z 5 cents g W|NSTON-SALEM GrKENSBORO HlGH POINT Vol. XXVII No. 49
7***, Chronicle
The Choice for African-American News
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Despite ruling, LIFT staff, students resilient
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Photo by Kevin Walki
Ronald Mumford, right, and Cedric McMillian load belongings onto the back of a pick
up truck for their trip to Allen University in Columbia, S.C.
Parmon says doors will remain open so that LIFT
can add to growing list of success stories
BY I KEVIN WALKER
THE CHRONia I
It is the best of times and
the worst of times for LIFT
Academy.
The charter school gradu
ated 49 students in May, its
largest class ever, and many in
the class are going on to col
lege.
Sunday, 11 members of
, the school s burgeoning foot
ball program headed to Allen
I University in Columbia, S.C.,
to start down their collegiate
-I paths. Others in the class of
er 2001 will attend N.C. A&T
State University and Forsyth
Technical College in the fall.
Earline Parmon, the
school's .
founder
and
execu
tive
di rec
tor, says
there
wilt be
many
more
success
stories
and graduating classes at
LIFT. She believes this
despite the fact that a Forsyth
County District Court judge
just struck down an injunction
that has barred the state from
revoking LIFT's charter for
the last year and a half.
The state moved to take
the school's charter in 1999.
claiming that financial mis
management was rampant at
LIFT. Parmon took the state to
court, charging that in the
state's haste to revoke LIFT's
charter, the school was denied
due process.
"We thought we had a
good case based on the due
process issue," she said last
week from the school's new
home, a roomy three-story
See LIFT on A2
Parmon
Child advocates
want parents to
ensure kids' health
With the start of the school
year, children should have
all shots, dental check-up
BY MKLDE RlJTLHlXjE
THE CHRONICLE ~
Almost everyone remembers his or her first day of
kindergarten, and most of us have fond memories of
it.
But imagine your first day of school with an
aggravating toothache that distracted you from learn
ing, or having to slay home with a case of the whoop
ing cough.
According to the Forsyth Fairly Childhood Part
nership, many parents are not aware of their child's
'' need for up-to-date immunizations before entering
kindergarten. In addition, almost 20 percent of the
children in Forsyth County have not had dental check
ups and come to schixil with a host of dental prob
lems.
"A lot of the time, parents don't think about that,"
said Carole Watson, the immunization program man
ager at the Forsyth County Health Department.
They're thinking of other things '
Watson has been with the department for 13 years
and said that children not receiving their immuniza
tions before school has always been a problem.
When a child enters kindergarten, the student is
required to have three booster shots: diphtheria,
tetanus and pertussis (DTaP): polio; and measles,
mumps and rubella (MMR). After enrolling, the child
has 30 days to have all of these vaccines, or he or she
will be put out of school.
"Some children actually get to school to register,
and that's when the parent realizes that they still need
to get these shots," she said.
Forsyth County once led the state with cases of
rubella (German measles), and recently there have
been several cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in
the area.
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease
.that affects the respiratory system and produces
Spasms of coughing that usually end in a high-pitched
Str Immunizations on A9
The Curtain Falls
Photo by Kevin Walker
Before the National Black Theatre Festival ended Saturday, festival volunteers Tonya
O'Neal, right, and Tia Ingram got a chance to browse the International Vendor's Pavil
ion in the Benton Convention Center. The pavilion featured dozens of vendors from all
over the globe selling everything from sunglasses and jewelry, to furniture and art
work. The NBTF said goodbye to the city in a festive way. See page A10 for scenes from
around the festival, including Saturday's Closing Night Ceremony.
Atkins
principal
ready for
challenges
BY MELDE RUTLEDGE
THE CHRONICLE
Sterling Garris believes that
the goal of a principal is to make
sure that high
standards are
being set,
and to make
sure that stu
dents can
achieve
them.
" T hat's
the kind of
impact I'm
hoping to
make." Gar
ris said.
He began
Ml 1
Garris
as the new principal of Atkins
Middle School, on North Cameron
Avenue, on June 1. Since then, his
main agenda has been to increase
parental involvement and provide
a staff that is Sensitive to the needs
of the students.
Garris graduated from Win
ston-Salem State University in
1980 and majored in intermediate
education. As a child, he lived just
a block up the street from Atkins
when it was a high school.
"I'm a local boy," he said.
Before his new position, he
was the assistant principal of
Kernersville Middle School for
three years and an assistant princi
pal at Paisley Middle School for
two years.
Before the first day of classes
started yesterday, Garris had the
opportunity to meet with some of
his students and their parents at
Atkins' open house last week.
"We had a wonderful turnout,"
he said. "Some people thought it
was not going to be so."
In previous school years many
parents have not been too recep
tive to the idea of being involved.
Garris gave much credit to the
PTA for the turnout and believes
that the PTA will play a major role
in increasing parental involve
ment.
"I'm very fortunate to have a
very positive PTA," he said.
"\tyfc've put some exciting things in
place. They, themselves, are work
ing very hard in getting parents
involved."
But Garris would still like to
see more volunteers, such as safe
ty monitors and counselors.
"When the parents of these stu
dents are not involved, we still can
make a difference if I have volun
O
Sn Atkins ?n A5
Burke will face challenge in ward
John Davenport says he wants to be a fresh, young voice in the city
O r\
BY T. KEVINjV^LKER
THE CHRQNW^LE
Armed with a catchy campaign slogan
- "A new leader for a new century" - and
a drive to take the city to new heights.
John Davenport registered to run for
alderman of the Northeast Ward Monday.
The 33-year-old engineer is a city
native who has grown concerned about
several issues over the years, including
the city's ability to retain 18-to-34-year
olds.
"A lot of the jobs people in our age
group want are not here in the city." Dav
enport said.
He is proof of that. He recently left a
l()-year-stint at the N.C. Department of
Transportation to seek employment in the
private sector. He found a job. at Kublins
Transportation Group, but he has to com
mute to Greensboro. 1
Last year. Mayor Jack Cavana'gh
appointed Davenport to a committee that
addresses the needs and concerns of the
city's 18-to-34-year-old population
"I really love this community, and 1
want to make a difference." he said.
Davenport is a registered Republican
but he is running unaffiliated. He said he
made the decision because he wants a true
bipartisan union with other members of
the board and the mayor.
"I am running as John Davenport. I
have no party behind me." he said. "1
don't believe that the issues here are par
tisan. Everyone is concerned about jobs;
everyone is concerned about growth;
everyone is concerned about tearing down
racial barriers."
As an unaffiliated candidate, Daven
port must collect about 400 signatures in
order for his name to appear on the ballot.
If Davenport becomes an alderman, he
must unseat Vivian Burke, the longest
serving member of the board, with six
terms.
"I have a lot of respect for the things
she has done in the community." Daven
port said. "I just believe that it's time to
transition to a new time....I see things dif
ferently. I would approach things differ
ently. I feel that would be an asset to the
board."
If elected. Davenport said, he will
work toward term limits for aldermen. He
believes that new leaders can never be
cultivated as long as established leaders
hold the positions of importance.
"I don't think it's healths to have any
one serve on the board too long." he said.
Davenport is is married to Nia Ricks
Davenport. They have three children.
^ ,_l
Photo by Kevin Walker
Lakesha Dunbar chats with John Davenport at the Board of Elections office She was one
of many supporters who came to cheer on the alderman hopeful
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