THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 13, 1997 TAG: 9702130323
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 122 lines
A proposed $59.5 million educational facilities package is now in the hands of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, who must decide whether to pass it to voters in a school bond referendum.
The Board of Education gave the package unanimous approval Tuesday, asking county commissioners to put the bond on the ballot for a countywide May referendum.
The commissioners will hold a workshop with finance personnel and Charlotte bond attorney Don Ubell Feb. 21. At that time, commissioners will get an idea of how much the bond will cost taxpayers, County Manager Terry Wheeler said.
A joint workshop involving the commission, school board and bond attorneys is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 25 in Manteo. Both meetings are open to the public.
The bond package approved by the Board of Education included:
A second high school and auditorium north of Oregon Inlet.
New Cape Hatteras Auditorium
New Manteo K-2 school
Property acquisition for future elementary school construction on Hatteras and in Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills and Manteo.
Renovations at Cape Hatteras, Manteo Elementary, Middle and High Schools and First Flight Elementary.
Some $7.2 million in deferred maintenance for existing facilities system-wide.
The school board's vote came more than two hours after another round of impassioned pleas by those favoring a single high school, those who say a new high school is needed on the beach in addition to the Manteo High School, and Hatteras residents who want a separate elementary school.
But the sometimes raucous pleas, punctuated by sign-holding citizens, and boos from both sides, gave way to silence as board members made the case for the bond.
Board Chairwoman Donna Buxton, who has been criticized for her outspoken views on the bond issue, borrowed a quote from the late Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren, to illustrate how explosive the debate over the bond issue has been.
``Chief Justice Warren said `Everything in life I did that was worthwhile, I caught hell for,' '' she said. ``I have caught some hell.''
But Buxton praised the board for its Tuesday vote.
``I really think this board has shown leadership for Dare County,'' she said. ``It's not a perfect package, but we are going to continue to work to ensure that every child gets a quality education.''
Former Chairwoman Virginia Tillett, while expressing concern about the exclusion of a separate elementary school on Hatteras, also voted for the package. She said, however, that she hoped public input gave board members ``food for thought.''
``We don't have all the answers,'' Tillett said. ``My only reason for serving on this board is to serve the students of Dare County. All students.''
Tillett said she was troubled by two facets of the proposal.
``Cape Hatteras Elementary School should be included in the package,'' she said.
Tillett also voiced worries about the curriculum question. She cautioned the board against making promises that time and politics may prevent it from keeping.
``We need to address (the curriculum issue) better than we did. I don't like making promises, because some of us might not be here two years from now. I don't believe we have students who want to be split. Are we doing this for our students, or for ourselves?''
Tillett also clarified the board's position on district lines that would have to be drawn if the bond issue is approved. The line would determine which pupils would attend Manteo High and which would go to the new high school.
``I think we need to keep both high schools as equal as possible,'' she said. ``No line has been drawn.''
In part, the idea of smaller schools was a driving factor in Board Member Fletcher Willey's support for the resolution.
``I believe in small schools, community schools. I believe in schools where there is a greater sense of belonging, and a greater opportunity for leadership and opportunities for excellence. I believe in the long term, this is the only solution.''
Willey also called for the entire county to unite behind the bond.
``We need to come together and help Dare County remain the best comprehensive school system in North Carolina.''
Board Member Allen Burrus, who represents Hatteras Island, supported the bond resolution but had reservations.
``I'm not happy with everything in this bond,'' Burrus said. ``But I'm going to do everything I can to ensure equal curriculum and equal facilities until I fall off Hatteras Island.''
Burrus had one request of his board colleagues: ``Think about Hatteras Island continuously. We need all we can get.''
Board Member Sam Twiford Jr. of Manteo thought of his granddaughter Rachel, who celebrated two months of life on the same day as the resolution vote.
``In four or five years, she will enter Manteo Elementary School,'' Twiford said. ``In 14 years, she will be a student at Manteo High School. This is a necessary step, not just for Rachel but for all the children of Dare County. I know there are people who don't feel this way, but we have to find common ground. Tonight, before I go to bed, I'm going to give thanks that we live in a community that cares so much about education.''
Loretta Michael of Nags Head said the purpose of the bond is to build on an already solid school district.
``We're not trying to maintain,'' Michael said. ``We're trying to upgrade. This has not been an easy process. Our children will be the losers if we don't move forward.''
The newest member of the panel, Susie Walters, believes the package is solid.
``I believe this package is comprehensive,'' she said. ``I support it as is.''
The cost of the priority projects included in the bond is more than $65 million. However, the county will receive $5.88 million from the state, as part of a $1.8 billion bond issue passed by North Carolina voters last November.
County Manager Wheeler said Wednesday that the Feb. 21 meeting will provide more than a look at the increase in taxes the bond package will bring.
``This will inform the commissioners as far as what they can do and what they can't do, as far as changing the bond package,'' Wheeler said.
As far as the impact of the forthcoming property revaluation, Wheeler said any talk concerning its impact would be speculative.
``It's too early to tell,'' Wheeler said. ``The work is still being done. It would not be fair at this point to speculate on what might happen. But in the past when revaluations have occurred, property values generally rise. That leads to a lowering of the tax rate. But until the work is complete, we won't know.''
In a related issue, the Curriculum Task Force held its initial meeting at Manteo High. Some 20 staff and faculty from the district are part of the panel. Assistant Superintendent Ken Wells said citizens from throughout the county will be added to the group.