Respondents Want
More Emphasis
On Drug, Alcohol Dangers
Questions poised in the Southport-Oak Island
Chamber of C ommerce attitudinal survey asked respon
dents to grade specific public school programs or to
rate the emphasis given certain activities.
"A" or "B" responses, above average, were consid
ered favorable perceptions; "C" responses were con
sidered neutral and "D" and "F" scores, below average,
negative. Percentages below are based on the total
number of surveys returned; the number of persons an
swering each question varied.
? An overwhelming H4.2 percent believe the schools
should put more emphasis on the dangers of drugs and
alcohol, while 13.6 percent don't. Respondents also
listed drug and alcohol use as one of the major prob
lems facing the schools.
? Nearly 60 percent believe the schools do not place
sufficient emphasis on sex education and AIDS preven
tion, while 33 percent thinks emphasis is sufficient.
Forty-eight people gave no response.
? About 36 percent (243) rate as average the
schools' teaching of the basic skills of reading, writing
and mathematics, while an equal number gave it either
a "D" or "F\ Onlv 170 (25.4 percent) awarded an "A"
or "B".
? Overall. 37 percent believe the schools do an aver
age job of teaching creative thinking and curiosity,
while 25 percent rated it above average and 35 4 per
cent rated it below average.
? Most believe the county schools aren't doing a
very good job of teaching "skills necessary for the 21st
Chambers Tried To Reach 'Cross Section'
The Southport-Oak Island Chamber of
Commerce, working with sister Sooth Brunswick
Islands and North Brunswick chambers, distributed
surveys in February to 1,636 people who live and/or
work in Brunswick County.
In an attempt to reach a cross section of the com
munity, surveys were distributed to a variety of small
and large businesses; to parents of school children in
various classrooms; and to local and county govern
ment workers and social service program partici
rv?nfc
Of those receiving surveys. 43.5 percent, or 668,
returned completed questionnaires. Almost 90 per
cent of those who responded had completed a high
school education or beyond and nearly 30 percent
were college graduates. Forty percent said they were
professionals, and 69 percent said they were residents
of households with two parents. Thirty -three of the
668 live outside the county. The survey did not ask
bow long respondents have lived in the county,
whether they have school-age children, their race, sex
or age. The survey did ask about the type of commu
nity activities in which respondents are involved.
Along with obtaining general demographic data,
the survey's questions explored perceptions about the
public's general evaluation of the schools, of specific
academic programs ami of extracurricular activities;
pczccptaSSf of the problems fecssg tLc scuGumi rea
sons why some who work in the county live else
where or are considering moving elsewhere; and
opinions concerning the criteria with which respon
dents judge school systems.
The chamber anticipates repeating the survey
every three years.
ccnturv," skills not specified in the survey. Overall,
30.6 percent rated the (caching as average. 16.9 percent
above average, and 49 percent, below average.
? Judged mediocre to poor also arc the technical
programs offered students who are not college bound.
Of those surveyed, 42.2 percent rated the programs be
low average; 31.5 percent, average, and 20.2 percent
above average.
? Nearly one-third (30.2 percent ) also rate as aver
age the schools' preparation of students for college;
while 42.8 percent, give it below average marks and
21 .8 percent, above average.
? Nearly one-third (32.9 percent) rated the schools'
programs for children with special needs as below aver
age. 31.1 percent, average, and 27.9 percent, above av
erage. Fifty-three of the 668 respondents didn't mark an
answer.
? Nearly 60 percent (S8.3 percent) agree the schools
"should put more emphasis" on acsdcrr.ic succcss while
36 percent think current emphasis is sufficient and 2
percent think there's too much emphasis.
? More than four out of 10 (40.5 percent) rated as
below average the emphasis placed on life skills such
as balancing a checkbook, applying for a job, being a
wise consumer, ctc.). 36.2. average, and 16.7 percent,
above average.
? Most rated the schools' climate with regard to
safety of students and employees as average or better.
Specifically 35.4 percent rated it average. 34.1 percent
above average; and 18.3 percent below average.
? A large majority (66 percent) said they think the
schools' emphasis on sports is appropriate, while 19.6
perccnt said too much emphasis is placed on sports and
10.6 perccnt said too little emphasis is placed.
? Respondents weren't nearly so cohesive regarding
adequacy of emphasis on non-sport extracurricular ac
tivities such as cultural arts, academic clubs/ competi
tions. Slightly over half (52 percent) thought more em
phasis is needed, while 41.7 percent believe emphasis
is appropriate and 2.2 percent believe too much empha
sis is placed.
Respondents were also asked if they live in
Brunswick County but are considering moving to an
other county, to check all the reasons that apply. Of the
668 respondents, 56.6 perccnt responded. Of those 253
said gave" job opportunities" as a reason and 209 listed
"public school quality".
Other reasons given included adult education oppor
tunities, cultural and social events, extended family liv
ing elsewhere, children's activities and cost of living.
Administrator Dredqinq Proposals
Opposed At Calabash Budget Hearinq
BY ERIC CARLSON
It was a hot night fur such a cool
reception to the draft 1994-95 bud
get Tuesday as the Calabash Board
of Commissioners took the heat
from residents for proposing a 53
percent increase in the town's tax
rate
A crowd of about 250 people,
nearly all from the Carolina Shores
area of District II, packed the fire
house for a public hearing on the
proposed budget.
If adopted, the plan would nearly
double the amount of tax money
collected by the town, requiring a
tax rate increase from 9.5 cents per
$100 valuation to 14.5 cents. The
budget would allocate $672,612 in
spending, more than double the
amount budgeted last year.
Due to a reccnt countywide reval
uation. property tax values in the
town have increased from $91.6
million in 1993 to $114,770 this
year.
No formal votes were taken of au
dience members at the hearing. But
judging from the many, sometimes
loud comments, there seemed to be
widespread support for the idea of
drawing down the town's $343,000
savings accounts to help reduce the
tax rate. There were also calls for an
increased donation to the town's
volunteer fire department.
But most of the comments voiced
by the crowd were in opposition to
spending proposals included in the
budget draft.
"How can we ihirtk of running a sewer
company when we can't even get the
+ f*szr*i w-i.i ? ? i . is*-."-.?- Sui . i? "
uiitfico ticu/icu i/mi in ^uri/iifMi kjfM/fu;
? Commissioner A1 Leisey
The loudest protests came over a
plan to spend $62,000 for the town's
share of a study that would gauge
the probable economic impact of
dredging the Calabash River.
Commissioner Jon Sanborn, the
finance committee member who
chaired the hearing, said the town
has already signed a contract with
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
to conduct the feasibility study and
will be required to pay an initial
S17.000 installment by June.
If the project is deemed to be eco
nomically viable, the town would be
expected to pay S 140,000 to
S 1 50,000 for the next phase of the
project, Sanborn said. The town
hopes to recover half of its initial
$62,000 outlay through a state grant.
Commercial fishing boats and
other large vessels are finding it in
creasingly difficult to navigate the
shoaling river channel. If the pro
posed dredging project is approved,
the Corps of Engineers would con
tinue to perform maintenance dredg
ing to keep the channel at a pre
scribed depth.
The crowd, mostly retirees who
have recently moved io Calabash,
was less than sympathetic to the idea
of paying to maintain the channel
that give the downtown fishing vil
lage access to deep water.
"Why are we spending $62,000
for a study that not one person in
this room needs or wants?" asked
Ed Niedoba of Carolina Shores.
"Who's going to benefit from this?
The shrimpers? How many of you
have a boat in that river?"
No hands were raised. One man
went so far as to suggest that the
town breach its contact for the study
and sacrifice the SI 7,000 initial pay
ment.
Many in the audience also voiced
opposition to the hiring of a town
administrator. The budget allocates
S75.000 for the administrator and
another employee to handle the ex
pected workload penerated bv the
expansion of administrative ser
vices.
"I have a problem with hiring a
town administrator," said a man in
the audience. "There's nothing for
him to administer. We have no ser
vices. No police. No sewer. No
garbage pickup. What's he going to
do?"
Another man said that a recent
survey of town needs placed the hir
ing of a town administrator last out
of 23 suggestions.
But Commissioner A1 Leisey in
sisted that Caiabash needs someone
to manage its affairs, especially if
the town intends to get into the sew
erage business with the planned pur
chase of Carolina Blythe Utility Co.
He said the town needs an expert in
municipal services to advise the
town on the advisability of such a
deal.
"Until we get a manager running
this place, I'm not voting to spend
money for a pig in a poke," Leisey
said. "How can we think of running
a sewer company when we can't
even get the ditches cleaned out in
Carolina Shores?"
Jack Brady, former president of
the Carolina Shores Property Ow
ners Association, advised the com
missioners "not to lose sight of the
fact that we aro still a small commu
nity." He suggested that the work to
ward adopting a "lean and mean"
budget.
"I think we all came to live here
hecausr nf ih? quality of life.
Because it's a nice place to live,"
Brady said. "If you keep passing
budgets like this, we're going to be
come a minor metropolis."
The Calabash Board of Com
missioners will meet again Tuesday,
June 28, for the purpose of voting on
each line item of the budget.
County Department
Heads
Lobby For Funding Boosts
(Continued From Page 1-A)
in his budget message, (he man
ager reported that the cafeteria is ex
pected to incur a deficit of $40,000
this year. He included only three
months operating money in the bud
get. anticipating that the operation
will be turned over to a private com
pany within that time.
Smith said losses in his depart
ment are the result of meal prices
being set too low. The cafeteria is
required to provide three daily meals
to each jail inmate for only SK.2S ?
day. a price that has not changed in
five years, he said. Meal prices for
the department of social services nu
trition programs were set at $2.53
each this year, a reduction of 33
cents below what was charged in
1992.
I he cafeteria's cash flow was fur
ther hurt by County Manager
Typical
Weather
Is Forecast
Temperatures and rainfall should
average near normal over the next
few days, Shallotte Point meteorolo
gist Jackson Canady said Tuesday.
He anticipates temperatures rang
ing from the upper 60s at night into
the upper HOs during the daytime,
with about three-quarters inch of
rainfall.
That sounds a little cooler and
wetter than the period of June 14
through 20. when the daily average
temperature was 80 degrees, about 4
degrees above average
Caiiduy miu a high of 97 ucgiecs
was reached on the 20th, and the
litw nf OCdilTCCf JllSIC ! 9.
The average daily high was 91
degrees; the nightly average low, 70
degrees.
He measured 71/100 of an inch
ainfall.
Wyman Yeiton's order to raise
prices and reduce portions served to
county workers at the cafeteria.
Prices were reduced again after
walk-in business fell off dramatical
ly in response to the changes.
"I think the prices (in the cafete
ria) are fair now, but we were hurt
and a lot of people haven't come
back," Smith told the board. "But
the big problem is the prices are too
low on these other meals. Those
prices are staying the same or going
down. My food costs keep going
un "
_r
The commissioners agreed to
have McGinnis look into the prices
paid for meals prepared by the cafe
teria.
In another budget matter. Mc
Ginnis presented the board with a
new payroll classification plan that
would establish minimum and maxi
mum salaries for each county posi
THE HONSWiatftKACON
Established Nov. 1, 1962
Telephone 754-6890
Published Every Thursday
At 4709 Main Street
Shallotte, N.C. 28459
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
One Year $10.36
Si* Months $5.55
ELSEWliERE IN
NORTH CAROLINA
One Year $14.86
Six Months $7.90
ELSFWHERE IN WAA.
One Year $15.95
Six Months $8.35
Second c!ess postage paid 2!
Shallotte. N.C. 28459rUSPS 777
780. Postmaster, send address
changcs to:
P.O. Box 2558,
Shaiiotte. N.C. 28459-2558
tion, with interim pay grades based
on the length of employment with
the county.
McGinnis told the board that the
pay plan would implement his rec
ommended three -percent, across
the-board, cost-of-living salary in
crease for all employees except the
sheriff and register of deeds.
The classification plan establishes
an annual salary range from a mini
mum of $10,876 for a starting
housekeeping assistant to a maxi
mum longevity pay rate of S67.168
for the county engineer and the di
rector of nscal operations.
Correction
An article in the June 16 issue of
The Brunswick Beacon about the
search for a new Volunteer and
Information Center director inadver
tently omitted the name of the
agency's founding director, Paul
Wayne Reeves of Shallotte.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO
THE BKUNSWKK^ffiACON
POST OFFICE BOX 2558
SHALLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28459
\NOTICE: Reliable or consistent delivery c {in not he
guaranteed since this newspaper must re! / on ye U S
Posfa/ Service for delivery ,'Je can only guarantee that
your nev.spaper will be submitted to the post off.ce >n
\Shallo<tedn Wednesday of the week of pubhca' on in
time for dispatch to out-of-town ajj dresses that day
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: Sr. Clttaan
In Brunswick County ?6.30 05.30
N.C. Sales Tax .38 .32
Postage Charge 3.68 3.68
TOTAL 10.36 9.30
Elsewhere in North Carolina U6.30 J5.30
N.C Sales Tax .38 32
Postage Charge 8.18 8.18
TQTAl 14JS 1AM
Outside North Carolina 06.30 J5.30
Postage Charge fl R* Q R5
TOTAL 15.96 14.96
ComnMa An/j Ratijrn Tn AKnua AMmm
Name
Aodress
City, State
Zip
Alexander buir is r f icu
In North Carolina Court
(Condoned From Pace l-A)
Shaw and Jones voted to eliminate the salary of the clerk to the board and
appointed the county manager's secretary, Kelly Barefoot, to fill the posi
tion.
Although Barefoot was a registered Democrat, the Alexander lawsuit
Hiimt she "had R?nhllr? !ks ;sd pcrczivcd ?s be ? puiUkai sup
porter of defendants Holden. Shaw and Jones."
^Alexander claims in her lawsuit that the commissioners took the ac
tions against her "because of her political affiliation and activities and be
cause of her race."
The lawsuit demands that Alexander be reinstated and paid back
wages, interest and damages for ail benefits she would have received. It
seeks compensatory damages from Brunswick County and the commis
sioners and punitive damages from Holden, Shaw and Jones.
Alexander is currently employed in the clerk's office of the Town of
Boiling S(?iiigUk*v v.^
When you leave Zy
the Brunswick shores?*
ike the Beacon with you!
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