and agree with their conclusions/assumptions, then it appears that the teachers within the Halifax Co. School System are a bunch of poorly trained teachers who are not doing their jobs, which, in some instances, is not the case. How are the kids from HCS being deprived of an equal education? Aren't the teachers teaching? If not, they should be replaced -- end of story. And as for resistance, why is everyone focused on RRGSD not wanting to merge, news flash: neither does Weldon City Schools. So why is it we're only hearing about RRGSD's resistance? Sounds like media and racial bias to me! Sorry, but the truth hurts!
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+7 #15 Bill 2011-05-13 13:11
Quoting mustafa:
Diversity! It's been a long time coming. You may not like it but it's out of your control now(I know it hurts). Remember the report shows the majority of population lives in the county. When election time comes? Fill in the blank.

You fail to realize, people live in the county for lower taxes. Do you really think all the people who do not have children are gonna vote for higher taxes for something that does not effect them? This has been going on for years. Rid the corruption of the Halifax County System, encourage county parents to do their part and the county schools can excel just as well as RRGSD children.
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-5 #14 mustafa 2011-05-13 05:28
Diversity! It's been a long time coming. You may not like it but it's out of your control now(I know it hurts). Remember the report shows the majority of population lives in the county. When election time comes? Fill in the blank.
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+9 #13 Brenda 2011-05-12 20:30
AMEN Anthony!!!! NOt only do the teachers HAVE to teach so does the parents and if u have parents who don't care and think school is just a daycare for their kids, then the kids grow up with no respect and the same attitude as the parents. I think that if this merge happens, then the taxes for the county should be just as they are in the city. I love the country but I chose to live in the city just so my grandson can attend city schools because I did the research before he started school four years ago and I sure didn't want him in a nonproductive environment nor an environment of crime. I think they should leave the situation like it is.
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+19 #12 Eli 2011-05-11 19:20
How does KIPP succeed - they are within the same demographics that are discussed in this report? To me it sounds like our state tax dollars funded research that just makes excuses for unmotivated students. You can bring the horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can send the child to school, but you can't MAKE him learn!
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+7 #11 thinkaboutit cantbe 2011-05-11 17:00
I have witness this from all three school systems. They can't read and comprehend what they read and can't write incursive. Its not always up to the teachers somethings can be taught at home. Think about it. Tell you child to read and explain what they read to you.
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-2 #10 Former RRHS Grad 2011-05-11 16:34
This is how i feel. Everyone knows there are people who dont get along. I feel as if we are merged that is putting people at risk. There will be more violence going on. Because all 3 systems have gang relations in them. i;m not one of those people you call rascist but some of the black kids like the county schools and will be made about the transfer.. So really need to think about this! or get some motivated teachers in county schools!
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+10 #9 smjl 2011-05-11 15:11
This is a big mistake.RRGSD is not perfect but is not in bad shape,why should more strain be put on RRGSD,because Weldon and Halifax County are not performing well.Parents do need to be more hands on with their children and education.Dont get me wrong there are kids in HC and Weldon that really do want to learn but there are more that do not. Thats really what this is all about its not about preventing racial tensions or getting higher quality teachers,RRGSD teachers are great and studnts are performing well no matter what race they are.RRGSD isn't broken dont try to fix it,try fixing the real problem.
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-20 #8 mustafa 2011-05-11 00:22
I think school merger is a great idea. I was a student in Halifax and RRSD respectively. I ran across a few white teachers that transferred from the county to RRSD. Completely different attitudes. They went from nonchalant attitude (I'm passing everybody because I'm just here to get a pay check until I find something else) to the children are our future. This is something I witnessed in 1992 and 1993.
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