Newspapers / Morrisville and Preston Progress … / Aug. 28, 1997, edition 1 / Page 7
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m Students busy as local charter school opens Morrisyille and Preston Progress Jhursdav. August 28.1997 - 7 BY MARY BETH PHILLIPS The charter class of the charter school in Morrisville began its stud ies on Aug. il, the first day of a 200-day school year, which will end at the end of June. The 125 elementary-age students at Sterling Montessori School have had to work out carpool arrange ments because a busing grant has not yet been solidified, but other than that, things are going along smoothly, said Director Andrea Uzzell. There are 45 kindergarten-age stu dents, 55 first-through-third grade students, and 25 fourth-through- sixth grade students. Because of the Montessori educational plan, which allows students to progress at their own individual level, students are not designated by grade as in more traditional schools. A student will stay with the same teacher for up to three years under the Montessori program. This allows the teacher to become familiar with the child’s individual learning style. The new playground was complet ed in plenty of time for the new school year. One of Mrs. Uzzell’s favorite features on the new play ground is the music center, where children can bang drums, pipes, and bells to experiment with sound. On Aug. 18, the fourth through sixth graders were busy running the “snack shack,” a project they worked out during the first week of school in which they sell snacks to the rest of the student body. Each child made an initial $2 investment, but they plan to pay themselves back with interest. The students are managing every part of the business, including the preparation, advertising, marketing, menus, price-setting and other financial aspects. “It’s a great learning experience for them,” Mrs. Uzzell said. The first through third graders were planning a long list of field trips, much more extensive than they would be exposed to in a tradi tional public school. A sort of organized chaos was going on in the other large, carpeted classrooms, with some children working individually and some working in groups with teachers. The recent action by the North Carolina legislature, which allows charter schools to retain up to 10 percent of their previous private school population, did not affect registration at Sterling. Because the school was so new, all of the current students who wanted to remain in the school were able to do so under the lottery system held last spring, Mrs. Uzzell said. Now there is a waiting list. The school has applied to expand next year, and eventually plans to teach about 600 children from ages kindergarten through eighth grade. Mrs. Uzzell hopes to start a sev enth grade class of about 65 students in the fall of 1998, if approved by the school system. She has applied to start an eighth grade class in the fall of 1999. Mrs. Uzzell has also applied to build a third building on the campus to hold the additional students. Plans are already under way for a fall carnival fund-raiser, to be held in the parking lot of the school, which is across from Treybrooke Apartments on the west side of Church Street. Traditional carnival activities such as face-painting, a moon walk, water-balloon throwing, a cupcake walk, and craft and bake sales will be on tap. The fundraiser will be held Saturday, October 26. A Dine-A- Mate fund-raiser is also under way. Like any public school, the state money only stretches so far, Mrs. Uzzell said. She will be applying for additional grants, and holding plenty of fund-raisers to keep the educational program top notch, she said. The school has an after-school pro gram which features enrichment activities in science and art. Students will also be able to take French classes during the after school program. Camps will be offered during the six-week summer break that will feature some of the same enrich ment activities. Sterling Montessori was selected from a list of 65 applicants by the State Board of Education in early February. Thirty-five schools were approved on March 13. They are the first charter schools in North Carolina. The charter status allows children to apply and attend the private school as though it were a public school. The state pays $4,200 per child per year. CHILDS PLAY—Lexis Schmit, Priyanka Sundram and Caroline Schachte enjoy the music center on the new playground at Sterling Montessori School. Developer compromises with neighbors on commercial building plans BY MARY BETH PHILLIPS Commissioner C. T. Moore backed down from requiring even stricter standards for a developer who wants to put offices and industries along Airport Boulevard, after neighbors who had opposed the rezoning spoke in the developer’s favor at the town board meeting, Aug. 11. Developer Algie 1. Stephens had met with several neighbors who had spoken against the rezoning at a public hearing in July, including Randy Watkins, who lives adjacent to the 88.83-acre tract that Stephens wants to develop, and arrived at a list of conditions for the industrial management portion of the property. That list would prohibit communi cation towers greater than 150 feet tall, outdoor bulk storage of agricul tural products, sanitary landfills, junkyards, asphalt or concrete plants, stonecutting and monument sales, adult establishments and truck terminals, among other restrictions. “They have been very fair,” Watkins said, “which is hard to believe, coming from me.” The Morrisville Planning Board had suggested as a compromise requiring the first 1,000 feet to be zoned office and institutional, instead of the entire tract rezoned to industrial management. The tract is now zoned agricultural district. Moore wanted to change that set back to 1,500 feet, but backed down after Watkins came to the develop er’s defense. At the planning board meeting, Watkins had said Morrisville does not need warehouses along Airport Boulevard. William Thomas Clark, who owns property nearby on Sorrells Grove Church Road, said the developer had stated he would put office build ings along Airport Boulevard any way. “Why ask for industrial man agement if 0-and-I will allow what was stated?” Clark asked. Planning Board Chairman Scott Beerman said, “Airport Boulevard and 54 are our entrances to town. We don't want exposed metal build ings.” Jim Middleton, representing the developer, said he had no problem with rezoning the portion along Airport Boulevard to office and institutional instead of industrial management. In granting the rezoning, Moore said, “If you come back up here with [a site plan] that’s not nice, there will be no working with you then.” In other planning matters, the town board granted approval to the fol lowing projects: The site plan for a convenience store to be located on 2 acres at N.C. 54 and Airport Boulevard across from the current mini-mart. Lee Moore Oil Co. of Sanford will build the service station, which will fea ture a deli but no restaurant seating. Town Engineer Jay Gibson is work ing with the developer to provide a sewer easement along the property line to the adjacent property. The site plan for two more office buildings in Perimeter Park, one 100,000-square-foot building and one 115,000-square-foot building on 10.98 acres off Paramount Parkway. The site plan for Summit Grove Apartments, which will contain 354 apartments on 29.52 acres off N.C. 54 near Weston Parkway. Because of the topography of the land, devel opers asked that they not be required to extend sewer lines to the adjacent property, but instead give an ease ment if the property owners want to connect to their system. A lift sta tion would probably be required. The town board also required that the pines in the landscaping plan should be changed to crepe myrtles. A subdivision of an already- approved site plan for financing pur poses. The second half of the Commonwealth Center office build ing on 16.757 acres off of Aviation Parkway will be allowed to be built later. The developer will still be allowed to put in a private street Silver-Smith protests new assistant job A new administrative assistant to help the planning and engineering departments was authorized by the town board, despite protests by Commissioner Mark Silver-Smith that the pay grade was too high. “From what I see, this person will answer the telephone, greet individuals, and maintain project files and records. To pay that person $21,000 is ridiculous,” he said. The person would be hired at pay grade 16, which ranges from $21,839 to $32,267. He said secretaries in the private sector make about $15,000. He also said the position should have been approved during the bud get process, not two months later. Hodgkins said the work load has changed, especially since the sewer connection. Leavy Barbee said, “We are fortu nate to have good people. But, like with a mule, if you put enough on their back, they are going to lay down.” Silver-Smith suggested hiring a young person for the position. our fun, positive environment, students actually get excited about learning. Through our testing and individualized instmction. students learn faster than you ever thought possible. To learn more about Sylvan's programs, call today. 4-College 6-College Sylvan Learning Center® Helping kids do their best. TWO LOCATIONS: CARY 467-8097 GARNER 779-2229 because there is another access road to the back piece of property. The board also approved a mini- storage warehousing facility and flex space on eight acres along N.C. Highway 54, to be developed by Lampe Management Co. of Smithfield. The board tabled the site plan for Morrisville Fire Station Number Three for additional study. The sta tion would be located on 4.133 acres at N.C. 54 and Perimeter Park Drive. The plan features a training tower, which is attached to the large building. It will also be used to dry hoses. The board also tabled the site plan for a 28,000-square-foot flex build ing on 3.99 acres along N.C. 54 across from Long Beverage and Yellow Freight. The town engineer recommended that the alignment of the entrance road be lined up with the entrance to Long Beverage, but developers said they hoped to save some large trees at the entrance. The planning board had asked that the town board accept the alignment of the driveway as proposed. The town board of commissioners again disregarded recommendations from the planning board and desig nated that money received as pay ment in lieu of recreation space for a 78-lot subdivision near the town hall be used for playground equipment or improvements to town parks. The planning board wanted the money to be used for procurement of greenway or open space land, since that would have been what the developer provided in the subdivi sion. Planning board chairman Scott Beerman stood up twice at the Aug. Carpets Direct 2039 Progress Court • Raleigh • 833-0016 ** 2 Yr. Warranty On Installation *• 20% Oft Ail Pads ** Call For In-Home Consultation ** 6 Month ■ No Payments • Financing ** All Major Credit Cards Accepted Home of the Lowest Carpet Prices in RTP. Sale ends 8-31-97. NEW HOMES FROM $109,900 Pick Your Lot, Floor Plan, & Colors Today! 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The consultant for the development is Charles M. Elam and Associates of Cary. In agreeing to the request, Jan Faulkner of the planning board said the yards were big enough that chil dren could play at home instead of at a subdivision park. How many Real Estate Agents do you know who sell a house every 2.8 days? Bud&Beth Howard and Bud & Beth McKinney 919-851-3171 The “Team" That Really Cares! tri PcTty A^Better ivaiston REALTORS* I I ■■ Phyllis Wolborsky 919-876-2372 EYE CARE ^ ASSOaATES ^^^1 OPTOMETRY The Leader In Eye Care ATTENTION PARENTS: We Recommend Polycarbonate Lenses and Durable Frames That Are Shatter-Resistant To Insure Your Child’s Safety! Back To School Coupon 1 j Frames With 1 Polycarbonate j Lenses For Only •K 'M j ^129°®! >r Select from frames such as Disney, Looney Tunes, Mickey Mouse, and more! Must present coupon. Not good with any other discounts, insurance plans or previous purchase. 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Morrisville and Preston Progress (Morrisville, N.C.)
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Aug. 28, 1997, edition 1
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