Bill Hodge of Roanoke Rapids encouraged commissioners to support using teacher supplements included in the budget as recruiting tools for teachers.

Commissioners will consider adopting the budget at a meeting scheduled for June 15 at 9:30 a.m. in the Historic Courthouse in Halifax.

Meanwhile, Hodge, representing the Coalition for Education and Economic Security, told commissioners during the community issues section building schools is too expensive.

“The county budget is your most important yearly policy document which provides a roadmap of county priorities, funding principles and taxing policies while setting forth both anticipated revenues and required and discretionary expenditures,” he said.

Hodge said the county and Roanoke Rapids Graded School District continue discussions on building proposals for a new Manning Elementary School, which does not include debt service and furnishings. “(The Department of Public Instruction) estimated new furnishings at 9 percent of construction costs. CEES spoke against the August $97 million public schools general obligation bonds, way too expensive.”

Hodge said the Evergreen Solutions Report mandated a formal comprehensive five-year countywide educational facilities capital plan. “The plan was to be a living document, outlining priorities and forecasting budgets, avoiding delays and misunderstandings. It has never been published and today confusion and delays exist.”

If commissioners approve $1.2 million for Manning architectural plans, Hodge said, “These plans will dictate the vast majority of the facility's cost. Commissioners spent $1 million to purchase jail remodeling plans last year, plans that will probably never be used.”

Reverend C.E. McCollum, representing the Halifax County chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, asked the board to consider an act providing Halifax County Schools a fair share of the county's local government sales and use tax proceeds.

“Rural Halifax County has the lowest performing school district in the state,” he said. “It is also one of the poorest, which puts a large number of our students at risk of academic failure. To lighten the burden for educational success, Weldon City Schools and the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District share in Halifax County local government sales and use tax proceeds, whereas the Halifax County school district does not receive any.”

The reverend said the children in Halifax County deserve the same attention and resources children in Weldon and Roanoke Rapids do. “One child left behind is one child too many … You have stated in your own words that … you want to do the best for the kids in this county. I believe that you do. But what is right for these children is that each school district receives an equal share in the distribution of resources. As the county board of commissioners, you have the power to make a difference in the academic success of our children.”