School Board approves five-year plan
Published Thursday, June 4, 2009
JACKSON — The Northampton County Board of Education is moving forward in implementing the reorganization of schools and building a new centralized high school.
On Monday night, board members approved a tentative five-year facility restructuring plan, the changing of school attendance district lines and school names and numbers.
Additionally, the board approved to pay off a 1996 bond, which was used to construct Northampton County High School-West (NCHS-West) and Conway Middle School, as well as an RFP (request for proposals) for architectural services for the construction of a new high school.
With the closure of Rich Square W.S. Creecy Elementary School, the board voted to change school attendance district lines for both Central and Willis Hare Elementary Schools in order to balance the student population between the two facilities.
Beginning for the 2009-2010 school year, the Central Elementary School district will encompass the town of Rich Square and areas south, east and west of the town to the Bertie, Hertford and Halifax County lines.
To the northeast of Rich Square the district line skirts around the communities of George, Woodland and Potecasi and split the town of Lasker (the western/south portion of the town is included in this district).
The northern portion of the Central Elementary district will include the communities of Jackson, Seaboard, Gumberry and those areas north to the Virginia state line.
As for the Willis Hare Elementary School District, to the south the communities of George, Woodland and Potecasi are included.
The eastern portion of Lasker is included along with Creeksville, Conway, Pendleton and Severn.
The district line goes as far west as Faison’s Old Tavern and boarders the state line to the north and the Hertford County line to the east.
The incorporation of the Garysburg Elementary School attendance district was incorporated into the Squire and Gaston Elementary area.
Also agreed on by the board was the removal of school numbers for Rich Square W.S. Creecy Elementary School and Garysburg Elementary School. A name change was in order for Gaston Middle School to Gaston Elementary School as well.
Board member Erica Smith-Ingram gave the only objection to the motion to approve the number and name changes.
The board was also presented a facility restructure plan.
“This plan is flexible,” said Assistant Superintendent Phil Matthews to the board about the restructure plan. “It can be, and perhaps should be, revisited from time to time and adjusted as elements affecting the school system’s operation change over time.”
The first phase of the plan has already been completed with the downsizing of facilities and reducing operating costs.
The five-year restructuring plan lists plans to consolidate the school district even more with the construction of a new centrally located high school by 2012, contingent upon a Bond referendum passing or stimulus funds becoming available.
The objective for the school system by July 1, 2010-June 30, 2012 is to close Northampton County High School-East and Squire Elementary School (former Gaston Middle would serve grades Pre-K-4); utilized the NCHS-West facility for grades 5-8 and open a new county wide high school.
The plan also lists procedures for the next phase of restructuring (to begin by 2013) to initiate design, bond and marketing for a new eastern elementary school to house what is Willis Hare and W.S. Creecy Elementary Schools and/or investigate the need for a system wide middle school.
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