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| ha; { January 15, 2004 The Kings Mountain Herald Page 3A One-fourth of East students live in Gaston BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer While the Westmorelands live four minutes from the East cam- pus, they are not Kings Mountain residents. For the past three years they have paid $150 annually to allow Cody to attend East. The other two options were Chapel Grove, a 27 minute drive, or Sadler, an 18 minute drive. Westmoreland is afraid to send her son to an unfamiliar school. She says she doesn’t know the teachers and fears there will be drug and discipline problems in a Gaston County school. Westmoreland is also afraid of what will happen to East under a merged board. She praises princi- pal Jerry Hoyle but doubts the new board will allow him the funding - and flexibility to continue his posi- tive reinforcement program. Parent Jeannette Hardee has paid the extra money to send both her children to Kings Mountain GOOD-BYE From 1A which is both inside the Gaston County line and Kings Mountain city limits. Convenience is not the only fac- tor driving Locklair’s concern. Her kindergartner daughter has heart problems which required surgery. Locklair feels her daughter is safer with her being minutes from the school. Parent Tammy Westmoreland says she has “done nothing but cry” since the decision was announced Monday. Her son Cody, a second grader, is above grade level in both English and math. She fears the move to a Bessemer City school could jeopardize his success. ; “Tell me that can’t hurt a child's education, pulling him out of his school,” Westmoreland said. She feels the merger is not about children’s best interest but instead money and politics. KM Fire Department gets $47,250 grant District Schools from the beginning of their school days. One child is in third grade at East and another attends Kings Mountain Middle School. “The school system speaks for itself,” Hardee said. “The whole small town feel.” The test scores and the Kings Mountain personnel also impressed Hardee. She and other parents are talking about options. Hardee began researching charter schools last night. She and other parents may approach Kings Mountain school officials about partnering with them to start a school. Charter schools are public and funded by the state but are not under the authority of local school boards. There is no fee to attend a charter school. Other parents are considering home schooling, Hardee said. One parent also is looking at private schools though Hardee says this is not an option for most families due to the expense. Danielle and Benjamin Braswell say they like the small school atmosphere at East where their daughter Molly attends kinder- garten. The Braswells live less than a mile from East but may have to send Molly to the nearest Gaston County school, a seven mile drive. Kings Mountain District Schools officials do not have any answers for parents. They do not know if Gaston County Schools will release the students who now attend Kings Mountain schools nor do they know if the new merged sys- tem will accept these students. George Litton, chair of the new board, indicated he is open to accepting the students but said he cannot speak for the board as a whole. The merger between Kings Mountain District, Shelby City and Cleveland County schools is hit- ting some East Elementary stu- dents and parents especially hard. Over a quarter of the school’s population lives in Gaston County. According to the state school board, those students would be reassigned to schools in Bessemer City. However, there has already been discussion of letting the stu- dents remain at East. Parent reaction was strong and sometimes emotional at East Tuesday afternoon. “I don’t know what we're going to do. I'll put her in private school before she goes to Bessemer City,” said parent Brandy Locklair. The Locklair family recently pur- chased a home on Linwood Road “honor to serve” on the board and thanked everyone that voted for him. He was the only Gaston County resident ever elected to serve on the board. Previously, Trace Barnette had been appoint- ed to fill the unexpired term of have a very good supporting group of parents. We don’t always see eye-to-eye but the . parents have played a key role in the success of the school system. “Now, we may have to do things differently. I just wish we our schools. I am so proud we didn’t have the problems some of the larger systems have. It’s | } i i ; a A BY ANDIE L. BRYMER Staff Writer Thanks to a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant and some help from the city, the Kings Mountain Fire Department will update its communications equip- ment. The department will received $47,250 from FEMA and a 10 percent match, $5,250, from the City of Kings Mountain. The grant will be used to buy new pagers for all firefighters and new mobile radios for fire trucks. It will also enable the fire depart- ment to convert its radios to a trunk- ed system if Cleveland County goes to this. Because fire departments across the county give mutual aid, they must all use the same system. Trunked radios allow firefighters to talk to one another without interfer- ing with other emergency agency's radio traffic. The grant money will pay for a radio repeater which extends the range of walkie talkies. This is partic- ularly helpful when volunteer fire- fighters arrive at a fire scene before, the fire trucks. Without a repeater, the fire department often cannot hear on- scene reports from them. The city had budgeted for a repeater before the grant came through. The grant will also improve fire- fighter safety with a new personnel tracking system. This system will allow the department-to know which firefighters are inside a burning struc- ture and how long each has been inside. Currently, the department uses a dog tag system which does not track time inside a structure. The device each firefighter wears will contain medical information. In the event a firefighter is injured, this information can be read at the emer- gency room. “It’s a better way of insuring fire- fighter safety,” said Joey Davis, fire inspector. Kings Mountain is among four Cleveland departments to receive grant money this year. The others are Waco, Lawndale and Shanghai. “We're very fortunate,” Davis said. The department has 12 months beginning Feb. 1 to spend the money. Fire Chief Frank Burns said his department is excited about the grant. “We're able to upgrade all our equipment all at one time. We don’t have to piecemeal it like we did before,” Burns, said. 3 ...,FEMA has given over $40 million'to help local fire departments purchase equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emer- gency medical services and programs and conduct fire prevention and safe- ty programs. been like a family - not like a Melony Bolin, who resigned for could give the teachers all the business. “I want to thank the communi- ty for their support of the schools as we fought a difficult fight,” she said. As a new era begins, Miller urged residents of the Kings Mountain area to “continue to let your voices be heard.” Jerry Blanton called the merger battle “a long fight. We may have lost the battle but we haven't lost the war. It’s not over,” he said. “The merger hasn’t been about Kings Mountain, Shelby or Cleveland County,” he said. “It’s about our kids. We've accom- plished a lot. Our scores have risen because everyone in the system believes that the battle is for the kids and the battle is still raging. We can be a positive part of the change or a negative part, but we'll be a part of the change.” Vice-chair Stella Putnam, like Miller, couldn't hide the pain “and gave a tearful good-bye. “It has been a blessing to work with the administration, teachers and staff,” she said. “You won't find finer people anywhere. My prayers will continue to be for the children of our school sys- tem.” Mike Smith said it had been an health reasons. “Looking back, I feel like we have done all we can to fight the merger,” Smith said. “I am proud of this school system. It did not turn out the way we . wanted it to turn out. The Department of Justice decision was a poor decision. I do not think they took into considera- tion my voting rights or the rights to serve the community.” Terry McClain also thanked the citizens of Kings Mountain and Grover that elected him to an outside city seat on the board. “They entrusted us to do the right thing,” he said. “It was all about the kids.” McClain mentioned that there were “issues that divided the community,” during his time on the board, “but when it came down to it education in Kings Mountain is as good as it gets anywhere in the state. Our administration was also one of the best in the state. It starts at the top and works its way down to everyone else. “When I came on the board three years ago I observed a steady growth in our academ- ics,” he added. “It was a pleas- ure and joy to hear the good reports from our schools. We money, they deserve for what they do. We entrusted them with our future. “We have to move forward and try to make the process an easy one. I hope and pray the new board will do what's best for all children. It’s not about Kings Mountain, Shelby and Cleveland County. It’s all about the children.” Dr. Allen told the board he was “proud of you and the opportunity we've had to work together. The fight was the same from day one. The issue was the livelihood of East Kings Mountain and what happens to those children. “I hope the new board and the Gaston County School Board will get together and work out a solution if your effort with the State School Board doesn’t mate- rialize. “Families have settled in East Kings Mountain so their children could go to school there,” he added, “It is traumatic for them._ I feel very badly for them:ifa. =< solution can’t be developed. It’s a tragedy for them. “For other children, this (merger) will be no different,” he said. “We're going to have school every day for those chil- dren.” INTERIM From 1A tations for those students. In an emotional speech, Jo Boggs expressed similar feelings. She compared Monday when she found out the merger had been approved to the night her father died. “We no longer existed,” she said. But then she said com- pared Tuesday morning and the new board to the birth of her daughter. She expressed gratitude to have Gene Moore lead the new school system. Moore led a similar merged board in Stanly County. Steve Curtis pledged to work hard for every child, to treat all fairly and equal- ly. try Evans said this day had been “a long time com- ing.” She encouraged every- one to make the new Cleveland County Schools the best in the nation. Both Litton and Greene said members of the three former boards who no longer serve “by no fault of their own” need to be recog- nized for their service and their talents should be used. “We need to find ways to still draw on their expert- ise,” Greene said. Monday Litton said there had been some question if Hooker would serve on the board because he lost his Shelby City Schools board seat to Anganette H. Homsley in November. However, Hooker will serve on the new board because he was appointed by name, Litton said. Moore thanked the board for the opportunity to be part of the new school sys- tem. He said compromise would be important and that all three school systems brought “outstanding fac- tors to the table.” “We've got to roll up our sleeves, come together and try to do the best for the children,” Moore said. The original merger plan contained an election sched- ule for the appointed board members. Their elections would have been staggered. That schedule expired dur- ing Kings Mountain District School's fight against merg- er. Either the new board or the state school board will draw up an election sched- ule, county attorney Robert Yelton said Monday. That schedule will be subject to Department of Justice approval. The board will meet again Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. to appoint the seat left vacant by Dr. Larry Allen. His appointment as superin- tendent of Kings Mountain District Schools made him ineligible to serve on the merged board. A hwondy ta Wicd Gore tig OF Stow Vid Christ Covenant Church Kings Mountain located in the gym of the Kings Mountain YMCA Faith-Based Christ-Centered Family-Focused LINES From 1A his motion. “It’s like a good suit. We've got a perfect fit. You start adding and sub- tracting and you lose quali- ty.” Smith said after the meet- ing that it would seem the State School Board would not want to lose a top 25 school. East stands to lose approximately 25 percent of its student body if students are sent to Bessemer City and Chapel Grove schools, as indicated earlier by the Gaston County School Board. : Smith is calling on City Council, the Cleveland County Commissioners, local legislators and individ- uals to make their wishes known to state officials. “If you're a top 25 school in the state you do what you can to protect that school in your community,” Smith said. “If they start taking kids out it’s going to destroy the integrity of this school. There’s no reason the State School Board can’t redraw the lines.” Although the'’KM School Board no longer exists, Smith said he will do all he can to keep the Gaston stu- dents in Cleveland County Schools. He said anyone interested in helping may call him at 739-4260. “If enough people would sign petitions or write letters or make calls, or whatever, we can accomplish this,” he said. “We have from now until the end of the year to get something done. I'm sure they won't do anything to kids right now, but I'm sure they will when school starts next year.” Smith has already approached Mary Accor, chairman of the Cleveland County Commissioners, to make a similar request to the State School Board, and said he will soon approach City Council about the matter. “I would think they would support it,” he said. “If you've got a top 25 school in the state you do what you can to protect that school in your community.” Smith urges citizens to attend meetings of city council and county commis- sioners and school boards in Cleveland County and Gaston County and voice their opinion. KING From 1A organizers shifted the focus, asking students to reflect on the speech itself. They also hoped for more diversity in contest entrants. Students competed at the intermediate, middle and high school level for the chance to participate Monday night. Winners will be selected from each age group and will each receive $100 and a plaque. Contest guidelines called for a 400-word or less essay. The event will be held at Barnes Auditorium, Kings Mountain High School. It lasts from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public. “HOME. AUTO. LIFE. ME” TALK TO A REAL, LIVE PERSON WHO'S | 308 E. King Street ib! Ric Francis 704.739.1820 Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company and Allstate Life Insurance Company, Home Office: Northbrook, lliinois. © 2002 Allstate Insurance Company { Kings Mountain, NC Alistate. You're in good hands. : Li OE } BUO-MABINES www. Maines. eo Active Duty Reserve Retired Veterans de A Few Good Men Ball The Foothill Detachment } Marine League is looking for Marines. to serve with Marine Corps League to enhance the community. Contact number: 704-445-9165 fi of the Published every Thursday Periodicals postage at Kings Mountain, NC 28086 USPS 118-880 by Republic Newspapers, Inc. Postmaster, send address changes to: P. O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 Phone (704) 739-7496 © Fax (704) 739-0611 Office: 824-1 East King Street ® Kings Mountain, NC 28086 E-mail: kmhnews@aol.com KINGS MOUNTAIN The Heral Mike Blanton Publisher Gary Stewart Editor Andie Brymer Staff Writer Lisa UPLon.....s..ovisevsrsenssronsea, Advertising Representative Shelley Campbell.......cccceerserearnseeee Composition Manager Mail Subscription Rates Payable in Advance. All Prices include 6% NC State Sales Tax. Gaston & Cleveland County Other NC Counties Outside NC Republic BAYS Newspapers, Inc. Menker NRar ji LP NATIONAL NEWSPAPER LA ASSOCIATION = 1 Year 6 Months $27.00 $17.50 $28.50 $19.25 $33.50 $21.25 Noth Carona Press Associaton Fellowship begine at 10:30am
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Jan. 15, 2004, edition 1
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