Joint Meeting On BOE Actions

Revised Tuesday 12/20/2005 at 11:51 AM.

Tonight the meeting requested by the Bertie County Board of Commissioners to try and understand what is happening in the desegregation case that is still going on after 37 years was held before a packed audience in the Senior Center. This was the first time the County Commissioners had been briefed on the desegregation case by the Board of Education. In addition to understanding the desegregation case status there was a desire among members of the public to try and understand why the Board of Education (BOE) was insisting on closing at least 2, if not 3 of our community elementary schools. Rick Harrell requested the BOE start with their presentation, which was done by the attorney on behalf of the BOE.

From Left, Zee Lamb, County Manager, Lloyd Smith, County Attorney, County Commissioners, Norman Cherry, Rick Harrell (standing), L.C. Hoggard And Wallace Perry

Since the issue for which everyone was present was the current happenings in the case, there was some confusion when the attorney for the BOE started the presentation off with ancient history. The attorney went back and covered exhaustive detail of desegregation cases, starting with details from the early 1950s, years before the case impacted Bertie County directly. Further details leading up to the original case against Bertie County back in 1967 were provided. The attorney argued persuasively that the original order against Bertie County was justified. However since no one is contesting that, the point of time spent on this background argument was not clear.

When the attorney finally got to more recent happenings, there was little evidence presented to support the BOE's argument that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was demanding that we close Askewville and J.P. Law. The only rationale provided was that funds would be required to satisfy the DOJ poor facility issue at J.P. Law and the DOJ will insist we increase the black student ratio at Askewville from 58% up to 71%. To date the Department of Justice has only communicated with the BOE attorney, and the recent order of June of this year does not present the 58% ratio at Askewville as a temporary solution.

The attorney briefing thus appeared to leave us exactly where we were before the meeting started. The attorney insisted that the BOE has looked at many scenarios, but only two were presented as acceptable to the BOE. 1. Close Askewville and J.P. Law Elementary Schools. Or 2. Close Askewville, Aulander and J.P. Law Elementary Schools and build a consolidated school for 450 students. In their recent press release, not a word was mentioned about getting Unitary Status. The BOE attorney said during today's meeting that if we reached agreement with the DOJ it was hoped that Unitary Status ending the case would happen the following year. This seemed to make the case that Unitary Status is not a condition of the current negotiations with the DOJ, but something the BOE hopes the DOJ will grant if we close JP Law and Askewville.

There was one comment by the BOE attorney that "the racial composition of every school must reflect the racial composition of the whole system". However it was pointed out from the floor that in a recent ruling the Supreme Court reminded district courts "the constitutional command to desegregate schools does not mean that every school in every community must always reflect the racial composition of the school system as a whole." This discrepancy was not explained, but it needs to be.

The concern of the members of the Board Commissioners focused on the apparent continued insistence by the BOE that a new elementary school be built, even while there are clearly competing requirements for funds that are more urgent. Lloyd Smith, County attorney said "Option two is disconcerting to the Commissioners. The county doesn't want its hands tied (by the courts)."

Merry Hill Grandmother Opposes Closing J.P. Law

When the meeting was opened up for public comments, there was a long series of people who made the point that the public overwhelmingly favored the BOE coming up with more alternatives that don't involve closing the community schools. From Wood Farless (representing the Farm Bureau) to John Davis (local education advocate), mothers of students, former teachers, farmers, fathers of students, all spoke in opposition to closing the schools and building consolidated schools that are not wanted. John Stallings said, "I watched the recent court hearings held before the education committee on cable channel 18. The parents of Bertie County overwhelmingly indicated they wanted the elementary schools to stay in their local communities."

The consensus of opinion from the public on this night was that none of the three schools should be closed. Everyone agreed J.P. Law should be fixed. The issue with Askewville had already been settled by making whites the minority in the school. There was no understanding among the public comments as to why Aulander should even be in the discussion as it does not appear that the Department of Justice had even raised Aulander as an issue. Why has the BOE? There was also no public understanding of why the previous order of this past June was already assumed to be inadequate by the BOE attorney and that a more stringent quota percentage for Askewville was needed. There was no understanding of why Unitary Status was not immediately sought.

The BOE attorney argued that the June order was merely a temporary solution, but reading the order does not say that at all. The only evidence that the DOJ wants additional actions on Askewville is the BOE attorneys claim that this has been secretly communicated to them. One question asked was why the BOE did not let the DOJ say this for themselves.

John Davis spoke that we needed to protect community schools and the rights of voters to vote on new school construction. His concern was the Heery report taken literally can lead the DOJ or judge to perceive the schools as in much poorer condition than is really the case. He is concerned that allowing the Heery study to be viewed “as gospel”, will likely result in a court order to close the schools. The judge could also order a new school be built if he perceives the remaining four schools will be overcrowded. That will require raised taxes.

As the response to suggestions from the public were met by a BOE refusal to consider any action except the two alternatives to close schools, comments from the crowd became more hostile. Ceicil Davis commented on the habit of the BOE attorneys to laugh whenever there was applause in support of keeping the community schools open. Ceicil then left the meeting apparently in anger. The attorneys, it was noted, stopped laughing at support of community schools thereafter. The applause in support of community schools continued on a regular basis.

Henry Spruill Opposes Closing Aulander Elementary

Several commented that the point of a public hearing was to get input to be acted on. The BOE was responding to all comments that the decision had been made and no other alternatives would be considered. Mayor Bob Spivey summed up everyone's feelings accurately when he said to the BOE that it was clear the people of Bertie County believe the issue of Askewville was settled, and that closing J.P. Law, Askewville and Aulander, our three best schools, was overwhelmingly opposed. The people clearly wanted J.P. Law to be fixed and Askewville lines fixed if needed so we could get Unitary Status. He did not understand why the BOE was simply rejecting that input.

Even when Rick Harrell requested that the BOE meet with the Commissioners to discuss other options, the initial response seemed to indicate that they would meet but did not consider changing their course of action a possible response.

Michael Williams Asks For BOE To Consider The Future Of Our Kids

Michael Williams was persuasive when he asked the BOE to "Think about the future". He summed up the feelings of most when he said that this desegregation case should have been ended long ago. He expressed concern that the "spirits of our people are important too" and further integration should not be handled in a fashion that left more animosity between the races.

Opposition To School Closings Was Nearly Unanimous

It is clear we have near unanimity between black and white parents that they do not want their community schools closed. The opposition to the BOE is not an issue of race and they should not try to imply that it is.

BOE Members From Left, Ricky Freeman, Seaton Fairless, Superintendent Dr. Collins-Hart, Melinda Eure And Gary Cordon Sr.

Toward the end of the meeting, Gary Cordon Sr., made an argument that some of the current students in other schools were being bused long distances. He also noted that some students were in larger schools and thus did not get the benefits of community schools. He argued that justified making the students in the 3 schools being closed be bussed long distances and put in large schools "to be fair". Only two people in the large audience applauded his statement. It would appear from his comments that he was conceding the superiority of community schools which is itself an interesting position considering his vote.

However, Mr. Cordon’s comment is not without merit. When we have Unitary Status the BOE will have much more flexability to “be fair to all” by providing more community schools that provide the best balance in student education, spending, travel time, and community involement. The current court case does not allow for this to happen. We need to keep our schools open and close the court case. Then we can come together for the sake of all our children.

It was announced at the end of the public discussion that another public meeting is planned for January 5, 2005 at 5 PM by some of the opponents of the BOE actions. This meeting will continue efforts to defend our community schools, stop the BOE planned community school closings and stop a new consolidated elementary school from being built, wasting tax payer dollars. All parents and taxpayers who wish to help with this effort are invited to attend. It will be held in the same location as today's meeting, The Council on Aging Senior Center.

The first goal will be to end the desgregation case that keeps the Department of Justice interfering in our schools. That goal requires we obtain what the courts call Unitary Status for our school system. Hope to see you on January 5th, 2006 at 5 PM.