BERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE JANUARY 10,20181 3 The fabric of Bertie County since 1832 News Retired School personnel meet WINDSOR - The mem bers of the Bertie Coun ty Retired School Per sonnel listened as they received a report of the Bertie County Board of Commissioners, Dis trict 1 representative, Ronald “Ron” Wesson, which included an up date on their (commis sioner’s) vision and sup port of Bertie County’s Schools at their formal November meeting. The board of com missioners prioritized funding of the schools to fund in full the re quested budget for the 2017-2018 school year. While the school di vision has been work ing to correct some financial issues, this funding was a positive first step in assisting to resolve these issues. Commissioner Wesson applauded both boards for working together in support of Bertie Coun ty students. Also, Bertie like many other school divisions, are challenged to hire and retain qualified school personnel to include certified teach ers. While there is no “one solution fits all” the Board of Commis sioners are taking steps to address the area of housing by beginning preliminary steps to provide adequate hous ing for school person nel along with other county employees to attract and retain them in the county. Housing has long been one of the challenges in attracting and retaining qualified school personnel. The model the board of commissioners have chosen is currently be ing used by several of our neighboring coun ties. Commissioner Wes son also expounded on several other programs in trying to meet the im mediate needs of some of the lower income students in our school i.e., the backpack pro gram that will ultimate ly leading to children receiving nutrition that they would otherwise go lacking. Wesson is one of the sponsoring partners in this effort. Your sup port, financial and/or volunteering to this pro gram would be greatly appreciated. Finally, the Bertie Re tired School Personnel chapter of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel is commit ted to the schools, students, parents and families, personnel, and administration. We partner with business and civic organizations, faith-based community, and all other stakehold ers in working together for the advancement of Bertie County Public Schools. Any retiree not in volved, may contact Minnie Outlaw, Presi dent, at 252-619-0056 for membership. Foundation receives grant The North Carolina Community Founda tion Disaster Relief Fund awarded a second round of grants to lo cal affiliate foundations serving the areas hard est hit by Hurricane Matthew, according to Laura Beasley, state wide grants committee chair, statewide board member and Bertie- Hertford Community Foundation board pres ident. The Bertie-Hertford Community Founda tion received $10,000 from the NCCF Disaster Relief Fund, which will be directed to the fol lowing local nonprofit organizations; ■ $5,000 to NC Bap tist Men for recovery work in Bertie County ■ $5,000 to NC Con ference - United Meth odist Church for recov ery assistance “These grants are critical to the long term recovery of Bertie county from Hurricane STILL RUNNING OUT TO FETCH THE NEWSPAPER? Subscribe to the Bertie Ledger-Advance and we’ll deliver it to your mailbox each week. Bertie Ledger-Advance 109 S. King St. • P.O. Box Windsor, NC 27!^ 252-794 GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Simply Hair recently opened on Main Street in Aulander. Attending the grand opening and ribbon cutting were (from left) Ber tie County Commissioner Tammy Lee, Aulander Mayor Pro-Tempore Bobbie Parker, Marvin Garris Jr., Marie Garris (owner), Aulander Mayor Larry Drew and Aulander Commissioners Tommy Hale and Jason Tinkham. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Aulander Mayor Larry Drew (right) thanks outgoing commissioners Ronnie Poppell and Philip Thomas for their service. Matthew,” said Beas ley. “The NCCF Disaster Relief Fund is a pivotal resource to our com munity thanks to the generosity of many do nors who gave to help eastern North Caro lina.” Bertie County also received earlier grants from the NCCF Disas ter Relief Fund totaling $10,920, bringing the cumulative local total to $20,920. NCCF President and CEO Jennifer Tolle Whi teside said that the Foundation’s support continues to focus on helping our affiliates meet long-term recov ery needs in eastern North Carolina. “These are alloca tions that we are confi dent have been granted effectively, because our affiliate boards live and work in these communi ties and know firsthand where these resources can make the most im pact,” she said. 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