Cherokee County Schools legislative breakfast
School board and administrators exchange ideas with legislators
Frank Bradley Sentinel Writer

Small schools funds, changing the school calendar, eliminating the administrative hurtle for getting sales tax refunds for purchases of school materials, the lottery formula and asking for more money to cover increased fuel and transportation costs were some of the topics taken up at last week's legislative breakfast.

State Senator John Snow and State Representative Roger West were on hand to listen and answer questions about how the state can better provide for our schools. Also, representatives from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole attended, having gotten up at 5:30 a.m. to drive to Murphy to attend the 8:30 a.m. breakfast. School board members, principals, administrators and assorted community leaders, including Murphy mayor Bill Hughes and TCCC president Donna Tipton-Rogers attended.

School superintendent Jenette Hedrick welcomed all comers. School board chairman Dave Ackerman got right down to business stating the needs and concerns of the school system and asking the legislators what could be expected for the upcoming school year.

Snow recognized that the loss revenue could result in the loss of 17 teachers in the school system. He spoke passionately about the need for low-wealth school funding. He said there is a one-time proposal to provide help to low-wealth schools . He said that Senator Marc Basanight told him that the situation in his district was much like the one in Cherokee County. However, Snow said a lot of folks don't like giving out for low wealth. "It's still not a done deal," he said.

Snow explained that he has a real fight on his hands, but "we're not going to quit on this funding formula," he said. "It is patently unfair."

Regarding an effort to start school sooner in the year, Snow asked for reasons to support the case. He said there was a possibility that the western part of the state could opt out if we can give the legislature good reason for it. He explained some of the constraints, however explaining that the folks who were supporting low wealth funding were also the folks down in the eastern part of the state who want the school calendar to start late because of the economic factors that affect them regarding tourists and beach recreation. Some of the factors that cause it not to work so well here in the west is because it doesn't match up with our community college schedules.

Regarding high fuel costs, Snow said this year high rise in fuel is putting pressure on us to do things we've never done before. He said it is not just a problem for the schools but for everyone.

A discussion regarding the effort Cherokee County and other counties have mounted to deal with the high dropout rate across the state was also a matter under discussion. It was noted that 25 to 30 percent of the kids today have a high level needs, needs that are not always met within the family. This puts added pressure on teachers to act as mentors and counselors.

Sue Lynn Ledford talked about the program in Cherokee County that has been undertaken to reduce school dropouts. She mentioned the success of identifying some 80 students who had been red-flagged and said with increased attention by school nurses and counselors that had been reduced down to six.

There was also discussion about monies provided the schools in the three counties of Cherokee, Clay and Graham in the amount of $1 million that had helped make schools safer. Senator Dole's representatives seemed especially interested in this.

Ledford said some of the money had been used to purchase reinforced doors, radios and crisis kits for schools, but that the biggest portion of it has gone for personnel. There are eight nurses, two social workers and counselors in each school, she said.