I School Board Passes Force Reduction Policy
I By L. F. Amburn, Jr.
; Edenton-Chowan Board of Education adopted a Reduction in Force
I • policy Tuesday night which incorporated nine of 12 recommendations
m ** forth by a Teacher Advisory Committee. The omission of more
W definitive language regarding the board’s decision on terminations was
■ called “dictatorial” by one disgrundled faculty member.
Sixty-five of the 150 members of the professional staff listened at
tentatively as their concerns were addressed by Gil Burroughs, and the
| . administration’s explanation of recommendations from Dr. John Dunn,
superintendent.
|| One of the recommendations from the Teacher Advisory Committee
■ which dealt with free transcripts of hearings was accepted by Dr.
Dunn but later restored after a fear of excessive costs was raised by
L Cecil W. Fry. It was estimated that there could be a reduction in force of
W 15 Staff members if preliminary projects are accurate. The cost of a
I j transcript, including legal fees for the hearing, could run as much as
I } S3OO.
1 Fry said this is too much for the board to accept, saying that almost
■1 - .
9
Not More Study
Reps. Vernon James of the Isle
of Pasquotank and Charles Evans
of the “state” of Dare have in
troduced legislation to create a
legislative commission to study
the pollution problems and water
1 resources needs of the Chowan
River Basin.
At first brush it reminds one of
the illiterate defendant in court.
The jurist was making sure the
defendant’s rights were protected.
“Do you want a lawyer? he asked.
After a minute’s hesitation, the
man replied: “Naw-sir, I’m in
enough trouble already!”
The Chowan River Basin and the
i Albemarle Sound Basin don’t need
another study group, especially
one created by Politicians. Any
way, the $5,000 that HB 747 would
put into the project over the next
two years won’t pay the expense of
a couple of meetings.
Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr., has
demonstrated great leadership in
the Chowan River project in the
| I Past two years. The State
, Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development,
under the able hand of Sec.
! Howard N. Lee and his deputies,
Primarily Dr. Neil Grigg, has
action plans in place.
I" /’ Tl » Chowan Restoration Taslc"
Force, headed by Capt. A1 Howard
of Arrowhead is a positive force.
| Members of the Task Force
already know the water pollution
problems and water resources
needs of the Chowan River Basin.
While the legislation is well
intended, unless there is
something to HB 747 which we
have missed, it just ain’t what
is needed.
> Lighter Side
Court buffs along the Public
Parade, who haven’t felt quite
comfortable in the new edifice on
North Broad Street, got a real •
treat Wednesday of last week.
Judge Edwin S. Preston took them
, “home”.
I Judge Preston announced
m earlier in the day that the 2 P.M.
session of Chowan County
Superior Court would be held in
the historic courthouse on East
King Street.
The excitement not only thrilled
a number of people, it shocked
Sheriff Troy Toppin’s memory.
When the “high sheriff” was in
structed to open court he did fine.
P That is up to the final three words
of his familiar declaration.
Judge Preston waited patiently.
” Thai after about three tries he
took over: “Mr. Sheriff, I think
you got it open.”
On his way into the courthouse,
the popular jurist handed us an
official looking document. Since it
wasn’t determined whether or not
w to have it made a part of the of
ficial record of Judge Preston’s
proceedings along the Public
Parade, we want it to be fully
recognized here:
la The Superior Court
State of North Carolina
County of Chowan
The chief Justice of the Supreme '
i Court of North Carolina has been
' pleased sufficient to issue the
undersigned a Commission to bold
Court, to issue any lawful Order,
and to do all good things in die
Great State of Chowan. -
It has come to the immediate
attention of a large company of
\ witnesses gathered in and near the
memory of Samuel Johnson,
i James Iredell and others, and the
i * Continued On Page 4
i
The Chowan Herald
Vol. XLVII - No. 16
ECHSA Overturns Earlier Ruling
Elder Lodge Beds Approved
Elder Lodge on Paradise Road
and Chowan Hospital were on the
receiving end April 8 when the
Eastern Carolina Health Systems
Agency approved highly com
petitive applications for additional
health services.
ECHSA approved an additional
34 beds for Elder Lodge here,
overturning an earlier denial by
its Project Review Committee.
The beds are included in a 64-bed
addition which also will have 30
home for the aged (rest home)
beds.
Also, ECHSA approved ap
plications from Chowan Hospital
to operate an elec
troencephlagram, and instrument
that measures electric activity in
the brain. The hospital was ap
proved for acquisition of Nuclear
Medical Services at an estimated
cost of $388,777.
—~ The ECHSA and Stater of North
Carolina earlier had approved
expansion of the Edenton hospital
by 10 beds.
ElderLodge-Edenton is owned
by Cape Colony Haven, Inc., and
managed by SouthEastern Health
Services, Inc., of Wilmington. The
new addition will be owned by
Colonial Healthcare, Inc., and
leased to parent company of
Elder Lodge. ECHSA also ap
proved the lease involved in the
transaction.
L. F. Amburn, Jr., president of
the corporations involved, said the
owners are delighted the full
ECHSA board reviewed the ap-
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Cnm^^J lON ? ELD T N B - Bullard of the Edenton Historical
Commission is shown above with artist Linda Funk of Raleiizh
gSS! reCe L UOn he “ at “* House held last Sun2£
During the reception, she presented a composite drawing of 20
histone sites which is noto on sale at the Barker House.
everyone would request a transcript if it is provided free of charge The
language which was put back into the policy, as officially adopted, puts
the burden of the decision on the chairman.
Dr. Edward G. Bond attempted vainly to get a decision delayed until a
later date. He said although the policy had been before the board since
mid-February he felt more study was needed of the changes in the
document being discussed.
His motion to table died for lack of a second and he cast the lone “no”
vote when Chairman Eugene Jordan put the motion.
The board’s decision on the policy was delayed from last Monday night
when Dr. Dunn informed the board that he was not ready to make a
recommendation, saying he needed more time to incorporate requests
from the Teacher Advisory Committee.
Burroughs told the board in his presentation that there is a need for
specific criteria regarding teachers to be terminated, as well as special
characteristics for maintaining a sound professional staff. He added
that the recommendations “will help the board and superintendent
maintain a sound educational program” since the teachers are only
Edenton, North Caroling. Thursday, April 16, 1981
plications closely and recognized
that the Colonial proposal is in
keeping with cost containment
desired for health care facilities.
ECHSA denied a project in
Washington County which the
committee had earlier approved.
It was for 50 nursing home beds
and 20 rest home beds. The
projected cost was placed at $1.5-
milliun.
“The overall cost of the Souci
proposal was too high,” Roy
Selby, ECHSA executive director,
was quoted as saying. There was
considerable doubt that adequate
financing could be obtained in a
short period of time, and the beds
in our region are needed now.”
The Colonial Healthcare ap
plication was among 12 com
pletely reviewed. The requests
were for 440 nursing home beds in
Eastern North Carolina, at a total
cost of $7.5-million.' The com
petitive review process was
necessary because the 1981-86
Health Systems Plan For Eastern
North Carolina documents the
need for only 190 new beds.
In addition to the cost con
tainment factor, the Colonial
application had broad based
community support. Those in
attendance at the Project Review
hearing on March 26, included:
C. A. Phillips, chairman, Chowan
County Board of Commissioners;
W. B. Gardner, town ad
ministrator; R. M. (Pete)
Thompson, a member of the
Chowan Hospital board; A. C.
Hudson, president, Chowan Credit
Union; James C. (Pete) Dail,
president, Edenton Savings &
Loan Association; Jerry Hendee,
executive vice president, Edenton-
Chowan Chamber of Commerce;
and Fire Chief Luther C. Parks.
The Cape Colony officers-
Amburn, Jack Habit and John A.
Mitchener, Jr. - are joined by
W. P. Rawls of Wilmington, presi
dent of SouthEastern , in the Colon
ial Corpdration.
Rawls announced April 2 that
the decision had been made to go
ahead with the expansion at
Elder Lodge even without
designation of additional nursing
home beds. The new addition, with
a development cost of $700,000,
contains 13,000 square feet. It will
connect two existing wings and
make an enclosed courtyard.
Cape Colony Haven, Inc., owns
three additional acres on Paradise
Road. ECHSA’s decision last week
will probably result in a third
building program at the site much
sooner than had been previously
anticipated.
Rawls, who is handling
development of the project, has
said construction could begin
within the next 90 to 120 days. It is
expected to take four months to
complete the addition.
Arts And Crafts
Festival Slated
A Colonial Arts and Cratts
Festival will be held in Edenton
April 24-26, coinciding with the
Biennial Pilgrimage. The location
will be downtown Edenton at the
oldP. H. Rose building. Charge for
each 8-foot by 10-foot booth will be
sls for the weekend.
Continued On Page \
Edenton Cable
Construction of the receiving
tower and business offices for
Albemarle Cable Television
Company are scheduled to begin
Monday on a 1.64 acre site located
on old U.S. 17 North, reported Don
Vinici, general manager of
Compass Corp., of which ACTV is
a subsidiary. Edenton Con
struction Company is general
contractor for the project.
Vicini reported last Friday that
a target date of July 1, 1981 has
been .slated for the Edenton area.
Residents will be notified by
mailer of the availability of ser
vice and of a special installation
package. Ultimately, cable
television will be available
through ACTV to residents in
Chowan County and the Town of
Hertford.
Vicini explained that the
Edenton system is broken down
into nine sections and that about 30
days from the July 1 start-up date
will be required to get all of
Edenton on the line. He said there
will be a span of about three
tponths before cable television
available countywide. The county
system will consist of 10 sections.
The system will include 30.5
asking for an explanation as to why they are being terminated.
Referring to a resolution adopted last week praising the professional
staff during a special Parent-Teacher Association week, Burroughs
said: “Your action tonight can give substance to the resolution or your
action can speak so loud that (the professionals) don’t hear it. ’ ’
Dr. Dunn maintained that during these times when the reduction in
staff is upon the board, the board must consider the schools first, and
the staff second. He said the policy addressed four points:
1- provides for input from the professional staff.
2- gives the board the right to make the decision of what’s best for
the students first, and the personnel second.
3- It provides definitive process to the agreaved to be heard.
4- provides a reinstatement process.
In response to a question from Dr. J. H. Horton, Chris Bean, board
attorney, said the policy being discussed builds in more safeguards for
the professional staff than the model published by Robert Phay of the
UNC Institute of Government. “It certainly violates no one’s due
process,” he continued. “In particular sections it goes well beyond due
PP
AGENT VISITS EDENTON Robert L. Pence, FBI agent in
charge of North Carolina is shown above second from left during
a visit to Edenton Tuesday morning. He is shown with, from the
left. Sheriff Troy Toppin, Police Chief J. D. Parrish, C. B. Smith
chairman of the county Crime Prevention Council, and C. A.
Phillips, chairman of the Chowan County commissioners.
FBI Agent Spence Lauded
Cooperation Os Law Officers
The Federal Bureau of In
vestigation’s chief agent for North
Carolina lauded the spirit of
cooperation of all law enforcement
in this state which is credited with
the high arrest rate in bank rob
beries.
Robert L. Pence said the
number of bank robberies solved
in North Carolina is in the 80 to 90
per cent range. He said law en
forcement cooperation, coupled
with a strong FBI commitment in
this state has proven to be suc
cessful.
Pence said the Reagan Ad
ministration has indicated a new
emphasis on street crime and
bank robberies. In recent years
the FBI has reduced bank robbery
service about 25 per cent and the
number of unsolved robberies
have skyrocketed.
“What has been tried isn’t
working because people are more
mobile,” Pence said. The national
TV Target Date Is July 1
miles of overhead cable passing
some 1,700 homes and three miles
of underground cable passing 450
homes. Vicini reported that
workers began last Monday
stringing cable and installing
electronics manufactured by
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of m IC J P ? L OFFI 9 ,als in EDENTON - A district meeting
R..iiHir2, K C ' 0f Municipalities was held in the Municipal
Building here Tuesday afternoon. Leigh Wilson, center, executive
director goes over last minute details with Mayor Roy L.
! est - f nd Hornthal, a local councilman who is a
distnct director of NCLM.
Single Copies 20 Cents
rate of these type crimes solved is
near 50 per cent. “This is not a
problem in North Carolina
because we never reduced our
commitment in this area,” he
added. The problem is more
complex, he pointed out, because
there are some 1,800 branches in
this state.
Agent Mark Goss of Elizabeth
City told Pence the cooperation
among agencies in Northeastern
North Carolina is “splended.” He
paid special tribute to the Chowan
County Sheriff’s Department and
Edenton Police Department.
C. A. Phillips, chairman,
Chowan County commissioners,
said the national posture appears
to favor a stronger FBI. Earlier
downgrading, he said, is bad and
has encouraged crime.
Pence observed that the
Freedom of Information Act was
estimated to cost the government
Continued On Page 4
Theta Com that will refine and
pass the signal. He did not hesitate
to point out that the local system
will offer a better selection of
programming and better signal
quality than any other cable TV
Continued On Page 4