Residents unite for schools - Gina Childress | Times Staff Writer
About 55 concerned citizens, parents and educators gathered at Vick Elementary Saturday afternoon in an effort to band 
together and have “one voice.”
The Rev. Robert N. Andrews II, the president of John W. Jones Elementary School PTO has called for the creation of a Wilson County Joint PTO/PTA Board.
The purpose of the board is to encourage all of the parents, teachers, businesses and students to come together to ensure quality education for students.
One of the leading issues facing Wilson County Schools and other school systems across the state is the impending budget cuts.
During the meeting concerns were expressed and information was presented as to how the proposed budget cuts could affect Wilson.
Andrews said work needs to be done collectively and independently in an attempt to decrease the blow the budget cuts will have.
“We have drafted a letter we would like for people to send to our elected officials asking that the cuts be as minimal as possible,” Andrews said. “When you decrease the investment in the education system, it affects every part of the community, not just students.”
He explained when a new business or industry considers Wilson as a possible location to open a facility, one of the main issues they review is the education system. He said that gives them an indication as to what type of employees they may have.
“We have to be able to compete not only on a local level, state level or national level — but we need to be able to compete on a global level. You cannot take away the equipment of today and expect to see tomorrow.”
Romona Hardy has two students in Wilson public schools — a fifth-grader and 10th-grader. She said one of the concerns she has is that resources are not distributed equally between various schools. She also said she believes charter schools receive too much money.
“I don’t understand it. I don’t understand how it is all split (up),” she said. “The charter schools get too much. It should all be equal.”
Hardy talked about a student in the meeting who told how her grades suffered when she moved from one school to another school. The student said she was making really good grades at one school and was supplied with all of the learning materials. However, when she began attending another school, she didn’t have a textbook to refer to and study and her grades dropped.
Hardy said she believes that instead of starting at the bottom making cuts, officials should start at the top.
“I think a lot of cuts (in funding) should come from the central office,” she said.
Jean Isom works in the school system as a teacher’s assistant and said she attended Saturday’s meeting in an effort to learn all she could about the impending cuts.
“I don’t even know if I’m going to have a job next year,” she said.
Isom agreed with Hardy about her concern of making sure all resources were shared among the schools equally.
Andrews said he hopes all citizens will get involved in the meetings.
“These cuts will not only effect the students and their education, but it will also have an impact on the economy in our community with the loss of jobs,” he said.
Even though Andrews said he has support from Superintendent Larry Price, Marth Vick with Wilson Education Partnership, Wilson Chamber of Commerce, principals at all 25 schools, he still would like to see elected officials, business owners and students become involved in the group.
“We need those that were voted in office to hear our ‘one collective voice,’” he said. “We simply cannot sit back and be quiet. It is our responsibility to transform the situation.”
Over the next couple of weeks, Andrews plans to hold “Town Hall Meetings” at each of the remaining schools and said he is looking forward to having more parents, teachers and business people becoming involved in the future of the children.
gina@wilsontimes.com | 265-7821
together and have “one voice.” The Rev. Robert N. Andrews II, the president of John W. Jones Elementary School PTO has called for the creation of a Wilson County Joint PTO/PTA Board.
The purpose of the board is to encourage all of the parents, teachers, businesses and students to come together to ensure quality education for students.
One of the leading issues facing Wilson County Schools and other school systems across the state is the impending budget cuts.
During the meeting concerns were expressed and information was presented as to how the proposed budget cuts could affect Wilson.
Andrews said work needs to be done collectively and independently in an attempt to decrease the blow the budget cuts will have.
“We have drafted a letter we would like for people to send to our elected officials asking that the cuts be as minimal as possible,” Andrews said. “When you decrease the investment in the education system, it affects every part of the community, not just students.”
He explained when a new business or industry considers Wilson as a possible location to open a facility, one of the main issues they review is the education system. He said that gives them an indication as to what type of employees they may have.
“We have to be able to compete not only on a local level, state level or national level — but we need to be able to compete on a global level. You cannot take away the equipment of today and expect to see tomorrow.”
| The next "Town Hall Meeting" will be held Wednesday, 6 p.m., at Jones Elementary School. For more information on when and where more meetings will be held, please check the Wilson County Schools Web Site at www.wilson.k12.nc.us and look for "The Advocacy Corner." |
“I don’t understand it. I don’t understand how it is all split (up),” she said. “The charter schools get too much. It should all be equal.”
Hardy talked about a student in the meeting who told how her grades suffered when she moved from one school to another school. The student said she was making really good grades at one school and was supplied with all of the learning materials. However, when she began attending another school, she didn’t have a textbook to refer to and study and her grades dropped.
Hardy said she believes that instead of starting at the bottom making cuts, officials should start at the top.
“I think a lot of cuts (in funding) should come from the central office,” she said.
Jean Isom works in the school system as a teacher’s assistant and said she attended Saturday’s meeting in an effort to learn all she could about the impending cuts.
“I don’t even know if I’m going to have a job next year,” she said.
Isom agreed with Hardy about her concern of making sure all resources were shared among the schools equally.
Andrews said he hopes all citizens will get involved in the meetings.
“These cuts will not only effect the students and their education, but it will also have an impact on the economy in our community with the loss of jobs,” he said.
Even though Andrews said he has support from Superintendent Larry Price, Marth Vick with Wilson Education Partnership, Wilson Chamber of Commerce, principals at all 25 schools, he still would like to see elected officials, business owners and students become involved in the group.
“We need those that were voted in office to hear our ‘one collective voice,’” he said. “We simply cannot sit back and be quiet. It is our responsibility to transform the situation.”
Over the next couple of weeks, Andrews plans to hold “Town Hall Meetings” at each of the remaining schools and said he is looking forward to having more parents, teachers and business people becoming involved in the future of the children.
gina@wilsontimes.com | 265-7821
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