Policy Is Aired
In Lively Debate
By HELEN HOWARD
Staff Writer
A lively debate over a
proposed policy for the
employment of personnel in
the Warren County Schools
consumed most of the
Warren Board of Education's
meeting Monday
night.
Dr L. B. Henderson, Jr.,
issued a proposal for the
policy stating that he
believed the board should
have "definite plans" for
employment. He proposed
that written criteria on how
many applicants filed for
the job, advertisement of
the job and why one was
hired over another should be
presented to the board.
Henderson used the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
school
system s policy in preparing
his proposal.
He also noted that in
Baltimore "teachers are
being graded on how well
their students do on standardized
tests."
Supt. J. R. Peeler, having
his turn in the good-natured
debate, said the teachers,
superintendent and the
Board of Education were
accountable for the result of
the tests. "But I don't think
you should judge a teacher if
all his students fail the
competency exam coming
up. He said teachers could
only take students so far.
"You shouldn't fire a
teacher because of lack of
student performance,"
Peeler said. He said he was
for the tests but wanted
them administered correctly
and didn't think teachers
should take sole responsibility
for student performance.
You can go back to the
home, to the board of education
(and board member
Leigh Traylor injected,
county commissioners) to
assign responsibility," Peeler
noted. "A lot of teachers
are doing all that they can
do," he added.
Peeler also told the board
that he did not think he could
list everything used in
.■selection of an employee.
"We're (Warren County
Schools) not like them
(Charlotte-Mecklenburg),"
Peeler noted.
He said that if the board
had the personnel he could
dig deeper in selecting the
best applicant.
Peeler told board members,
all of whom were
present, that when a vacancy
occurred he contacted
the previous school of the
applicant and called major
colleges in search of applicants.
He also accepted
recommendations of people
like "Spud" Tharrington for
a mechanic and Mrs.
Beckwith for the psychologist,
he noted.
He told the board it was a
matter of whether they
trusted his judgment or not.
He continued that the
Henderson proposal had
"good ideas" but "he
borrowed too much from the
larger school system."
On the question of advertising,
Peeler informed the
board that he did not need to
advertise when he had 30
applicants for the same
position.
Peeler's proposal lists
various methods of recruitment
for the areas of
employment. After obtaining
applicants from colleges
or a list from the State
Department, or applications
on file, the superintendent,
principal or director of pupil
personnel will interview the
applicant. When an applicant
is agreed upon, the
contract will be offered and
the Board of Education will
approve the election. This is
the procedure for teachers.
Supervisors, assistant
superintendents, directors
and principals will be
advertised and the top
applicants will meet with
the board to be elected.
Principals will be responsible
for the selection of paraprofessionals
and custodians.
Department heads will
recommend a qualified
person to the superintendent
when a mechanic or lunchroom
employee, for ex
ample, is needed.
The superintendent will
present a recommendation
on these applicants and the
board will have the final
authority to elect.
When a superintendent is
needed, the position will be
advertised and applications
will be sent to the chairman
of the board. The board will
interview the applicants.
Henderson and Hank
Bobbitt questioned the logic
of Peeler's proposal which
reads that "the superintendent
will offer a contract to
the said person. The Board
of Education will elect the
said person at its next
meeting."
Peeler answered their
question stating applicants
want a contract and can't
wait for the board to meet to
decide. He emphasized that
the law says that the
superintendent recommends
and the board elects.
Peeler cautioned the
board on "telling an
applicant that he may be
hired." He said that in a
recent principal's meeting
the principals discussed the
board's involvement in the
selection of personnel that
had put principals "on the
spot."
Another portion of Peeler's
proposal discusses the
50-50 racial ratio needed.
White applicants will be
given preference at South
Warren Elementary School
in order to equal the imbalance
at the school.
In clerical positions for
the central staff, a black
applicant will be given
preference. These preferences
will be in effect until
the ratio is balanced.
A group of educators
representing the N.C.A.E.
and A.C.T. were on hand to
observe. Chairman Turner
asked the teachers how they
felt about the proposal.
Miss Rosiland Gilliam
acted as spokesman for the
group telling the board that
the proposal had "good
aspects and some needed
changes." She suggested
that the board let a group of
educators look over the
proposal and make suggestions
at the next board
meeting.
Dr. Henderson agreed,
telling the group that the
proposal could be amended.
He chuckled and told
Peeler that he was satisfied
with the proposal, had even
marked "excellent" on
some points, and was happy
that his interest in such a
proposal had resulted in
Peeler's obvious hard work.
Henderson motioned that
the board accept the proposed
policy designed by
Peeler. Mrs. Joyce Odom
seconded the motion and the
policy was accepted by
unanimous vote.
Fall, Winter Class
Schedule Outlined
The Soul City Parks and
Recreation Association,
Inc., yesterday announced
the start of its fall and winter
instructional classes.
The classes will be jointly
sponsored by Soul City
Parks and Recreation Association,
Inc. and Vance
Granville Community College.
Classes offered are the
following: Adult Basic Education,
General Education
Development (High School
Diploma), Christmas Gifts
and Crafts, Creative Crafts,
Basic Crafts, Flower Decorating,
Photography, Crafts
for Children, Exercise Class
and Sports and Activities for
Children.
Registration for all classes
will be October 13-20 and
can be done by phoning
(456-2176) or by coming by
the office of PRA. Classes
are to start October 24.
Holds Cookout
The Soul City Parks and
Recreation Asociation sponsored
a cookout on Satunlay
for the Oxford Orphanage.
The cookout was held down
by the Daisy B. Williams
Lake, in the MagnoliaErnest
Recreational Complex.