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The
JUN 0 4 2003
June 4, 2003
Vol. 71, No. 23 Hertford, North Carolina 27944
Perquimans
Weekly
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SUSAN R. HARRIS
More changes at
Perquimans Middle School
were approved by the
school board Monday
Jamie Liverman was
named the school’s assis
tant principal effective July
1 and Linda Mewborn will
move into the position of
instructional specialist on
July 31.
Instructional specialist
Jamie Liverman
Sandra Hooker, counselor
Margie Lane and language
arts/social studies teacher
Teresa Wheeling all
resigned effective June 4.
On May 19, the school
board accepted the resigna
tion of middle school prin
cipal John Dublin, who had
served only one year of his
two-year contract, and
hired Melvin Hawkins to
fiU that slot.
The board also reas
signed assistant principal
Lisa Mills Perry to a math
teaching position, although
it has not been determined
at which grade level she
wUl serve.
Liverman earned his
B.S. in education from
Elizabeth City State
University in 1996 and his
masters in school adminis
tration and supervision
from East Carolina
University in 2003.
He has served as a spe
cial education teacher.
Over the last year,
Liverman has worked
under the supervision of
principals and assistant
principals at the high
school, middle school and
Central School as a North
Carolina Principal Fellows
intern.
He believes in high
expectations for students
and staff, and that a shared
vision and collaboration
enhance student learning.
“I wUl promote the suc-
ces of all students by acting
with integrity, fairness and
in an ethical manner,”
Liverman said.
Mewborn earned her
bachelors degree from
Elizabeth City State
University and her masters
from East Carolina
University. She is certified
to teach K-6, and also holds
academically gifted certifi
cation and is a peer coach.
She is a National Board cer
tified teacher.
She is currently enrolled
in the George Washington
University administrative
degree program pursuing a
certificate of advanced
studies.
Graduation night
Members of the class of 2003 turn their tassles during commencement exercises at Perquimans County High
School Friday night.
98 graduate from PCHS
SUSAN R. HARRIS
Ninety-eight students at
Perquimans County High School
earned diplomas Friday night during
the school’s 78th commencement
exercises.
Class salutatorian Megan Lynn
Stallings gave the graduation
address.
“When I first began thinking about
what 1 wanted to say tonight, things
that I have learned while in high
school came flooding back into my
memory,” Stallings said. “...The
things that you wiU remember the
most when you look back on high
school one, five, or even ten years
down the road wiU be the relation
ships you formed, the tears you cried,
and the happiness you experienced.”
StaUings outlined the top 10 things
she learned during her four years at
PCHS: give compliments freely, get
involved, it’s okay not to take life too
seriously, be a real friend, stand up
for your beliefs, teU your parents you
love them, don’t let society dictate
who you are, find a mentor, love some
one and listen to your teachers.
“Go out and make the most of the
opportunities given to you, and when
you see none on your horizon, go out
and create your own,” she concluded
her speech.
StaUings also used her time at the
microphone to pay tribute to her
father, Dwayne StaUings, who was
also her high school principal.
“Over the past few years. I’ve had a
lot of people ask me, ‘What’s it like to
have your dad as the principal?”’
StaUings said. “I have always replied,
‘I love it.’ And it’s true.
“For the past three years, I feel that
I have been very blessed to have my
dad serve as our principal,” she con
tinued. “Being a high school princi
pal is not a job just anyone could han
dle. It takes dedication, persisitence
and a very level head
“My dad has always been;- an inspi
ration for my life, but I know that I
am not alone in that. If you have
looked to my dad for a positive inspi
ration at any time, you can attest that
he motivated or inspired you.
“His strong faith and love for each
student makes him strive for excel
lence in both his personal and profes
sional life.”
The fareweU address was present
ed by Erin Christine France, class
valedictorian.
France said she had always won
dered why adults said high school
years are the best years of life.
“I think I understand now why it’s
said,” she said. “They don’t remem
ber it correctly; they don’t remember
the headaches and heartaches and
disappointments as clearly as the suc
cesses, friendships and optimism.
This is exactly what I wish for hte
class of 2002: Remember the good
times, forget the bad....
“I doubt anyone wiU remember
what’s I’ve said in five or ten years;
some of you might not even remem
ber what I’ve said tomorrow, but
that’s okay. I hope that aU of you can
look bad on high school in a few
years and think ‘Yeah, high school
was a pretty good time in my life’
regardless of whether you can say it
Michelle Rogers, James Caddy and
Josh Lassiter perform "I Hope You
Dance" at graduation.
now or not.”
Class members MicheUe Rogers,
James Caddy and Joshua Lassiter
played and sang, “I Hope You Dance.”
In addition to StaUings and France,
honor students Jay Rountree,
Kimberly Rucker, Gena HarreU and
Joshua Lassiter had parts on the pro
gram.
Principal D^vayne StaUings
announced that the class had
received $262,475 in one-time and
renewable scholarships. Next year, he
said, 51 percent of the graduates wUl
be enroUed in a four-year coUege or
university and 33 percent in a two-
year program. About 12 percent
enlisted in the mUitary and the other
four percent wiU go directly into the
workforce.
Middle school holds promotion, exercises
SUSAN R. HARRIS
One hundred sixty
eighth graders officially
became high school fresh
men last Wednesday when
the middle school held its
annual promotion ceremo
ny.
Todd TiUey, chief magis
trate of Perquimans
County, presented the pro
motion address.
Valedictorian Callie
Guthrie presented the
farewell address, while
salutatorian Caitlin
Shotwell introduced the
speaker.
Honor graduates Keisha
Wynn and Cody Gregory
also took part in the pro
gram.
Music was provided by
eighth graders Sydney
Baggett, Shalonda Fletcher,
LaShona Hunter and
LaToya Garner, as weU as
the eighth grade band.
Principal John Dublin
recognized the grand honor
roU for the class. Earning
inclusion on the honors list
were Guthrie, Shotwell,
Gregory, Wynn, Kelsey
Copeland, Starla Newton,
Alyson Rose, Christopher
Forbes, Jasmine Bryant,
LaSandra Kee, Heather
Perry, Brian Frierson,
TonisheUe’ West, Jennifer
Harris, Bailey Tilley,
Anniesha Overton, Justin
Gray, Paul White, Daniel
Eaves, Kyle Formo,
Takeshia Johnson and
Kaela Lester.
Seventh grade honor stu
dents assisting with gradu
ation were Mary Allen
Guthrie, Jessica Lewis,
maynse
SUSAN R. HARRIS
Perquimans County
boasts a lower ad valorem
tax rate than any of its
neighbors.
And it wUl even if coun
ty commissioners approve
the 2 cents tax hike recom
mended by County
Manager Paul Gregory.
In his budget message to
commissioners Monday,
Gregory said that the coun
ty has not raised its tax rate
in eight years, and actually
lowered it two years ago
against Gregory’s recom
mendation.
But keeping the tax rate
low, coupled with capital
projects and loss in rev
enues over the past three
years, has stressed the
county’s fund balance.
Gregory said.
The county must by state
law keep 8 percent of its •
annucU budget in its fund
balance. Last year, commis
sioners were able to budget
for over $1 million to be
moved from the fund bal
ance into the budget. But
the fund balance has
decreased to the point that
only $250,000 can be moved
for next fiscal year.
Perquimans’ present tax
rate is 61 cents per $100 val
uation, while Chowan’s is
69 cents; Camden’s, 75
cents; Gates’, 81 cents; and
Pasquotank’s, 86 cents.
Gregory recommends that
Perquimans go to 63 cents,
stUl lower than any of its
neighbors.
There are no new capital
projects in the proposed
$9.66 million budget.
Gregory recommended
that the schools receive an
additional $100,000 in capi
tal outlay funds. The sys
tem lost about $35,000 in
state low-wealth money last
year because of the state
formula for dispersing
funds which takes into con
sideration that the tax rate
has not risen in the county
and that the county has not
increased its funding to the
schools.
A public hearing on the
budget win be held on June
16 at 7 p.m. The budget is
on review during business
hours at the county manag
er’s office.
Eighth graders file into the gym at Perquimans County
Middle School last Wednesday to celebrate their pro
motion to high school.
Kelli Lassiter, Candice
Nixon, Eric Rountree,
Brandon Miller, Tamara
Gregory, Antrone Burke,
Faith Everett and Clarice
White.
Weekend
Weather
THURSDAY
High: 76
Low: 58
PM T'Storms
Friday
High:75
Low: 58
Isolated T'Storms
Saturday
High: 77
Low:66
Isolated T'Storms