The Halifax County Chapter of the NAACP continues to make a push for merger of the three county school systems.
Two county students and the vice president of the chapter for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People spoke before commissioners at their meeting today.
“We here feel as if we are being cheated out of a quality education,” said student Trequan McGee, who also delivered commissioners a letter stating his concerns and a petition calling for the merger of three school systems, which he continues to gather signatures for. “There are numerous facts to back up what we have to say, such as the fact that our counterparts have more extracurricular activities, a variety of sports programs, outside funding and other advancements such as facility renovations … why are we not being offered the opportunity? Are we not worthy?”
It is not a question of academic ability, McGee said. “The students of Halifax County Public Schools have the ability to be productive students if given a fair chance. Offering a quality education to one group of students is a civil injustice and should be responded to with seriousness and swiftness.”
Advanced placement courses should be offered at all schools, he said, along with other programs such as international baccalaureate programs and others necessary to compete in a global economy.
“Our school system is not only being cheated out of an education, but we are being cheated out of career options as well,” he said, adding sports options within the county school system are limited as well, with no soccer, golf, swimming or wrestling. “To ensure access to these programs, outside funding is much-needed in the school system … If the three school systems in our county merge, we could get funding from all types of businesses that support a change and support a sound basic education for all students in Halifax County.”
McGee criticized commissioners for what he called their lack of support in enhancing schools. “If you were enhancing quality education the school systems wouldn’t look like they do today. Another one of your so-called goals is encourage citizen input and promote awareness of issues to improve decision-making within county government. Well, you are not doing such a good job at keeping your citizens aware because lots of people do not know the issues of our three separate and unequal school systems.”
Asiah Joyner presented part of a research paper she is working on as her speech to county leaders.
She discussed a friend who lives in Lincoln Heights yet has to travel to Northwest Halifax County High School for her education. “A lot of people are saying this has a lot to do with race and gerrymandering, but is this true?”
When the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District was first chartered in 1907, she said, most of the town was made up of whites who were wealthier than blacks. “This was the beginning to such a disjointed and separated school system.
“The most unique traits of the three school districts are racial and socioeconomic isolation among students, which in turn goes back to Jim Crow segregation laws as well as differences in monetary funds.”
Joyner suggested the state Supreme Court needs to take another look at the educational issues in Halifax County. “What we are receiving is not equal to our counterparts,” she said. “We lack the resources we need to maintain an efficient district. I have been enrolled as a student of Northwest Halifax for four years and never have we had a consistent administrative staff or have I received a locker or textbook that was brand new.”
Donnell Thomas, vice president of county NAACP branch, said, “We are asking for an equal playing field.”
Board Chairman James Pierce replied, “We will do all we can to improve education for all citizens of Halifax County.”
Commissioner Rives Manning, however, told the students, “We do not have the authority to set curriculum. That’s up to the school board.”
Manning said it appeared he and Commissioner Rachel Hux, the only white commissioners, were singled out in the emails of the speeches, which were slotted for the community issues section of today’s meeting.
Manning said Roanoke Rapids gets the least per-pupil funding while Weldon gets the most. “I think you need to pull audits and see where they are currently,” he said, referring to the county school system. “Also look to see the discrepancies in the audit and go to the school board. That’s where you need to start.”
