Newspapers / The Transylvania Times (Brevard, … / March 24, 1975, edition 1 / Page 9
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t If It's Good For Transylvania County, The Times Will Fight For It. Vol. 88 — No. 24 " THE TRANSYLVANIA TIMES 4 State And National Prize- Winning Home Town Newspaper SECTION B BREVARD. N. C., MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1975 PUBLISHED SEMI-WEEKLY SALLY O’REILLY Violinist O’Reilly Is Festival Artist Youthful violinist Sally O’Reilly has been added to the list of guest artists to perform at the Brevard Music Festival this summer. Miss O’Reilly is an ac complished professional violinist, having been recognized by the Merriweather Post Contest, the Dealy Memorial Com petition and the National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist Auditions. In 1970 Miss O’Reilly received a grant for study and performance in Europe and was awarded a Fullbright Hays scholarship at the Conservatoire Royale de Musique in Brussels. 4V A native of Dallas, Texas, Miss O’Reilly presented her first recital at age two and one-half. Her professional debut was with the Dallas Symphony under the direction of Walter Hendl. The following year she returned to conduct the orchestra as recipient of the Van Katwijk Conducting Award. She recently was concertmaster and solo violinist of the International String Congress in Puerto Rico. She studied at Curtis In stitute and at Indiana University where she was awarded the coveted Per formers’ Certificate by unanimous decision of the music faculty. She teaches at Manhattan School of Music. Ticket information and concert schedules may be obtained by writing Brevard Music Center, P. 0. Box 592, Brevard, North Carolina 28712. Candler Heads Olin Community Relations John Staples Candler has been appointed director of employee and community relations in Olin Corporation’s Fine Paper and Film Group, according to an an nouncement by Garza Baldwin, Jr., Group President. Candler transferred to group headquarters at Pisgah Forest early this month from the main offices of Olin’s Chemicals Group at Stamford, Conn., where he was Manager of Organization Development and Placement. Prior to that he was one of the group’s headquarters personnel managers. Employed by Olin’s former Aluminum Group in January 1965, he was personnel manager at the Sedalia, Mo., plant until his transfer four years ago to St. Marks, Fla., where he was personnel manager of the Winchester Group’s smokeless powder plant. He transferred to the Chemicals Group at Stamford in June 1973. Born in Roanoke, Va., he was raised in Lynchburg, Va., where he graduated from the E. C. Glass High School at Lynchburg. He served two years as an officer in the U. S. Army Artillery after graduating from the Virginia Military Institute where he earned a B. A. degree in History. He is a member of the American Society of Per sonnel Administrators. An Episcopalean, he served in the church vestry at his home in I, Conn. He and Mrs. Candler, the former Linda Hill Stansbury of Lynchburg, have two daughters. They have relocated from Trumbull to their new Ridgeway Place in Brevard’s Illahee JOHN S. CANDLER 37,537 Drunk Driving Cases Tried In N. C. RALEIGH - Figures released by the Highway Patrol revealed that 37,537 driving under the influence cases were tried in the N. C. courts during 1974. Colonel E. W. Jones, Patrol Commander, said “although there was a slight increase in the number of cases tried whem compared to 1973, there was a 1.3 per cent decrease in the number of convictions with penalty.” He said there was no significant changes in the number of cases guilty as charges as thev accounted for Your Government At Work Transylvania Schools Budget Tops $4 Million Programs Strong In Each BY DOROTHY OSBORNE Times Staff Writer The annual budget for the Transylvania County School System, at more than $4 million, is by far the largest of the county agencies. And while there is always a need for additional funds to upgrade some programs and establish others, School Supt. Harry C. Corbin is proud of what he terms “strong programs in every school in the county. I become in creasingly aware of these strengths every time I have an opportunity to go somewhere else and see conditions.” By mandate of state statutes, Mr. Corbin serves as secretary to the board of education. He also is the chief administrative officer in the school system, with the responsiblity of planning with other staff members for the instructional needs of the school. That responsibility includes securing the best teachers available, insuring that the physical plants are iii good condition, transporting the children to and from school, coping with the reams of paper work that is necessary for every transaction, and a hundred other details involved in the day-to-day operation of the schools. Several times during the school year, he decides whether or not school will be cancelled because of snow or ice, a decision awaited eagerly by the about 4,750 students. He has help in handling these responsibilities, he said. L. C. Case III, assistant superintendent, deals with the business affairs, federal programs and transportation and maintenance. Mrs. JoAnn Gordon works in the area of instruction in the individual schools. OTHERS Other staff members in clude a food service director, two persons who work with media providing services to the schools, two bookkeeper accountants, one secretary; and three who have joint secretarial - bookkeeping responsibilities. The big item of work, Mr. Corbin said, is the payroll for the staff and teachers. Second to that, is the paper work and records kept. “It’s almost staggering,’’ Mr. Corbin said, “the way paper work has multiplied in recent years.” Teacher salaries, which are set by the state, currently rank 18th in the nation, which is below the national average, Mr. Corbin said. The beginning salary for a classroom teacher with a college degree and courses required for an A certificate is $8,130 for 10 months work. The salary ranges up to $12,560 for teachers with a graduate certificate. In some emergency situations, a teacher hired with a lower certificate will earn less money. There is no shortage of qualified teachers, nowever. . , Superintendent Harry Corbin, left, Asst. Superintendent L. C. Case, III sit beneath burlap mural of Paul Bunyan and his Blue ox. Salaries for occupational education teachers range from $839 a month for teachers with a college degree and A certification plus work experience to $1,281 per month for those with graduate degrees. SHARES Of the total budget for the school year, more than $3 million comes from statefunds. In the current budget, the state provides $2,853,481, plus $32,000 for driver’s education; $21,000 for the trainable mentally retarded; and $172,000 in combined federal and state funds for oc cupational education. Federal funds include $160,000 for ESEA Title I; $17,500 for ESEA Title V (for the work of the special ad hoc committee appointed last week), $12,000 for teacher corps program at Rosman and $40,000 for people who work on federal property. County tax money that is used for current expenses amounts to $785,462, plus another $159,000 for capital outlay, used for present buildings and equipment. If additional funds were available, what areas of the program should get priority? Mr. Corbin answered, first, by saying that it would not be his decision — it’s up to the school board. Pupils’ Art Decorates Office Of School Head BY DOROTHY OSBORNE Times Staff Writer Harry Corbin sits in an office decorated with the art work of his favorite people — the school children of Tran sylvania County. On one wall are displayed perhaps three dozen land scape scenes, all similar, yet each one distinctly different. Another wall is nearly covered with a mural created from burlap and various colors and textures of thread. The stitchery — the work of fourth and fifth graders — shows a 'man with a most appealing bull, his yarn tail hanging loose from the mural. Mr. Corbin, since July 1, 1969, the superintendent of Transylvania County Schools, is a favorite with school personnel, school children and the community alike. A mountain man, he has a slow deliberate manner of speaking, thinking through his answers before he speaks. TAUGHT A native of Macon County, Mr. Corbin graduated from Western Carolina Teachers College, now Western Carolina University, with a B. S. degree in math and science. His first teaching experience was at Franklin High School in 1949, where he taught mathematics. He received his graduate degree in educational ad* ministration from Western Carolina in 1953. He was principal of the elementary school and taught eighth grade for two years, then served as principal of Franklin School, grades one through 12, for 13 years. He moved to Brevard in 1967 to become principal of Brevard High School. Two years later he became school superintendent. His wife is a physical education teacher at Brevard Middle School. Their only child, a daughter, teaches second grade at Hillsborough. His teaching background came through when he talked about the math programs in the schools. “I don’t profess to be an expert in mathematics by any means, but I think we in education may have jumped a little bit overboard in modern math, in that we tried to get every child involved, and I am not sure that’s appropriate. “I can understand the reasoning behind it — the more he understands, the more he grasps concepts. I do believe there are a number of youngsters who don’t have the need for a deep intellectual grasp of theoretical concepts and need to give more at tention to more basics, such as memorizing. I think we are coming back to getting more emphasis on the basics.” LEGAL ASPECTS For his job as chief ad ministrative officer of the school system, Mr. Corbin must have a working knowledge of state laws as they pertain to the schools, and a deep wisdom necessary to oversee the work of some 246 teachers and principals, plus a staff of 11 in the ad ministrative offices. Permeating his thoughts on any school program or problem concerning any aspect of the school system is attempting to follow what is best for the school child. “One of the most enjoyable parts of my day . ' visit to a school. I try to visit one every day. The Corbins live on Glen Cannon Drive, where Mr. Corbin enjoys working around the house and in the yard. His lawn care this year has been such that already he has had to mow parts of his lawn three times. “When I have time, I enjoy a game of golf,” he said. The Corbins are members of the First Baptist Churech. He is a member of the Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce, and a number of community councils, including Human Relations Board, Mental Health Board and the Department of Social Services Board. 18 Highway Deaths Easter Prediction The N. C. State Motor Club has estimated that 18 persons may lose their lives in traffic accidents in North Carolina over the long Easter weekend. The state will eount its holiday death toll over a 78 hour period from 6 p.m., Friday, March 28, until midnight, Monday, March 31. Last year, 20 persons were killed during a similar period at Easter. Motor club president Paul B. Marion said that traffic fatalities for 1075 are running about 50 less than for the same period of 1974. “We are encouraged by the fewer deaths,” Marion said, “and are optimistic that the trend will continue all year.” The motor club executive urged Tar Heel motorists to drive with caution during the holiday period. “For some unknown reason, many drivers get careless during holidays,” Marion stated. “By maintaining safe driving habits, we can cut down on our tragic toll.” “But let me philosophize a little. “The main factor that makes the superintendent’s job enjoyable in Transylvania Count us that we have fine people to work with — professional administrators, teachers and support people, citizens in the community, and, above all, fine boys and girls. The boys and girls are the most important. “Hopefully, any additional funds would go to providing better services for school children ... to come up with a better instructional program LOWER GRADES “I would concur with the opinion of a number of teachers and other members of the professional staff in that if there is some way to adequately staff to really get at a sound basic instructional program in the lower grades, that has to be the number one priority.” Three areas need additional personnel — guidance, learning disabilities, and the math and reading programs. One of the greatest im provements in recent years is in art and music, Mr. Corbin said. “We can see the im provement here.” This is the area, he said, that used to be considered the frills. “But they re-inforce the total educational process.” He also sees a correlation between physical activity and mental alertness. “We need to have apprioriate physical activity in all grades. “I think ultimately the good foundation is better to prepare students for high school. Some emphasis needs to be given to re-inforce the middle school and high schools.” VOCATIONAL In the area of occupational education, he said, “We are not reaching enough of these kids who are not going on to college.” There ought to be a wider range of occupational training offered, he said. Statistics for last year’s 275 graduates at the two high schools, show that 56 per cent entered some institution of higher learning, while 40 per cent were employed; 1.5 per cent were into military ser vice, and they have no in formation on 2.5 per cent. In addition to a principal at each school, plus a full-time assistant principal at Brevard High School and part-time principals (who also teach) at Brevard Middle and Brevard Dlementary schools, there are 162 regular classroom teachers. Mr. Corbin has well deserved pride in the system and what it is doing. There are three things, he said, “that re inforce the pride that we have: — “the general support of the community is basic to the support of any educational system, patrons of various other community institutions that have a part in it, directly or indirectly; — “the board of education; — “the professional and supportive staff. I think threaded throughout all these groups is the common thread of what is best for the child. “We realize and recognize that when some of these goals are realized, we won’t be satisfied,” Mr .Corbin said. “We think our county deserves the best. Our responsibility is to work to that end.” L
The Transylvania Times (Brevard, N.C.)
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March 24, 1975, edition 1
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