Superintendent And Chairman Offer Condolence

Statement on Behalf of Dr. Chip Zullinger, Superintendent and Rickey Freeman, Chairman of the Bertie County Board of Education, on the Tragic Loss of Jamesha Miller, 4th grade student at Windsor Elementary School.



The passing of a child is as tragic an event imaginable. We are deeply, deeply saddened by the sudden loss of one of our own, Miss Jamesha Miller, a 10-year old 4th grade student at Windsor Elementary School. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding this tragic loss, our focus is on her family, her friends and her school family. Please join us in wishing comfort to those who loved Jamesha and those who considered her a friend.

Social workers from throughout the school system have been made available at Windsor Elementary School to comfort and assist those in need.

Cards can be sent to Windsor Elementary School at:

104 Cooper Hill Rd.
Windsor, NC 27983

Mum's Diet Sets Baby's Weight

by Ellen Connolly - January 26th, 2008 - Queensland Courier Mail

AUSTRALIAN scientists have made the world-first discovery that a pregnant woman's diet determines whether her baby grows into a fat or skinny adult.

The research suggests women who are overweight before they fall pregnant, and during it, may be condemning their children to a life of overeating and obesity. It reveals that a mother's diet during pregnancy affects the baby's brain circuits, determining appetite and energy expenditure in their offspring.

This also explains why slim mothers with slim fathers can have one child who is slim and another who is fat, if she overeats during one pregnancy but not the other.

I am sure this is another thing that will now make many mothers stress out over how their child turns out. It is intersting to think about this with regard to the obesity problem in America. It is expected that in a nation where mothers overeat, their children will be fat . . . if this research is correct.

It is NOT the child's fault, but the mother's fault. Wow.

Bertie County Schools And Shaw University To Partner For Better Teachers

Article and Photos by Collins Cooper

At the Monday night meeting of the Bertie County Board of Education meeting, Dr. Chip Zullinger announced a new proposed partnership with Shaw University which is entitled Grow your own teachers. Dr. Zullinger went on to say that 1 out of 3 teachers leave before the end of the first year, that Bertie County ranks in the top 10 in teacher turnover and that surrounding counties have the same problems. One class in four will loose a teacher. It takes 45 days on average to get a new teacher in place. Every week an average of 2 out of 5 days are spent without a qualified teacher in the class room.

He then went on to present the concept of Grow your own teachers. Identify 20 of the brightest graduating seniors who want to be teachers, employee each of them as teacher cadets for 2008-2009 school year, pay their tuition to attend Shaw University in a newly created Bertie County Campus and begin their studies to become fully certified teachers with an emphasis on Math, Science and English. After graduation, they will be placed as teachers and will be employed by the County School system for a minimum of 5 years. Also sustain this Cohort effort for over a 4 year life cycle.



Dr. Clarence Newsome, President Shaw University


Why Bertie County Students?

This will create a new future for education in Bertie County and will give the ability to participate in this program to many deserving students. It will pull a student through High school with a mission to be a stronger student in order to qualify to become a teacher cadet.

Why Shaw University?

Shaw has deep roots in Bertie and surrounding counties. Shaw is uniquely qualified to understand our students and to commit to becoming part of the solution. By being a private school, Shaw is positioned to move quickly without having to go through bureaucratic entanglements. Shaw’s Current president, Dr. Clarence Newsome, a Hertford County native, understands our needs and has the ability reach out and create dynamic partnerships with other entities to increase our education capacities. Also, Shaw is very committed to help with this project. Shaw’s primary mission is to prepare teachers.



William Peele, Jr, CAPE Director, Dr Terence Leathers, and Dr. Herman E. Thomas


Dr Zullinger went on to say no one has been able to turn around situations in poverty areas. He believes the Afro-American community needs to step forward and help solve our schools problems.

The cost for salary, benefits and tuition will be around $680,000 annually for a 4 year total of $2,700,000. This will be about 7% of the yearly budget. It needs to be a budget priority. In return, the county would get 80 new teachers, 20 per year, for a 5 year commitment, a true higher education partner that is committed to our region and our students desiring to find a new solution for quality education for Bertie County kids. This would also lead to a new viable source of economic development for Bertie County and the surrounding region.

Dr. Clarence Newsome and some of his top level staff were in attendance and said that this is a very forward thinking program not only for our state, but also the nation. It fits in very well with the mission of Shaw University. He also believes that this could also lead to more partnerships not only in the United States, but world wide. Research shows that you need qualified teachers in the classroom and Shaw is willing to give 100% effort to this program. Dr. Newsome is personally committed to do something for Northeast NC since he is a native of this area. He also stated that qualified teachers can overcome inadequate resources.

He said Shaw was founded in 1865 and has partnered with universities all over the world, including 3 in China.

They hope to have the program in place at either the CG White or Southwestern facility by August of 2008.

Free Bus Driver’s Class

Bertie County Schools will be offering a

“Free Bus Driving Class”

February 18, 19 & 20, 2008

At 8:30 AM each day

At Martin Community College/Bertie Campus

Participants must:

Ø Be 17-1/2 Years Old or Older
Ø Must Attend All Three Days for Credit
Ø Must Have A Valid North Carolina Driver’s License

NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

For more information contact the Bertie County Schools Transportation Department at
252-794-6046


Brent Todd, Public Information Officer
252-794-6034
btodd@bertie.k12.nc.us

Christopher's Story

by Thadd White - January 16th, 2008 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

RALEIGH - The voice of a baby.

During Tuesday morning’s announcement that North Carolina was beginning the most comprehensive shaken baby prevention project in the United States, Bertie County resident Jennipher Dickens was called on to be the voice of her child.

When her son, Christopher Daughtrey, was seven weeks old he was shaken by a family member and came perilously close to death. Since his ordeal, Dickens has become the area’s leading proponent of preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS).

Great article. Jennipher does a truly amazing job of explaining what this problem does to real people. Please read it.

Some other great information Jennifer provided about this issue is contained in the following links to articles about the topic.

Maternity wards to coach parents: Don't shake baby

NC Hospitals Focus On Shaken Baby Prevention

Hospitals launch shaken baby prevention project

UNC, Duke lead first statewide shaken baby prevention research project in U.S.

Coping with Crying

Rotary Hears About Down East Magazine

Kelly Taylor, Account Executive for the Bertie Ledger, came to Rotary today to talk about the Cox Magazine called "North Carolina's Down East". Though the only magazine called Down East that you can find on the web is the Down East Magazine about Maine, here in our local area "North Carolina's Down East" is a popular publication.




Kelly talked about the process for getting articles in the magazine about Bertie County, and the things happening in our area. She also talked about the value of advertising in the publication for business in our area.




After her presentation, Collins Cooper (shown above on left) of Hazelgrove-Cooper Realty presented Kelly (shown above on right) with the traditional cobalt blue mug as a thank you for her presentation.

If you would like to advertise, or talk about articles for the Down East Magazine, you can contact Kelly at (252) 794-3185.

County Commissioners Start New Year

Yesterday morning the Bertie County Commission meeting covered a range of topics that have people interested in government again.




Though not on the agenda, some representatives of the No U.S. 13 Bypass group (opposed to upgrading U.S. 13 as a part of the long term plan for a North South corridor serving Eastern North Carolina) spoke during "Public Comments" in opposition to the Bertie County position. The opposition group only wants NC 11 widened and opposes the bypass project. The Bertie County position is that both projects should be built.

Gary Terry (shown below) started their comments with "An injustice is being done to families and citizens, the bypass to Windsor is unnecessary." He then focused his comments on the idea that Windsor did not deserve to retain U.S. 13, but that a new U.S. 13 should be built widening NC 11 down to Bethel because it would better serve Ahoskie. Windsor's interests do not matter to this group.




Some background to this issue is needed and I have a more detailed article with links to other articles about the same subject on the Inner Banks Eagle.

The next person to speak in opposition to the U.S. 13 Bypass, Kent Williams (shown below) is quite angry about the fact that every one of the alternatives for the U.S. 13 upgrade will probably affect him, since he lives on U.S. 13 and the end of the upgrade will be right at his farm. He started his comments by blasting the DOT for not notifying "a single person in Bertie County" about the upgrade.




Though he gave some anecdotal evidence he claims proves his case, the next speaker in public comments was from the DOT. Kim Gillespie (shown below), Project Planning Engineer for the Ahoskie U.S. 13 "Bypass" gave specifics of the public notification process, including explaining specifically how the G.I.S. system was used to get addresses for the more than 1,000 people who were notified. In checking with some local realtors they assured me that the G.I.S. system is extremely accurate except for very recent changes of ownership. After talking with 2 different people who own land in Bertie County affected by at least one alternative of the project, both confirmed that they had received notice from the DOT. No evidence I have found supports Kent's accusations.





Though I did not hear anyone mention it yesterday, there is a meeting tonight at the Hertford County High School to drum up support to oppose the U.S. 13 Bypass.

The next topic of interest was the semi annual report by Eastern Carolina Behavioral Health. Joy Futtrell (shown below) opened the presentation and provided details of their efforts.




Roy Wilson (shown below) also participated in the report, and talked about the status of their merger of nine counties at this point (including the 4 counties that were a part of the former organization to serve Bertie County). Mr. Wilson mentioned statements from the State of North Carolina about their desire to reduce the number of LME's, the type of organization Eastern Carolina Behavioral Health represents. He also claimed that the staff for Governor Mike Easley was happy with what they were trying to do.




The next topic on the Agenda was about hunting. Rickie Leggett (shown below), representing landowners on the Roanoke River, asked that Bertie County help get a change in the laws about hunting from boats. As he explained it, the laws are different above and below the bridege over the Roanoke River at Williamston. Downriver from the bridge, hunting is permitted, but upriver from the bridge hunting from a boat is illegal. This group is asking that, for safety reasons, the ban on hunting from a boat which currently applies upriver be extended to apply downriver, including tributaries, as well. The issue will be need to be addressed by a local bill in the State Legislature.




Traci White (shown below), Director of Planning for Bertie County, came before the board to request a six months extension on the moratorium on outdoor advertising untill changes to the law can be finalized. The public hearing to extend the moratorium is scheduled at the 10:00 AM County Commisioner meeting on February 11th.