Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 17, 1992, edition 1 / Page 15
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School Board Reconsidering Graduation Decision BY SUSAN USHER South Brunswick High School senior Dexter Tilton left the Monday night meeting of the Brunswick County Board of Education in high spirits, confident the board had been receptive to his plea to allow graduations to continue on individual school campuses. "It sounds like they're backing us," he said, "and that makes me feel dam good." Speaking on behalf of seniors at South Brunswick High at Boiling Spring Lakes, Tilton said the class feels it is "totally unfair" to be forced to hold graduation off campus and that a majority of their peers at West and North are of like minds. "Because they take great pride in their schools they want to graduate from their schools," he said. "They feel they should have that right if they want too." When adopting the 1992-93 school schedule, the board scheduled graduations for South Brunswick, West Brunswick and North Brunswick high schools for the same day, June 12, and at the same place, the Odcll Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community Co! lege. The idea was to stagger the ceremonies at 10 a.m? 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., so that all county students graduate the same day. There had been general discussion for several years that county high school commencement exercises would be moved to the auditorium once it was completed. At present the grand opening event is set for May 1993. Monday night, school board chairman Donna Baxter said she and the superintendent and high school princi pals had met on the subject and that a recommendation was forthcoming regarding graduation. "We wanted to talk with each principal about the rec ommendation before we bring it to the board," she said. West Brunswick High School Principal Ed Lemon said the group "didn't have any biases one way or the outer." At West Brunswick a majority of students favor hold ing commencement on campus, he said, and the admin istration has no problems with that. School board members said their intent was never to detract from the students' graduations. Board member Yvonne Bright said the original idea was "just for having a first-class graduation and having it inside." While West Brunswick's commencement hasn't been relocated because of rain, North Brunswick has had to move its ceremony into the gym on several occasions. "If you move it into your gym all of your friends and relatives cannot come," said Polly Russ, another board member. Having to limit the number of persons invited to at tend graduation has been another objection students have raised to moving the ceremony off-campus. "We've talked about having a dignified ceremony," Russ continued. "That doesn't mean we don't think your graduation is dignified, but it is a different kind of at mosphere." "It was never just a decision you can't have graduation at your school, but to allow for an all-weather location." West Brunswick High seniors last year voted "over whelmingly to hold graduation at the football stadium, rather than in the school courtyard. "We liked it," said Lemon, describing the event as "a Carolina-style graduation." If the school board decides to allow students a choice of locations, as he expects. Lemon said he articipates seniors at West will again choose Rourk Stadium. Whatever decision the board makes. Lemon antici pates it will address the illegal practice of having some seniors graduate before the last day of classes, either scheduling all commencements the same date, or on or after the last day of classes. In previous years the schools have taken turns being the first to hold commencement on three consecutive nights, with the schedule starting before the last day of school. That rotation also meant some seniors taking courses with lower classmen had to take state end-ol the-year tests early. New Meeting Date With little discussion, the board voted, on first read ing, to change its regular meeting date from the first IT Classy Girl, Classic Car /5"^ m 1 STAfF PHOTO BY LYNN CAXLSON Crystal Williams, Miss Brunswick County 1992, keeps cozy in an elegant fur jacket while riding in a classic automobile in the Shallotte Christmas Parade. Calls Keep Firefighters Busy Firefighters in northeastern Brunswick County had a busy week, responding to fires that caused no injuries but damaged one house and destroyed a trailer and a log cabin in the Leland area. A Thursday morning (Dec. 10) fire in Leland is believed to have smoldered for several hours before breaking through ihc roof of a log cabin, Brunswick County Emerg ency Services Director Cecil Logan said Tuesday. "The house was completely gut ted," Logan said. "The inside logs were charred nearly an inch deep." The blaze was thought to have been started by faulty wiring in a switch box, Logan said. The rental house had been vacant for about a week. Electric power was still con nected, he said. Logan estimated the damage at about 550,000. Smoldering ashes left on a front porch were blamed for a fire that We pause during the holiday season to thank you, our gracious customers, for your support. Judy Clcmmons & Staff Brunswick Insurance! Hwy. 17, Supply ? 754-8672 caused about S2,00() damage to a home on Forest Hills Drive in Leland Sunday afternoon. Leland fire fighters were able to extinguish the fire, which was reported by 10-year-old Karen Sim mons. She called 911 while others fled the home, according to Leland Dr\l!/?o rVmortmont Phiof PKorlno 1 UIIW L^VpiU UliVIll 'WIUVA ^IIUllVJ Cliff. A three-year-old boy playing with a cigarette lighter was blamed for a fire that destroyed a trailer at the Oscar Long Mobile Home Park off Mount Misery Road, Leland, Mon day morning. Logan said the child apparently dropped the lighter, which started the blaze. The mother had fallen asleep on the couch and awoke to find the room filled with smoke. She quickly got her three children out of Light the way for a holiday with love and happiness! Main Street Shaliutte the trailer, which was fully involved in flame when fire fighters arrived. The mobile home and contents were a total loss, Logan said. I'tJift Ideas^ There's no holiday wish more mean ingful than the gill of family. Which is why our timeless nativity scene shines all year long in Swarovski Austrian crystal. Come see our Swarovski Silver Crystal collection and feel the air warmth of SWAROVSKI , . . . SILVER CRYSTAL 'BUCK" A limited edi tion by Charles Earnhardt ft.:!H Aus Ben Studios Precious Moments Figurines Musicals Ornaments & Accessories We have Sugar Tbwn Christmas Tins Homemade Pudge 1 lb. CADD& &ram 754 9968 Twin Craak (Food Lion) I New Hours For Christmas \M T-W T & Sat 9 30 6 Fri 9 30 8 Sun 1 8 Monday of each month to the second Monday. Member Yvonne Bright said she had the item placed on the agenda because she felt the board should be able to attend meetings of the county commissioners and oth er boards to represent the school system's interests. "As long as our meetings are on first Mondays it pre vents that," she said. After a second reading and vote in January, the change will become effective in February. Boiler Cracks, Lights Go Out Monday was a busy day for the school system's main tenance department. Assistant Superintendent Bill Turner reported. At Union Elementary School in Shallotte a boiler sec tion cracked, leaving 12 classrooms in the older section of the school without heaL Crew members were repair ing the problem Monday evening, with heat restored Tuesday. At Waccamaw Elementary School, maintenance workers had to replaced a 400 amp breaker that kicked out, leaving one-half of the school without power and cutting off the water supply. The problem was fixed Monday. Other Business In other business, the board: ?Scheduled its next meeting Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at West Brunswick High School, citing a con flict with Jan. 11. The superintendent and board chair man plan to attend a leadership conference that day. ?Met in closed session Tor slightly more than an hour to discuss personnel and legal matters, taking only routine personnel actions afterward. ?Set a board retreat for Saturday, Jan. 16, with the time and place to be announced. The central office staff will develop mini-workshops for board members. ?Appointed Polly Russ and William Fairlcy to the grievance committee, with Yvonne Bright and Thurman Gause as their respective alternates, while the superin tendent appointed Southport Primary School teacher Yvonne Adams, with South Brunswick Middle School teacher Ronnie Benton as her alternate. ?Heard from Turner that the Transportation Information System (TIMS) computerized database was 80 percent complete. As required by the state, staff members are going back and locating and mapping residences of stu dents who are enrolled in school but do not ride the bus. ?Heard from Turner that he is recommending the school system remove its underground fuel storage tanks and install above-ground tanks as a cheaper alternative than driving monitoring wells and testing the underground tanks monthly. ?Adopted a "Re-invest in America" resolution that will be sent to county commissioners and the area's legisla tive delegation. Merry Christmas from the staff of THE BRUNSWICKfRACON <#44nttu> (%AJ> UsCW UsjlUr"
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 17, 1992, edition 1
15
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