Professional and personal
BS North Carolina A&T State University (Art Design)
MS North Carolina A&T State University (Educational Administration)
East Carolina University (Supervision Certification) Additional Study: Virginia State University and North Carolina School of the Arts Evaluator for Southern Association of Colleges and Universities: University of North Carolina at Asheville Licensed FAA Pilot North Carolina School Board Association Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Vice Chairman, Board of Education Halifax County Schools I worked professionally in Halifax County Schools for 38 years and retired in 2008. For a number of years I was Director of Cultural Arts and was named “Boss of the Year” before being named Director of Special Programs. As Director of Special Programs, my responsibility included Cultural Arts, Summer School, Migrant Education (federal), Indian Education (federal), and ESL. I am a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and a past president of the board of directors of the Halifax County Arts Council and Tau Beta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi. I am married to Brenda H. Few, an administrative assistant at William R. Davie Middle School. We have four adult children. I attend Shearins Chapel Baptist Church. I was born and raised in Elizabeth City and Atlanta.
1. Why are you running?
I’m running for re-election because I still have faith that we can continue to improve our district in spite of our circumstances. The Department of Public Instruction has been in our district for at least eight years and I can’t see any major improvement from where I’m standing. They have made quite a few curriculum and personnel decisions. When the community at large is against you, when local funding is not equitable, when the community doesn’t acknowledge the worth of every child in Halifax County, somehow you have to believe that we can still do this with the proper leadership and an undying vision. It’s not about me but the future of Halifax County.
2. Why do you are qualified to run?
I have many years experience in the areas of public school operation and administration. When budget constraints affect your overall operation, it is important that you not only understand these constraints but that you are able to provide leadership and vision to the administration. Understanding that I am only 1 vote, it is frustrating sometimes when the majority decision is not in the best interest of the district.
3. Do you support school merger? If so, please explain why. If not, please explain why.
This is without any doubt, one of the most controversial topics facing the citizens of our community. When people change their political affiliation to affect an outcome, it causes me to reflect on what is really happening. Merger would equalize local funding for all children, but the reluctance of all citizens to support this initiative may be because a detailed analysis hasn’t been presented in order for everyone to make an objective decision. This would allow all citizens to be informed on both the truths and fallacies of a possible merger, including impacts on property values, busing, and testing assumptions regarding all three districts. I have to admit that the school boundary line behind Chaloner Middle School seems to be a little suspicious. However, it really doesn’t matter what I personally think. I can’t make it happen. I have to focus on Halifax County Schools and my attention to the operation and success of the district I was elected to serve.
4. How much would merger cost the taxpayers of Halifax County? Please elaborate.
It would be premature for me to personally assess what merger would cost. No entity in our county has done or completed any detailed analysis to determine what the actual cost would be. 5. What are the alternatives to mergers? Would you support the sharing of resources with Roanoke Rapids and Weldon as an alternative to merger?
The only alternative to merger from my point of view would be to equalize local supplemental funding. The citizen’s opportunity to do this was defeated in the last general election. It’s very disconcerting to know that you’re really not supported by your community and your dedication seems unappreciative. This is a very hard pill for me to personally swallow. It causes one to believe that the children in our district are only table scraps. An appropriation from our county commissioners for teacher supplements would be a step forward and an act of good faith. A lack of equitable local funding for all children only affects the future development of Halifax County. North Carolina is ranked 46 in teacher pay. In Halifax we can’t even offer a teacher supplement or staff bonuses to those that serve our children every day. How can we attract and keep the best teachers and staff? Even with this realization, our board still has to move forward with a hope of excellence and vision for the children that attend Halifax County Schools. The commissioners need to decide what resources would be shared, period. When the boards came together in a forum there was a lack of interest in sharing resources. 6. What are the immediate academic needs of students within the Halifax County School System? How do you go about seeing these needs are met?
We really try to provide the most important resources to our teachers and students that are within our means. The most immediate academic need in Halifax is the retention of teachers and adjusting the curriculum and climate to better meet the needs of our students. Local supplemental funding would allow us the opportunity to provide a supplement to our teachers and additional resources to our students. Most of the public is not clear on per pupil expenditure. This is a formula used by the State to determine how many teachers will be provided to the district. Per pupil pays for teachers and their benefits. You receive more for experienced staff than you receive for less experienced teachers. It’s a very complicated formula. The majority of these funds do not go directly to students as most people think. Our current local funding is far from adequate in comparison. As a board, our vision for the district has to be beyond what may be happening at any current time.
7. What does the Halifax County School System have to do to regain the trust of the county commissioners?
The past financial status of Halifax County Schools has been well documented dating back to 2008. When I ran for the board in 2010, the system was already in the process of addressing past audits and updating its financial standing. I have been Vice Chair for the past four years and at no time can I remember requesting the commissioners to provide any funds to assist the district in meeting any financial obligations because of negligence or malfeasance. Our financial situation has improved. Our last two audits are unqualified. Finally, that’s good. This ongoing perception of impropriety concerning fiscal management by some of our commissioners puzzles me. This occurred over eight years ago. It’s important to me not to violate the public trust.
8. What are the biggest facility needs within the school system?
Facility needs in any school district are an ongoing process of assessing what’s critical to the environment of the students. Schools built near the middle of the 20th century and some earlier not only expose children and staff to health risk but make it difficult to update given today’s building codes. Several schools in the district really need replacing.
9. How does the school system prevent the loss of students to the new KIPP Halifax school?
This is a very difficult question. Today’s parents have the option of choice. When it comes to charter schools, the district which they leave pays for their attendance at KIPP or any other charter in which they enroll. If enough students leave it affects our per pupil expenditure which ultimately determines how many teachers we can hire. I think that we all understand that all children attend public schools because it is required until you are 16-years-old. Some students will always have emotional and academic problems. This can sometimes affect overall instruction in the classroom. Parental support can make the difference in a child’s success or failure. We all realize that there are many factors that can affect any child’s focus at school. There are also circumstances that affect the degree of parental involvement also. The poverty level in Halifax County is very high.
10. At this moment, what is the financial picture of the county school system? What improvements need to be made?
The financial condition of the district is status quo at this point with a very small fund balance. State funds that were overspent prior to my first term as a board member have been repaid. All financial decisions made by the board and the administration have to be wise, almost Solomon like, from my perspective. When the administration recommended an additional assistant superintendent, I was totally against this appointment. I couldn’t justify this position with our declining enrollment and how this position would improve our district. The majority of the board approved this appointment. When your funds are limited; just like your personal budget, you really have to prioritize in order to operate responsibly. We all know that everything cost more in today’s society, and it takes more to provide the same services. Oh well; as difficult as it is, I will always stand for what is right for children and staff and I will never violate the public trust.
