482-4418
Wednesday, January 11,
2012
50*
'StlSt!
From staff reports
A series of principal
changes among Edenton
Chowan Schools will begin
next week, including at
John A. Holmes High and
D.E Walker Elementary
schools.
Two principals will be
transferred to other posts
and another called from re
tirement effective Jan. 17.
Holmes High School prin
cipal Jamie Gillespie will
GOP wants
to wrest
jway Dem
control
By RITCHIE E. STARNES
Editor )
Already a key battle
ground state for Novem
ber’s General Election,
Democrat and Republican
leaders alike are set to
storm the state for sup
port, including the Albe
marle region.
With Republicans set to
build on the party’s recent
control of the state legisla
ture,‘GOP leaders have in
creased their visibility in
northeastern North Caro
lina where newly drawn
districts could favor their
candidates.
Thirteen of the 15 coun
ties that comprise north
eastern North Carolina
voters in District 8 either
have a state or congressio
nal boundary change.
During a stop in Eden
ton last week, Wayne King,
vice chairman of the N.C.
Republican Party, said he’s
See GOP, 3A
USD A
to close
local
offices
From stuff reports
Part of the U.S. Depart
ment of Agriculture’s ef
forts to save $150 million
annually, the federal agen
cy announced Monday
that Chowan County will
lose a rural development
office and a Farm Service
Agency.
U.S. Agricultural Tom
Vilsack announced that the
agency plans to close 259
domestic offices, labs, and
other facilities in a cost sav
ing move. The closures are
made possible as a result
of smaller staffed offices
and consolidated services
due to other USDA offices
within $ 20-mile proximity.
In other cases, technology
improvements, advanced
service centers, and broad
band service have reduced
some need for brick and
mortar facilities.
“The USDA, like fami
SeeUS0A,3A
02009 The Chowan Herald
AMights Reserved
assume the duties of direc
tor of secondary education
previously held by Stacy
Leggett, who resigned for a
similar post with the Mar
tin County Schools. Sheila
Evans, current principal
at D.F. Walker Elementary
School will take over as
principal at Holmes. Mary
P. Nixon, former principal
of White Oak Elementary
School will serve as prin
cipal at D.E Walker School
for the remainder of the
SUBMITTED PHOTOS BY KIP SHAW
The beautifully maintained gardens at Beverly Hall will be among those featured on the upcoming Easels in the
Gardens tour this spring. Tickets for the event go on sale later this month;
• i ■ ••- ' • 'i .
off year
By REBECCA BUNCH
Staff Writer
In recent years members .
of the Cupola House Asso
ciation have worked to raise
public awareness concerning
the historic site.
The association, under the
leadership of outgoing presi
dent Patti Kersey, has made sure
the doors to the house are open
to the public at every oppor
tunity, as ?ire the gardens that
are tended by volunteers year
round.
Now, the association is plan
ning a first-time event, “Easels
in the Gardens,” April 13-14
from 1-5 p.m. both days. Tickets
go on sale Jan. 15.
Chairwoman Sally Francis
Kehayes said that if the event
proves successful, the associa
tion would continue to hold it
during the years when the Bien
nial Pilgrimage is not taking
place.
“It just seems natural to us
that giving people the opportu
nity to come and tour some of
Chowan posts 10.5 percent unemployment
From staff reports
Unemployment rates de
creased in the majority of
North Carolina’s counties,
including Chowan, according
to the N.C. Employment Se
curity Commission office in
Raleigh.
The state ESC office stated
in a Jan. 4 press release that
during November rates de
creased in 74 counties, in
creased in 20 pd remained
the same In six.1 . *
school year to allow time
for a permanent replace
to reassess
the needs 6illesPie
of the school system and
to align our current per
sonnel in positions that
will continue to move our
schools forward,” said Su
Per*nt®»
J dent Allan
* - wia Smith in
a press re
lease.
Smith
recom
mended
the car
rousel of
changes and the Board of
Education approved the
moves at Monday night’s
Evans
Visitors to the Easels in the Gardens tour this spring will have the opportunity
to enjoy the rose garden at the home of Roland and Peggy Anne Vaughan.
Edenton’s loveliest private, and
public, gardens is a wonderful
way to keep people in the habit
of coming to Edenton every ,
spring,” said Kehayes, who is
also the new president of the
Cupola House Association.
“And giving them the oppor
tunity to enjoy the art being
created in the gardens will be an
Chowan County posted a
10.5 percent jobless rate for
November, the most recent
month for which statistics are
available. The previous month
the county had a 10.9 percent
unemployment rate.
With a labor force of 6,028
there are currently 632 un
employed workers in Chowan
County, acQording to the state
ESC.
“Unemployment rates con
tinued to drop across North
Carolina in November,” stat
regularly scheduled school
board meeting.
Only Gillespie will move
from a school to central ad
ministration.
“Mrs. Gillespie’s skills
and leadership will be
valuable in her new role
as the director of second
ary education and CTE,”
Smith said. “Her skills
will be utilized to con
tinue to provide guidance
and resources for our
schools at the middle and
added benefit.”
Landscape design ideas and
plant selection information will
be provided at each garden,
courtesy of the local Master
Gardeners group, Kehayes said.
Edenton artist Debbie Boyle,
who along with Peggy Anne
See EASELS, 2A
ed Nofth Carolina Depart
ment of Commerce Deputy
Secretary Dale Carroll in tjie
release. “Over-the-year, rateV
have decreased in 71 counties.
We remain focused on assist
ing our customers at our DES
offices and JobLink Career
Centers statewide.”
The state posted an unad
justed unemployment rate
of 9.5 percent for November.
Thirty-nine counties in the
state posted rates even with
or below that figure. ^
high school level as we
navigate the common core
and essential standards
and efforts to strengthen
and enhance our career
and technical education
programs.”
Gillespie will begin
transitioning into her
new role with the help of
Leggett, who leaves Feb. 3.
Gillespie said she is eager
for the new challenge.
See PRINCIM1S, 2A
EEOC
rules for
racial
complaint
Schools requests
reversal of ruling
By RITCHIE E. STARNES .
Editor
More than two years af
ter first filing complaints
with the U.S. Equal Em
ployment Opportunity
Commission, the agency
ruled that Edenton Chow
an Schools racially dis
criminated against a for
mer administrator when
she was demoted.
, In addition to charges of
racial discrimination, the
EEOC ruled Dec. 30 that the
school system also retali
ated by firing Mary Lyons
Felton after she complained
of discrimination. Both
charges are deemed viola
tions of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964. After first fil
ing EEOC claims against
the school system on Aug.
3,2009, pending a reassign
ment and later suspended,
and then terminated, Fel
ton called the findings yin- '
dication.
“I felt my reputation had
been tarnished,” Felton
said Tuesday “To restore
my reputation as a com- .
petent, cooperative, Einds
committed educator is im
portant to me.”
School officials counter
that the EEOC findings are
inaccurate and without
value.
“Ms. Felton’s reliance
on a recent administra
tive determination from
the EEOC means noth
ing. The administrative
determination does not
have the weight of law; it
is not a court decision,”
said Michelle Maddox,
schools spokeswoman, in
an emailed response to the
Chowan Herald.
Maddox stated that the
school system has request
ed that the EEOC reverse'
its ruling, adding that the r
determination is baseless.
Felton claimed that the
school system used race
See EEOC, 3A
f:
By the Numbers
Jobless rate percentages posted in sur
rounding counties for November were:
• Bertie — 11.4
•Camden —7.3
• Currituck — 7.2
• Dare — 11.6
• Gates — 6.9
• Hertford —10.2
• Pasquotank —10.1
• Perquimans —»9.2
•Tyrrell —9.5
• Washington —12,1,
- i ' ’ ‘ . .
i
• ,1
EASELS theGARDEN