The following concerns were shared with state legislators to assist them in their representation of the Surry County School District during the upcoming legislative session. The General Assembly convenes on Jan. 28 in Raleigh for both the House and Senate.
Dr. Ashley Hinson, superintendent, and members of the Surry County Board of Education discussed the following local needs:
n Maintaining operational funding for public schools at levels approved by the 2008 General Assembly and increasing that money as necessary to accommodate enrollment growth
n Enacting the state budget before the July 1 start of the fiscal year to enable school districts to plan appropriately for staffing and program delivery for that school year
n Increase funding for school transportation services to reflect fluctuating market rates for diesel fuel and to cover costs for replacing buses and parts
n Increase funding for public school technology personnel, training and equipment upgrades compatible with 21st Century instruction
n Enhance support for workforce readiness skills through Career-Technical Education by basing ADM funding on Grades 6-12 and increasing months of employment for CTE personnel
n Restore the state sales tax refund for public schools or make them exempt
n Provide public schools the $748 million collected from fines and forfeitures from 1996-2005 without supplanting or reducing other public school funding
n Provide additional support for dropout prevention efforts that are sustainable, successful and replicable
n Restoring local flexibility with the school calendar by lifting restrictions that exist on teacher workdays
n Maintaining all current state and local revenue streams designated for public school facilities and increase funding for public school facility construction and renovations
East requested an explanation of the recent mandated reversion of state funds resulting in a $342,000 reversion for the Surry County School System.
Stevens commented that a state concern continues to be the graduation rate. Included among the many strategies in place in the Surry County School District, the Surry Early College was identified as one of the best prevention programs in place. The 236-student high school allows students not only to earn their high school diploma, but also a two-year associate’s degree at the same time based on a five-year high school plan.
East explained that the 2009 Legislative session would be a most difficult one with the budget deficits that await their arrival. However, he pledged his support and plans to introduce a bill that would allow local flexibility with the school calendar.
Following the meeting, three junior students from the Surry Early College took East on a tour of their campus, answered questions and discussed the many opportunities afforded to students through the early college program. These students, Hallie Fields, Allie Pfitzner and Stephanie Niten, are listed on the fall semester Dean’s List at Surry Community College, perhaps the first students of the Surry Early College to do so as juniors in Surry County.
“As members of the Board of Education, it is our responsibility to communicate our concerns and needs to members of the General Assembly,” stated Earlie Coe, board chairman. “We are fortunate to have concerned representation willing to take time and discuss the needs of education.”
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