Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Oct. 19, 1978, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Volume 34, No. 42 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, October 19, 1978 15 CENTS - Board considers industry's role in education By KATHY II. NEWBERN A two-hour discussion on the possi ble role business and industry can play in public education highlighted Monday night's regular meeting of the Perquimans County Board of Education. Meeting with the board for that purpose was Brooks Whitehurst, Liaison for Business and Education for North Carolina. Whitehurst is employed with Texasgulf, Inc. and is on one-year loan to the state in his present position. ^ Accompanying Whitehurst Mon day night were five professional peo ple working in a consulting capacity with Sun Co., Inc. of Radnor, Pa., an energy industry interested in public education. Heading that group was Jim Shearer, public relations person with Sun. Also present were June Lytel, professor of English at Villanova Uuiversity, Pa.; Edward Ditterline, a film writer and pro ducer; Jerry Naidus of The JN Com pany, producers of educational materials and communications pro grams; and Larry Keating, presi dent of Keating Productions, film makers. Following introductions, the meeting was turned over to Whitehurst for opening comments. He began, by saying, "I don't have a program," and continued to explain that the group was present to "get a feel for the needs of the Perquimans County Schools as viewed by the school board and the school ad ministration." He added that the meeting was also held to explain that "there are resources available in industry, and industry wants to help provided they can understand the needs." Whitehurst explained that about SO counties in North Carolina are small and without large industry. For that reason, he said, some international companies have been recruited to help out in looking at possible avenues for the involvement in public education. He explained that one possibility is involvement of human resources in the business community to help students. He add ed that several such meetings and interviews have been held nation wide and the recurring theme seems to be that business can offer help in the area of career education. Shearer then added some background information explaining that his group, Sun Co., Inc., feels a real need to consider its "social responsibility" and feels one way to deal with this is through work in education. He assured the board members and the seven local school administrators present at the meeting that his was "not a big com pany with more money than it needs." After additional background in formation was presented, the meeting was opened up for com ments from the local administrators and board members concerning the needs of the county and their ideas on how business and industry could help meet those needs. Ken Stalls who is currently employed to compile a feasibility study for the proposed tri-county career center explained that con cept. He said, "We feel we can develop a center with assistance from agencies like this, from Brooks, from our governor, and from our state." Shearer then related experiences he had had with adults in the job market and the trauma they ex perience when suddenly un employed. He explained that if adults have difficulty coping with that type of situation, then perhaps those experiences could be related to students to help prepare them for their roles in society after gradua tion. He explained that he sees a need for awareness among students in acknowledging their skills, abilities, and future options in the career world. Local Superintendent Pat Harrell replied, "I think the need goes beyond awareness. It goes beyond the development of a film. I think we've got to talk with people, W in volved with people." He added that before students can be taught to understand their choices, teachers and administrators must first be taught these same concepts of awareness. Board Chairman Clifford Winslow responded, "I certainly think there has to be cooperation between a school system and business and in dustry because business and in dustry depends on the product our school system puts out." And, in responding to the question of the local school system's needs, Winslow commented, "We need to educate the public as to what the school system is trying to do." He used as an example the board's feel ing that a new high school is needed in the community. He explained that the public is not aware of this need, or is in disagreement, due to the defeat last November of the propos ed bond referendum. The discussion then turned to in volvement of the public in education and the community schools concept. Then, turning the emphasis back to young people, Shearer said, "The kids are savable. I'm not so sure the adults are savable. And I'm not even sure the adults are worth saving." In response, Chairman Winslow pointed out that these adults are the current taxpayers. He said, "Those taxes come from those 'unsavables' as you say." Shearer responded that while the public may need educating as to what schools are trying to do, he feels a "far more serious problem" is keeping students in a community. He asked the local board about the problem of Perquimans stu dents graduating and leaving the community. Several comments were then made concerning the new idea of in dustry wanting to make an input into the community. Stalls related his observation that businesses have a sole interest in "turning a profit." And, he related the attitude that business has traditionally been in terested in having schools turn out a product they can employ without ad ditional cost for training. Those present agreed and explain ed that their whole purpose in being at Monday night's meeting was to discuss this new attitude of involve ment on the part of business. Shearer responded to Stalls' obser vation by saying, "I think you're dead right." In closing comments, Chairman Winslow said, "Hopefully something good will come out of this. I feel it's a step in the right direction." Following the meeting, White hurst was asked to assess the discus sion. He commented, "My asess ment of the meeting was very good. These people (those accompanying him) needed to hear exactly what people like Mr. Winslow had to say. In terms of where I fit into this pro gram, my job is, in a sense, to find a school system that is interested in the use of outside resources and then bring those resources in for a discussion." AGENDA MATTERS The board then moved into discus sion of other matters on the agenda. In action taken, the board approv ed the employment of Cheryl Anita Newby as first grade teacher at Hertford Grammar School, and Nanette Cohoon as primary reading aide at Hertford Grammar. Superintendent Harrell announced that Central Grammar School had 80 percent of its parents to attend a parent conference day Oct. 9. He said, "It went very well. I think it's a plus factor and shows parents are very interested." He commended the principal and staff at the school for using this approach. In the area of administrative operations, the board approved another three-year rental agree ment with Bertie County Schools for lights at the Perquimans High School athletic field. These have been rented the past three years at a cost of $200 per year. That figure will remain the same. Superintendent Harrell presented projected pupil population data to the board members for their in formation and said, "They show a continual decline in student popula tion in Perquimans County over the years." Harrell also informed the board that application has been made for continuing liability coverage for individual members and the board collectively. Before adjourning, the board agreed to hold a special meeting Oct. 18 at 8 a.m. for the purpose of reviewing bids for the renovation and construction project at Per quimans High School. WILLIAM W.REID DR. VANCE EUGENE HAMILTON Speakers named for upcoming banquet The Albemarle Area Vegetable Garden Production and Food Con servation Association will host its annual banquet on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Angler's Cove Restaurant here. ^Special speaker for the event will ? William W. Reid, Extension Hor ticultural Specialist. He is a graduate of N.C. State University with a B.S. degree and did further study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served in World War n with the First Allied Airborne Army. During his stay in service, he won four battle stars in the European theatre. He has had the following work experience: Horticulturist-in-charge, Coastal Plain Vegetable Research Station, FaitOB. -N.C.; Superintendent, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, Fletcher, N.C.; and Extension Horticultural Specialist, Tidewater Research Sta tion, Plymouth, N.C. He has publish ed 68 scientific articles. Also presenting special greetings at the Friday night banquet will be Dr. Vance Eugene Hamilton, Exten sion District Program Leader for Community Development, N.C. Agricultural Extension Service at N.C. State University in Raleigh. Dr. Hamilton has served 39 eastern North Carolina counties. He is an Associate Professor and member of the graduate faculty of the Department of Sociology.and An thropology at N.C. State University. Prior work experience includes teaching vocational agriculture, technical institute administrator, county extension agent, and serving 10 years as community development specialist He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural education and a doc torate in adult education from N.C. state. His special interests include community development, health, and administration. Commissioners discuss county participation in computer project By PAIGE EURE The Perquimans County Board of Commissioners met in regular ses sion Monday night to discuss and take action on several matters. The board first heard a presenta tion by Bill Oetker, Director of the Computer Project for the six-county Alliance for Progress area, and Richard Baker, AFP Director, re questing approximately $8,419 for the county's contribution to the pro ject. That contribution would entitle the county to computer services. When asked if a need for the com puter services exists, Clifford Winslow, Chairman of the local Board of Education, replied, "We could use it right much in the school system." Later, he added, "As time goes on, we could use it more and more." The board decided to take time to discuss the matter in more detail and agreed to make a decision at their next meeting. In other business, a delegation from the Perquimans County Youth Council, headed by its president, Gary Bryant, appeared before the board to request assistance for four of the group's members to attend the Youth Legislative Assembly in Asheville Nov. 10-12. They explained that representation at the meeting is needed to apply for a mini-grant for playground equipment. Each county is required to pay $100 for transpor tation costs to the meeting. The local group has received a $50 donation from the Memory Lane Senior Citizens Club for this purpose. A motion to donate the remaining needed $50 was approved by the board. Pete Overton, representative with Nationwide Insurance, recommend ed that the board purchase five fire extinguishers to be placed in the ARPDC-Perquimans County Office Building, and nine for the county courthouse, and five for the health department building. The board ap proved the recommendation and Chairman Lester Simpson was authorized to contact a local sup plier to have these installed. A contribution of $25 for the Caswell Center to be applied toward the purchase of Christmas items for the children there was approved. The same action was taken last year. Before adjourning, the board heard from Paul Gregory, Director of the Perquimans County Social Services Department, concerning a proposal for a four-county transpor tation system for senior citizens and handicapped persons. Two board members attended a meeting to discuss the proposal last week and following that discussion, the board went on record Monday night voting against the county's participation in the project. VEPCO's rate reduction will affect local electric co-op Virginia Electric and Power Co. has agreed to reduce its latest bulk power rate increase affecting elec tric cooperatives in Virginia and North Carolina, according to an an nouncement last week by officials of the co-ops. The agreement will mean that the wholesale power rates charged by VEPCO for electricity flowing to six northeastern North Carolina Elec tric Membership Corporations will rise by about 17 percent VEPCO had originally proposed increasing the rates by about 20 per cent, but agreed to adopt the lower rates after a series of negotiation sessions between the power com pany and the cooperatives. "We had hoped to secure an even lower rate, but accepted this level because settling the case at this stage will save the co-ops the ex pense and frustration of a lengthy battle over the rates before the Federal Energy Regulatory Com mission which could take up to three years," said Jim Hubbard, ex ecutive vice president of the statewide organization of North Carolina EMC's. North Carolina EMC, the power supply arm of the statewide organization, represents all of the state's 28 EMC's in all rate negotia tions with the investor-owned power companies, which supply most of the co-ops' power. The EMC's currently have no generating facilities and must purchase power at bulk rates from the private companies for re sale to their consumer-members. "Although we're not overjoyed with the settlement rate, it does of fer our EMC's some savings com pared to the original rate that VEPCO had filed with the FERC," Hubbard added. "It compares favorably with the 17.8 percent rate increase that went into effect Sept. 1 for VEPCO's retail customers." The original wholesale rate pro posal went into effect Sept. 30, after the effective date was delayed by the FERC for a month. The settlement rate, which must now be submitted to FERC for ap proval, is to be effective through Sept. 1979, Hubbard added. "By the end of the next year, we expect to be ready to sign a contract with VEPCO to buy a share in the company's nuclear generating plants. Once that contract is ex ecuted, we will no longer be involved in these kinds of rate cases with VEPCO." The six North Carolina EMC's af fected by the VEPCO rates are Albemarle, Hertford; Cape Hat teras, Buxton; Edgecombe-Martin County, Asheboro; Halifax, Enfield; Roanoke, Rich Square; and Tideland, Pantego. Additional arrests made ? - < The Hertford Police Department made two more arrests in association with a break-in at Scot ties Store reported Oct 4. One arrest in the case was made Oct. 6 and Police Chief Marshall ?errttt reported that two more per sons were arrested Oct. 11. % Charged with breaking and enter ing and larcen j are Toni Parker. 23, of P.6. Box 161, Winfail, and Rosemary La than, 1* of 205 Brace St., Hertford. Ms. la than has been released from the Tri-County Jail on $1,000 bond. Parker remains in Tri County under $1,000 bond. Tommy Allen Whitehurst, 21,^10 Covent Garden, Hertford was the first.charged in connection with the break-in and he remains in Tri County Jail underfS.000 bond. During the bftak-in at Scotties, Perquimans Democrat! v Archie T, Lane Sr., Chairman a I the Perquimans County Democratic Party, has announced a countywide party meeting for Not. 34 at I p.m. in the courthouse. ' approximately 1700 worth of mer chandise, mainly watches and dfarettes was taken. Part of that stolen merchandise was recovered at the time of the first arrest and the , police department reports that the Investigation to uncover the remain ing stolen goods is continuing. c Party Plans Meeting He said that members of the coun ty's executive committee, the Per quimans County Young Democrats, all local Democrats are en couraged to attend the meeting. County unemployment drops The unemployment rate for Per quimans County dropped to 2.6 per cent in August, 1978 from a 5.5 per cent figure for th? year 1977. This compares with a national average of 6.4 percent as of June SO, 1978. Bouncing back for a long hard recession, the area has shown much progress job-wise according to figures released by Mrs. Alice W. Bond, Manager of the Edenton Employment Security Commission Office. The Edenton ESC Office serves Chowan, Gates, Perquimans and Tyrrell counties on a daily basis. Ac tivity in the four counties for the 12 moath period ending Sept. 30, 1971 shows that 3,491 persons were registered for work, 536 individuals were counseled, 355 individuals were tested, 1,396 persons were placed on jobs and 162 food stamp and welfare recipients were placed on jobs.
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Oct. 19, 1978, edition 1
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