THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603170067
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
With a new policy that could send 500 kids to summer school this year and a statewide accountability plan that's changing the nature of education, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools administrators have some explaining to do.
New standards for both students and educators already are affecting curriculum and kids' vacation plans, and officials want the community to know what's going on.
It's especially important, they say, for folks to understand the district's new promotion-intervention policy, which sets entrance requirements for the fourth, seventh and ninth grades.
Students who don't meet those requirements by June - and there could be hundreds of them - will have a choice: go to summer school or repeat a grade.
``It's going to be an intensive four-week program in which they can hopefully catch up on grade-level work,'' said Amie Lane, the district's public relations specialist.
``It's a whole new thing. It's really a bold initiative by our school system, and we need to make sure parents are aware this is happening.''
The district has mailed out a ``Parents+Plus'' newsletter outlining the changes. But on Monday, administrators will go even further: They'll take their message to the airwaves with a live cable television call-in show.
``We're doing, basically, a marketing campaign trying to let parents know,'' said Lane, who also is coordinator for Channel 8, the public schools' cable outlet.
``The live broadcast is a chance for parents who have questions to call in and ask those questions. We would like them to watch it in the comfort of their home and call in.''
Superintendent Joe Peel and School Board Chairman Marion Harris will head a panel of about 10 teachers, principals and business people who will help explain the need for higher standards and how students will be affected.
The group will gather in the Sheep-Harney Elementary School auditorium, along with about 20 parents invited to sit in, Lane said. TV cameras will capture the event live, and staff will take calls on three cellular phones.
Although Channel 8 doesn't have the capability to put live calls on the air, questions will be entered on a computer for the panel to answer, Lane said.
``It will be just like `Geraldo,' '' Peel joked last week. ``It'll certainly be an interesting evening.''
The program will be taped and probably re-aired frequently over the next couple of weeks, Lane said. Tapes will also be available for borrowing.
Lane said organizers will be able to cut the program short if no one calls in, but she thinks it's more likely that the forum will run over time.
``I do expect some good discussion,'' Lane said. ``When you get educators up on the stage, they're going to be able to talk.'' by CNB