The
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Journal
1 f it hai iXTied, it s news to us
No.03VoLlOO
Raeford & Hoke County n.c,
Wednesday, April 6,2005
Local educators press for more state funding
Teachers, principals say they want to teach ‘whole student’ not just improve
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Some Hoke educators are complaining
of unfunded federal mandates requiring
more certified classroom teachers in
stark contrast to the spiraling trend by
North Carolina’s legislature to spend
less on education. Principals such as
Stacy Stewart at West Hoke Elementary
School say they are feeling the pinch to
improve students’ proficiency without
adequate financial resources.
The Education Data Partnership, a
national organization, issued an analysis
on trends in public education across the
nation in March. The study revealed that
in the last 20 years less than one in three
students has demonstrated proficiency in
reading and mathematics on the National
Assessment of Educational Progress.
The nonprofit partnership also revealed
that only 68 percent of America’s public
school students would graduate from
high school.
A report issued by The Urban Institute
also reported that Hispanic and African
American high school students have
little more than a 50 percent chance of
finishing high school with a traditional
diploma, according to TEDP officials.
The partnership recommended that
educators and policy makers examine
the relationship between spending
(See EDUCATORS, page 7A)
State lags in education
funding says forum
Public Forum calls for state to honor Leandro ruling
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A six-month study conducted by the Public
School Forum sends a stem message to educational
policymakers that North Carolina slid from 36th
place to 40th, ranking as one of the states with the
lowest per pupil spending in the nation. PSF urged
the state to find a “silver bullet” solution to increase
educational funding and to establish a comprehen
sive educational plan not currently in place.
“Funding is absolutely the key,” Tina Miller,
Hoke’s assistant school superintendent of curricu
lum and iastruction, said. “You cannot hire certified
teachers if funding is not available, and you cannot
reduce class size. It is important to keep classes as
small as possible when you teach at-risk students.
“Hoke is doingthe best we can with the money we
receive, but we could do even more if we could tap
into more financial resources for our students.”
North Carolina’s expenditures for education rep
resent an alarming gap of $1,384 per student com
pared to the national average, according to officials
at the Public School Forum. Falling at a steady rate.
North Carolina’s ranking in spending could not be
increased without the legislature appropriating $ 1.88
billion more to equal the national average. Neigh
boring Virginia spends $7,832 and South Carolina
spends $7,724 per child in expenditures compared
to North Carolina at $6,635 per child.
Miller indicated the state’s decline in funding
education compared to other states creates a more
significant disparity for low wealth counties such
as Hoke.
“This lack of funding on a state level defi-
(See STATE LAGS, page 5A)
TiisWeek
At j
ChoralFest2005
brings music
of the heart
pagelB
Child abuse awareness
events set
page3B
USDA inspectors
close turkey plant
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
House of Raeford’s Central
Avenue poultry processing plant
was shut down by U.S. Dept, of
Agriculture inspectors Saturday
because of conditions that could
lead to bacteria contamination,
said USDA spokesperson Matt
Baun of the Food Safety and
Inspection Service.
Baun said a comprehensive
food safety assessment at the
plant was begun in January and
concluded at the end of March.
‘That inspection turned up
a number of food safety con
cerns and we needed to act on
(See TURKEY PLANT, page 4A)
Aurora Knox. 20 months, leaves the Hoke Expo last Wednesday with a wagon load of goodies. She was at
the annual Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event that showcases area businesses and agencies with
mom Kelly Knox. Aurora’s father is Boucher Knox.
Board clashes on raise given to 911 head
on their way
page3B
L!j
Calendar 4B
Classifieds 7-8B
Deaths 8A
Editorials 2-3A
Legals 5-6B
Religion 6A
Schools 2B
Socials 3B
Sports 4A
We’re on the web at
www.thenews-journal.com
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
The reclassification of an employee
last month sparked a controversy after the
Hoke commissioners meeting on Monday
evening. Commissioner Bill Cameron and
Commission Vice Chairman Charles V.
Daniels discovered that 911 Communica
tions Director Jimmy Stewart was given
a re-grade classification last month above
the maximum step of 13 on the pay scale
without their knowledge.
Even though Stewart may have deserved
a raise, they say, they are upset because
he was singled out while other employees
— also in the same situation — were
not considered for salary increases at the
same time.
However, County Manager Mike
Wood and Commission Chairman Bobby
Wright denied that the board did not
know of the pending raise. They said the
entire board was aware that Stewart was
to receive a raise. Commissioners James
Leach did not return a phone inquiry
on the subject and calls to Jean Powell’s
(See BOARD CLASHES, page 7A)
Stoneybrcx)k running is this weekend
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Described as an event not to be missed,
the annual Stoneybrook Steeplechase
opens this weekend at Five Points with
plenty of fodder for the horses and fun
for families.
Thoroughbred steeds will be kicking up
the turf and try to “jump the moon” at the
fifth running of this steeplechase in Hoke
Cou nty on Saturday as they attempt to clear
hurdles almost five-foot high in the oblong
course. At least 60 of the finest horses and
jockeys will compete in the racing event
at the Carolina Horse Park. The event is
expected to draw up to 15,000 spectators.
(See STONEYBROOK, page 5A)
e news
News
4 Journal
Old hotel now set to fall April 29
By Ken MacDonald
Publisher
Before we returned to Mexico on a
house building expedition, 1 had been
determined to learn enough Spanish to at
least communicate with the children and
the foremen at the worksites.
When the foreman would say, “This
wall is about as straight as the Rio Grande
River,” 1 wanted to be able to apologize
and start tearing down block before the
cemento hardened.
When the children cracked a confetti-
filled Easter egg over my head 1 wanted to
be able to quote the Wizard of Oz witch:
“I’ll get you, my pretty. And your little
dog too!”
Helpful friends loaned me gradeschool
Spanish books. 1 tried an online Spanish
course. A couple of teenage friends even
snuck into my office and labeled every
thing with stickers.
(See OTHER STUFF, page 6A)
By Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
The Wilmington firm that will take
down the former Raeford Hotel is to be
on the site April 20, according to City
Manager Richard Douglas.
D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company will
begin removal of the asbestos from the
building’s interior, and the material will
be taken to a hazardous waste site.
On April 29, workers are scheduled
to demolish the building, an operation
that is expected to take two days. Traffic
will be detoured during those two days.
Douglas said.
City employees are currently building
a wall around the sidewalk for safety
purposes.
The wrecking company, established in
1959, is being paid $280,(XK) by the city
to bring down the building at Main Street
and Central Avenue.
The city obtained the Raeford Hotel,
once known as The Bluemont, in October
1999 after its owmers faced foreclosure.
The three-story hotel with 42 rooms first
opened in March 1927 and has been vacant
for many years.
(See HOTEL, page 8A)