Seaton Fairless Answers Questions

Seaton Fairless, Chairman of the Bertie County Board of Education (BOE), held a public meeting in his district to answer questions of the local citizens about the BOE plans to close local schools. He was accompanied by the Superintendent of Bertie County Public Schools, Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart.

Colerain Community Center, Site For Board of Education Meeting

The meeting was typical of the two county wide meetings in the last few months. The Public comments clearly indicated disatisfaction with the plans to close community schools. Chairman Fairless presented his case for ignoring citizen input and driving forward with attempts to negotiate an agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to close the schools. This negotiation is being done in secret and will be ordered by the Judge in the case when it is acceptable to ONLY the BOE and the DOJ.

When The Meeting Started There Was A Good Crowd That Swelled After Late Arrivals Made It Standing Room Only

This dichotomy of holding meetings for public input while forging ahead with plans cast in concrete was noted by local businessman Mike Perry in his comment summing up the meeting with, "The meeting was useless. They (the 3 member BOE majority) are unwilling to compromise. They did not want to hear what the citizens had to say."

Another comment to Chairman Fairless, was "You are elected by the public, you need to serve." His response was an explanation of why he felt that he had to ignore public wishes.

Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart (Superintendent, Public Schools) And Seaton Fairless (Chairman, Board Of Education)

The real concern is awareness that once the Judge ORDERS us to close the schools, even when it becomes obvious it damages our children, there will be almost no way to stop it. Even reversing it with an appeal will take years and costs millions that Bertie County may not have.

John Davis of Community Schools SOS explained before the meeting that Bertie County citizens must move quickly to do everything that can be done to make sure this ruling never takes place. Almost our last chance is if the County Commissioners can file information in the case under Amicus Curiae, a phrase that according to William Rehnquist "... literally means 'friend of the court' -- someone who is not a party to the litigation, but who believes that the court's decision may affect its interest."

Bertie County citizens most assuredly will have our interests affected if this is not stopped.