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State support remains at Bertie School
Published Tuesday, February 23, 2010
WINDSOR – The Bertie Early College High School/School of Agri-Science and a proposed regional Agri-Science and Biotechnology school in Washington County are not mutually exclusive.
Tony Habit of the New Schools Project said in a telephone interview Monday that his organization has a five-year agreement to support the Early College High School in Bertie County. He added that support is not affected by a regional school of a similar design near Plymouth.
“We’re partners with Bertie County in two schools,” Habit said. “We’ve partnered with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) School and the Early College High School.”
Habit said the commitment to the Early College High School would not be affected, but that the New Schools Project was working with the North Carolina Board of Education to place a regional school for agri-science and biotechnology at the Vernon James Center.
“The question comes up about the Bertie Early College,” he said. “The question the community is asking is do we want to grow a separate school in Bertie County or do we want to be part of the regional effort based on the campus of the Vernon James Center.
“Those are decisions to be made in Bertie County,” he said. “Those are decisions to be made by the superintendent and board of education. Whatever they decide, the New Schools Project will be supportive, because that’s not our decision.”
Habit did say the New Schools Project believed the Bertie County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Chip Zullinger had much to consider as they weighed their options.
First, he said, is that most of the Early College High Schools in North Carolina were located on the campuses of colleges or universities. He said there were not many colleges or universities in eastern North Carolina, but that the Vernon James Agriculture Research Center provided much of the same opportunity.
“We see the Vernon James Agriculture Research Center, which is connected to North Carolina State University, as a future home of an early college focusing on biotechnology and agriculture,” Habit said. “There are research scientists employed at that location. While it is not a college or university campus, it has some of the same expertise you would find on one.”
Habit also said there was the need for high-quality laboratories necessary to make students successful in an agri-science and biotechnology school.
“The (Bertie) board will have to make those types of decisions,” Habit said. “They will have to consider the relationship with a college or research center and the high quality labs that will be necessary.
“If the goal is how to provide what is best for your students, access to labs at the Vernon James Center might be an important consideration,” he added. “Still, that is a decision for the school board and superintendent.”
Habit did say the New Schools Project will move forward working with the NC School Board to develop a school at the Vernon James Center because it was important to provide an institution that will reach a regional base of students.
As for the current location of the school being outgrown in Bertie County, Habit said that was not an issue for the New Schools Project.
“That is an issue for the (Bertie) school board to decide,” he said. “Longer term, I think the bigger question is if the district can afford high quality labs for students that will allow them to do the research needed in a school of this design.”
Habit said the concern of the New Schools Project was simply to see as many high-quality options for students as possible.
“We want to support the work in Bertie County and we’re continuing to work towards the effort in Washington County at the Vernon James Center,” he said. “One doesn’t mean the other can’t happen.”
Either way, Habit said the citizens of Bertie County should be pleased with the leadership provided by the school board and Dr. Zullinger.
“The community should be proud of what the school board and superintendent have done,” he said. “We see bold leadership with the STEM and Early College.”
The Bertie County Commissioners have officially opposed the Ag School leaving the county and Dr. Zullinger said he believed the majority of the school board would also be in opposition to joining the regional school in Washington County.
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Comments
Posted by BECHS_Parent2 (anonymous) on February 25, 2010 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While the newspaper and others are trying to paint a great picture our children are going to suffer.
People do not understand the benifits of moving the school to Vernon James Center. If this were not a great oppertunity do you think the NC State School Board would be trying to move forward?
Vernon James is a multi million dollar facility which has world renound researchers, lab facilities, test farms, greenhouses which Bertie County will never be able to provide our children.
School Board members are saying we have time but if you read this article you see that NC is moving forward. If we join now all of our children currently in the program are guaranteed a spot. If we wait then we will only be allowed to send a limited number of students.
I have heard some comments that this was a racial issue. Well it is in my opinion, we are depriving our African American children an opportunity to excel in their education. The school is 67% African American. Nearly 95% of the students want to move to the Vernon James Center.
Our County commissioners voted to band this move even before studying the benefits of the move. This decision was done in a secret meeting without the parents knowledge.
After reading John Davis' letter I have to say that is time for a change in our leadership!! If all our leaders are concerned with is re-election then they need to get out!
Our children diverse better!
Posted by anonymousone (anonymous) on February 25, 2010 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"benefits", "opportunity", "ban", "deserve". That's all I'm saying about the matter!!
Posted by BECHS_Student (anonymous) on February 25, 2010 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BECHS_Parent2, My name is Colin White, and I completely agree with you!! The Bertie Board and Bertie County Commissioners are playing politics with my education and they are not caring! These opportunities are a once in a life time chance! For the most part the students are wanting to move but are not even having a say. I feel that we student should at least be taken into consideration by the Bertie Board Members and Bertie County Commissioners when they are making decisions that will affect my future and my education!! I find it frustrating to me that the board is willing to hold me form success! I understand and commend all the Board Members and County Commissioners that helped to build this school. It has greatly affected my life in a positive manner. I am now equipped at the age of 15 to head into college courses and I have been prepared for this days job force. This is all thanks to the Bertie Early College program! But I am at this point so greatly disappointed in our Board and County Commissioners! Please allow us to have another head start in college and the demanding job force allow us to move it is in our best interest!
Posted by Early_College_Kid (anonymous) on February 25, 2010 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My name is Cameron Perry, I attend Bertie Early College, and I want the move to go forward. The facilities at the Vernon James center are much more appropriate for our school. They have seven laboratories for research, and the personal we as students would have access to is unbelievable. The Vernon James Center in Roper also has Green Houses, test plots, and many other invaluable recourse that we would have at hand.
But No one has asked us our opinion. The board is playing politics with me and my fellow classmate’s school. They could care less about our feelings, but instead what will be better for them. The Bertie county school board and county commissioners are playing with our future, not theirs.
They are so concerned about the African American population leaving our school, but in reality I have heard more Caucasian children say they might leave, not the African Americans.
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