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For Peace Set Sunday
6 PM At Central
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VOL. 108 NO. 2
OU WANT TO KNOW
2m |
\ |
| How many from other schools to Bethware?
™ Frans of district; (133 are from within the: district.
A This s-tour are from East to other schools. Twenty-
(ED. NOTE - Many parents of elementary school
children asked the Herald to try to find out some
answers to some of their questions during and after
last week's School Board work session on reassign-
ment of students. Here are your answers. Anyone
else with questions may write Editor, P.O. Box 769,
Kings Mountain, N.C. 28086. Include your name
and phone number for verification purposes).
Q - How much is YSAC, Inc. being paid for its stu-
dent reassignment proposals for Kings Mountain
Schools?
A - $5,000. Supt. Bob McRae said some of the pro-
posals by YSAC are similar to scenarios developed by
the Central Office staff but McRae said none of the
staff's scenarios drew strong support. The School
Board felt it was wise to contract with YSAC because
it has no ties to the school system. YSAC came very
highly recommended by other systems with similar en-
rollment and racial makeup to Kings Mountain's and
McRae said YSAC "has done everything they told us
they would do. They're very professional."
Q - How many comment forms has the School
Board received from the public on the first reassign-
ment proposal? How many were from the Pine Manor
area? Was one from School Board member Priscilla
Mauney and/or her husband,
A - The board received 24 comment forms. None
were from Pine Manor. Dr. Jeff Mauney filled out a
form requesting that the node in which he lives
(Piedmont Avenue) be reconsidered. The first map
places the Mauney home in the East district, rather
than North, which his children now attend.
Q - How many transfer students are there now?
How many from out of district? How many from with-
in district? How many from East to other schools?
A - There are 186 transfer students. Fifty-three are
four are from other schools to Belthware.
QQ - What are the enrollments of each elementary
school now, and what would enrollments be if the first
YSAC map is adopted?
A - Enrollments at the end of the third month of
school were: Bethware, 490; East 253; Grover 418;
North 384; West 304. If the first map is adopted the
figures would be: Bethware 483; East 253; Grover
429; North 3942; West 249.
Q - What are the student capacities of each school?
A- The capacities at East and West are 250 to 275
students, although Dr. McRae said they could handle
300. Other capacities are North 375 to 425, Grover
375 to 450, and Bethware 450 to 520.
Q - What are the racial percentages at each school
now and what would percentages be if first YSAC pro-
posal is adopted?
A - Minority percentages at the end of the first
month of school were: North 26.5, Bethware 14.8,
East 63.9, Grover 22.9, West 16.7. If the first draft is
adopted, the percentages would be Bethware 23.2,
East 28.9, Grover 23.3, North 30.4, West 24.1.
(Q- What is the reason for studying reassignment?
Can the federal or state government require KM to
racially balance schools?
A - Kings Mountain schools were voluntarily de-
segregated in 1965-66, therefore, there is no law that
requires them to meet certain racial percentages.
However, that does not mean an individual can't sue
the school system if he/she thinks their child is not get-
ting an equal education because of racial imbalance.
Dr. McRae said when he became superintendent in
1986 the percentage of black students at East was 46
percent and has gradually increased over the years to a
high of 64 percent last year. "The philosophy behind
the study is that schools in a system should reflect the
same racial balance as the community in which they
exist. (KM's minority population is approximately 26
percent). When a school's minority percentage goes to
60-plus the experiences those children have with each
other and their learning opportunities may not be as
advantaged as the other schools." In addition, McRae
said members of the staff at East School began to
voice concern that their students may not have the
same opportunities, which could sometimes lead to
along as rapidly as they'd like. McRae said racially-
balanced schools are "educationally sound and human-
ly responsible."
Q - Can reassignment be put to a vote of the citi-
zens?
A - It could, but it's very doubtful the Elections
Board would spend tax money for such an election.
Reassignment of students comes under the authority of
the School Board, which is elected by the citizens. The
board has held two public hearings and two work ses-
sions on the reassignment question and citizens will
have more opportunities to voice their opinions at fu-
ture board meetings.
(Continued On Editorial Page)
Should Schools Bus StUAents?......cceseessss2-B
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Thursday, January 10, 1991
5 Proprio e: i
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teachers not being able to move the pace of the school |
STUDY REASSIGNMENT - School board chairman Billy King
and vice chairman Priscilla Mauney look over proposed reassign-
ment map at Thursday's work session.
the Kings Mountain High library.
KM Schools 'Par' On State Report Card
Although Kings Mountain Schools received a "par"
grade on the first annual State Report Card released to-
day by the State Board of Education, school officials
admit they still have a lot of work to do.
Jane King, Asst. Supt. for Instruction, said "I'd love
to see us above par in everything, but you have to deal
with what you're given to deal with."
The state report card, required under the School
Improvement and Accountability Act of 1989, Senate
Bill 2, summarizes student performance for 1989-90
and provides a comparison with performance in the
1987-88 and 1988-89 school years, and compares sys-
tem with other systems in the state.
The local Board of Education plans to discuss the
report card at its meeting tonight at 7:30 at the KMHS
library and begin determining strengths and weakness-
es in the areas af reading/language, science, math and
as
Another KM
A slowdown'in the textile industry could result in
the closing of a third Kings Mountain plant in 60 days.
Glen Raven Mills has notified 130 employees that a
concerted effort will be made to sell the Grover Road
plant for an ongoing operation but unless a buyer is
found that the plant will close its doors on March 2.
"Business conditions have been depressed at the lo-
cal plant for some time and we've been running short
work weeks," said Bobby Beck, personnel director of
Glen Raven's corporate headquarters in Glen Raven,
N. C. "We were approached by a buyer in late
December who had an interest in obtaining the plant
for an ongoing concern but he couldn't arrange the fi-
nancing and officials now have made a business deci-
Pray For World Peace
At Central Methodist
Eleven pastors in the Kings Mountain Ministerial
Association will lead a community-wide prayer for
peace service Sunday night at 6 p.m. at Central United
Methodist Church.
With the United States approaching the Jan. 15
count-down set by the United Nations for Iraq to pull
out of Kuwait or face force, local ministers say the
Call to Prayer is most appropriate.
"In addition to the Persian Gulf crisis there is a great
deal of unrest in our world," says Rev. Bob Little, pas-
tor of the host church. "As Christians continue to cele-
brate the coming of the Prince of Peace, this service is
a time that all of us can get-together in unity in an in-
ter-denominational service to bring our many concerns
to God." Although the service will focus on prayers for
See Peace, 11-A
social studies. Performance was determined by the re-
sults of California Achievement Tests, state writing
tests and end of course tests in each area.
Ten of the state's 134 systems received notable
achievement in all four curriculum areas and will be
encouraged to share their formula for success with oth-
er systems, said Dr. Suzanne Triplett, assistant superin-
tendent for Research and Development Services with
the Department of Public Instruction. Those systems
are Burlington, Ashe County, Camden County,
Hickory, Duplin County, Hendersonville, Kinston,
Richmond County, Mount Airy and Swain County.
In addition, many others received above par ratings
on overall performance. Those were Burke County,
Cabarrus County, Carteret, County, Cherokee County,
i
lationship with the people at Glen Raven and we
certainly, don't fault them or the people in Kings
Mountaifi."
GlenfRaven purchased the old Park Yarn Mill Aug. |
1, 1983 and operates three shifts making novelty yarns’
used in the knitting trades. i
"The textile market is somewhat weak now and the
yarns produced at the Grover Road plant are somewhat
heavily impacted by imports, so the combination of
those two things has resulted in our business decision
to find a buyer by March 2, 1991 or close down," said
Beck.
Local plant manager is Bob Burleson.
sion whifh is unfortunate. We have a good working re-#
| of the closing last Friday of Kinmont Mills which left
Kings Mountain School Board members
Thursday night heard from parents who are
not satisfied with the first draft of the
elementary reassignment plan. The board is
expected to discuss the matter again at its
regular monthly meeting tonight at 7:30 at
At last week's work session, held before an
overflow crowd at the Superintendent's
Office, the board received input from citizens
and then discussed the matter among
themselves for three hours. The members
agreed to ask YSAC, Inc., of Raleigh, which
is creating possible attendance areas through
\/. Overall
dehievement
if
f
Kings Mountain, N.C. 4
|
11 d t t
computers, to re-enter data from three
residential areas to see how it affects the
population and racial makeup of schools
under the first reassignment proposal.
Supt. Bob McRae cautioned board
members from considering too many options
at one time because, if too many attendance
"nodes" are switched around they could
affect the minority figures and possibly cause
some schools to be over-crowded and others
to have empty space. (See school capacity
and racial figures in question and answer
column on page 1-A).
See Parents, 10-A
Community Characteristics
Female Heads-of-Hobsehold |——
Two-Parent Households | ro —
Sub-Standard Housing |
Overcrowded Housing | w
Families Below Poverty Level | |
College Degree | |
Post-HS Education [=] |
Less Than HS Se
| State Average 0 25 50 75° 100
1990
}
X
2
i
The Glen Raven announcement follows on the hezls
140 people out of work. Sadie Cotton Mill closed last
summer, leaving 250 jobless.
Kinmont manufactured home accessories-com-
forters, dust ruffles, bedspreads and curtains-but be-
came a victim of the recession as consumers cut back
spending. The decision to close the Kinder Road plant
was made by its majority owner, the Boston-based
Abbey Holding Co.
Locally owned Sadie Cotton Mill stands idle after
shutting its doors nearly seven months ago because of
declining yarn orders.
Cleveland County unemployment doubled to 6.5
percent from September to November.
Chamber Banquet Monday
Charlotte businessman George
Shinn will be guest speaker at the
annual Chamber of Commerce
banquet Monday night at 7 p.m. at
Reservations may be made by
calling the Chamber office, 739-
BUSINESS +... 0c veneirnvess 4-B
Classifieds ......o.....oi 9-B
EQOIQLS:.. ....uueiviess 2-A
Engagements......... 2-B
FOO i iia 5B Holiday Inn.
Obiliuares ............... 3-A
Police News ......c..... 11-B
Religion .........seesensee 3-B A753.
School News........... 8-A
SOOIS uiiieerisiasisinrens 4-A
Way We Were......... 1-B
Weather
KM UNITED FUND TOPS GOAL-Ruby
Alexander and Glenn Anderson share
victory smiles and plaques at the announcement Monday that KM United Fund topped
its biggest-ever goal with donations of $130,434.00.
Shinn, owner of George Shinn
and Associates Inc., is best known
for bringing pro basketball to
Charlotte. He owns the Charlotte
Hornets, as well as the Double A
baseball team, the Charlotte
Knights, and the Single A Gastonia
Rangers.
KM Hires Codes Officer
Chris Rossi, 11-year veteran of
the City of Shelby Codes
Department, will join the City of
Kings Mountain Feb. 4 as Chief
Codes Enforcement Officer suc-
ceeding Tom Fields.
Fields has joined the town of
Morrisville as building inspector.
He completed his duties here Dec.
27. Fields came to Kings Mountain
2 1/2 years ago from Pinehurst.
See Codes, 12-A
KM United Fund
Exceeds Goal Again
Kings Mountain's United Fund
has topped its 1990-91 goal de-
spite mill closings and a down turn
in the economy.
With pledges of $130, 434.00,
local citizens have given $2,934.00
over the biggest-ever goal of
$127,500.00.
Campaign Chairman Glenn
Anderson and UF President Ruby
Alexander raised a banner high
over the crowd of 94 volunteers
and agency representatives attend-
ing a Volunteer Appreciation
Banquet Monday night at Holiday
Inn to salute the individuals and in-
dustries who gave more than "fair
share" to meet the goal.
"This speaks so well of Kings
Mountain citizens and industry
who have worked a labor of love
and given their ‘esources to unite
show compassion so that life may
be just a little easier to many who
otherwise may not have anyone to
turn to in time of crisis," said
Alexander.
"I just can't say enough about the
people of Kings Mountain, who
even in hard times like these, reach
out to help others," said Anderson.
"You care on a personal level."
"We've been on a roller-coaster
for the last few months. News of
mill closings resulted in slashed
pledges but you volunteers pushed
hard, returning to industry to get
extra pledges to reach this fantastic
goal," said Alexander.
Representatives of 12 of the 16
agencies supported by United Fund
See U-Way, 11-A