Showing posts in the “education” category
Samiha Khanna ·
26 Feb 2010, 3:57 PM ·
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Several local politicos waited until the last minute to throw their names into the hat in Durham’s local and state elections. Candidates had until noon today to declare their intentions to run.
Several previously uncontested races now boast challengers, and in three offices—Durham District Attorney, Clerk of Court and N.C. House District 29—incumbent Democrats Tracey Cline, Archie Smith and Rep. Larry Hall face no challengers.
The rundown of today’s filings:
- Republican Laney Funderburk, of Glenmore Drive, has filed for N.C. Senate District 20, challenging incumbent Democrat Sen. Floyd McKissick. Funderburk ran for Durham City Council in 2007.
- Republican Patricia Ladd of Shaw Road has filed against incumbent Democrat Rep. H.M. Mickey Michaux.
- Republican Larry Yarbrough of Duck Pointe Drive in Roxboro has filed for N.C. House District 55, facing incumbent Democrat Rep. Winkie Wilkins. Two other Democrats are also vying for Wilkins’ seat.
- Democrat Tony Butler of North Willowhaven Drive will face incumbent Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill in a Democratic primary. Roy Taylor, a Republican, also has filed for this office.
- In the Durham school board election, Regina Stanley-King of Wayne Circle has entered the race against Pastor Fredrick Davis for the District 2 seat. Stanley-King first ran for office in 2005, in an unsuccessful bid against veteran Howard Clement for a City Council seat.
For the full list, visit the Durham Board of Elections Web site.
Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, education, news, politics 2010 elections, Archie Smith, Durham Board of Elections, Durham City Council, Durham County Sheriff, Durham politics, Durham school board, Howard Clement, Laney Funderburk, N.C. House, N.C. legislature, NC Senate, Pastor Fredrick Davis, Patricia Ladd, Regina Stanley-King, Rep. Larry Hall, Rep. Mickey Michaux, Rep. Winkie Wilkins, Sen. Floyd McKissick, Tony Butler, Tracey Cline, Worth Hill
Joe Schwartz ·
25 Feb 2010, 4:25 PM ·
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Members of the NAACP stood on the front lawn of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools administration building Thursday morning, calling a plan to add new honors courses a harbinger of resegregation.
“We will not stand for the resegregation of our schools,” Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Chapter President Michelle Cotton Laws said, standing behind a banner reading “the struggle continues” and flanked by parents and activists both black and white. “Separate is not equal.”
Earlier this month the school board voted to add six honors courses in science and social studies, following four meetings and a public hearing.
The vote split 4-3, with the three black members opposed. The NAACP says adding honors courses without first addressing the achievement gap that cuts along race and class lines only heightens the disparity in local classrooms.
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Carrboro, Chapel Hill, education achievement gap, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, honors classes, Michelle Cotton Laws, Mike Kelley, NAACP
Samiha Khanna ·
22 Feb 2010, 8:29 PM ·
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Michael Page, chairman of the Durham Board of County Commissioners, summarized the past year’s accomplishments in his State of the County address Monday night. In his 30-minute speech, Page focused on the progress the county has made on new buildings and other capital projects, such as the opening of the Holton Career and Resource Center and the construction of the county’s Human Services Complex downtown, which will include a new courthouse.
Page also lauded several county departments for winning recognition from professional organizations, and pointed to the county’s new efforts to improve information and communication to the public, including the use of social media platforms Twitter and Facebook.
Page mentioned only briefly some challenges the county has faced in the past year due reduced tax revenue and budget cuts, but pointed out that the county didn’t have to raise taxes or cut any jobs. He also touched on the budget gap the county will face when it begins considering the 2011-12 budget in the coming weeks.
“Until a full recovery is evident, we will do everything in our power to continue to deliver the services most critical to our residents,” Page said. “Know that we will tighten our belts, we will roll up our sleeves and we will work to provide the best service level possible for our citizens. … At the end of the day, I remain confident that we will stay true to the mission and to the values that keep Durham County a wonderful place to work and a wonderful place to live and a wonderful place to do business.”
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Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, economy, education, environment, labor, news, politics Durham Board of County Commissioners, Durham County Library, economy, jobs, Michael Page, social services
Joe Schwartz ·
17 Feb 2010, 12:14 PM ·
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Durham’s El Centro Hispano plans to open its Orange County branch on April 1 in Carrboro Plaza, though they are yet to secure a lease, leaders said in both Spanish and English at the Seymour Center on Tuesday.
The group hopes to bring financial stability, consistent leadership and a successful service and funding model to Carrboro after El Centro Latino closed in November, leaving a hole in translation, job finding, after school and legal services for Spanish speakers.
“There are no guarantees. We are out on a limb,” El Centro Hispano Board Chairwoman Susan Denman said. “It’s because we support what Carrboro and Chapel Hill have been doing, and we have faith in the foundation the board has laid.”
More than 100 community members, some former volunteers or members of churches that supported El Centro Latino, attended the meeting during which El Centro Hispano outlined its plans for Orange County and pinned for support.
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Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, Durham County, Orange County, education Carrboro Plaza, El Centro Hispano, El Centro Latino, Latino Community Credit Union, Seymour Center, Susan Denman
Joe Schwartz ·
8 Feb 2010, 11:55 AM ·
2 Comments
Carlo Robustelli, former aide to Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, has been named director of Orange County operations for Durham Technical Community College.
We profiled a Robustelli in December, when he concluded two and a half years in the Chapel Hill mayor’s office as Foy opted against running for re-election.
Robustelli, who took classes at Durham Tech and transferred the credits to UNC, now is charged with running student services, recruitment and overseeing daily operations for the Orange County campus.
“I am delighted that Carlo Robustelli has joined us,” Durham Tech President Bill Ingram said in a press release. “He is uniquely qualified to help us strengthen and sustain Durham Tech’s programs and services in Orange County.”
Chapel Hill, Durham, Orange County, education Bill Ingram, Carlo Robustelli, Durham Technical Community College, Kevin Foy
Joe Schwartz ·
22 Jan 2010, 3:02 PM ·
2 Comments
Clarification (10:12 p.m. Friday): As UNC School of Law student Jonathan Jones commented below, Larry Flynt’s speech is free and open to the public, but a ticket is required. The Great Hall of the UNC Student Union only holds 500 people, so you’ll need a free ticket to reserve a space. The prices noted below apply to the second day of the symposium, which includes three panel discussions and runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. February 19.
Larry Flynt will come to UNC next month to deliver a speech on sexually explicit language and material.
The controversial pornography maven and founder of Hustler is the keynote speaker for the UNC’s First Amendment Law Review Symposium, the eighth annual event put on by the student organization and journal.
“When you talk about the First Amendment, and you talk about controversy, one person comes to mind, and it’s Larry Flynt,” said Symposium Editor David Wicclair, a third-year law student from Pittsburgh.
Flynt will speak at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Great Hall of the UNC Student Union. Tickets are $20 for the general public, $10 for senior citizens and students from other institutions. UNC students, faculty and staff can get in for free. They go on sale Feb. 1 at the Student Union Box Office.
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Chapel Hill, Orange County, education, media First Amendment Law Review Symposium, Hustler, Jerry Falwell, Larry Flynt, pornography, UNC
Rebekah Cowell ·
21 Jan 2010, 4:47 PM ·
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The Chatham County as the Board of Education could appoint a replacement as early as Monday for former District 4 school board member Col. Gerald Totten, who died unexpectedly Dec. 2, 2009.
A hearing will be held Monday, Jan. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at which the school board will consider the five applications they have received thus far. Applications must be received at the Central Office, 360 West St., by Friday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. Applications may also be e-mailed to Sheila Talley, stalley@chatham.k12.nc.us.
Five people have applied for the post:
- Jonathan E. Hart, who works in I.T. at the N.C. State Employee Credit Union in Raleigh;
- Carlos Simpson, who did not include a resume;
- Gary L. Leonard a sixth-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Chatham Charter School;
- Mary B. Harris who is retired after 34 years of teaching in Chatham County schools;
- Trudy Paschal Walters, also a retired school teacher with more than 30 years in the school system.
Update: Just before the Friday deadline, Stephen Douglas Burke, an accountant with the N.C. Department of Transportation, filed his application.
The school board will hold a special hearing Monday, Jan. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at which the school board will consider the six applications, and make their final decision.
Chatham County has four school board districts with five seats. Deb McManus, board chair is the other District 4 representative, which includes Siler City. The new board member will be sworn in Feb. 15.
Read their applications.
Chatham County, education appointments, Carlos Simpson, Chatham County Board of Education, Gary Leonard, Gerald Totten, Jonathan Hart, Mary Harris, Stephen Burke, Trudy Walters
Rebekah Cowell ·
15 Jan 2010, 9:05 AM ·
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Chatham County Commissioners are considering adding a fifth school district representative to the
Chatham County Board of Education. Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposal Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. in the Superior Courtroom in the Historic Courthouse, 12 East St., Pittsboro.
Currently, the Board of Education has five members in four districts. Two school board members are elected from District Four.
The district map shows the population disparity:
As announced in a press release:
“The Chatham Board of Commissioners is considering a unanimous request by the Chatham Board of Education to redraw the current four Board of Education Districts to be identical to the five Board of Commissioner election districts.
“After the 2010 U.S. Census, all the districts will need to be redrawn. It will be more efficient and more transparent if the Board of Education districts and the Board of Commissioner Districts are the same,” said Sally Kost, chairwoman of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. “The Board of Education has asked us to consider this request, and we would like to hear from Chatham County citizens as to whether they think this is a good idea.”
Chatham County, education, news 2010 U.S. Census, Chatham County Board of Education, Chatham County Commissioners, fifth school district representative
Joe Schwartz ·
4 Jan 2010, 2:45 PM ·
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Danny Glover of Lethal Weapon and Angels in the Outfield fame is the keynote speaker for UNC’s 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, UNC officials announced today.
Glover’s speech highlights the weeklong event, which runs from Jan. 17 to Jan. 22. The talk is free and open to the public and is set for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at Memorial Hall. You will need a ticket, however. Students with UNC IDs get the first crack at them beginning Jan. 12. Everyone else can get two tickets starting Jan. 14 at the Memorial Hall box office.
Glover will address how King inspired him to use his celebrity platform fight for causes like health care and education.
More information on the speech and the entire slate of events can be found here.
Chapel Hill, education, film Danny Glover, MLK week, UNC
Joe Schwartz ·
25 Nov 2009, 12:40 PM ·
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Orange County’s main library will close its doors Dec. 13 to make way for a new $8.1 million facility that will open Jan. 8.
The new 23,500-square-foot building at 137 W. Margaret Lane in Hillsborough will be 10,000 square feet larger than the current space and will feature two floors with added amenities including a teen room and a meeting space for 100 people with a kitchen area.
“The library has actually outgrown its facility here. We’re in an old school building, as a matter of fact,” said Lucinda Munger, Orange County library director. “This is the first building that has actually been built as a library for the Orange County Public Library system.”
The current library has been housed at the Whitted Building on West Tryon Street for 29 years.
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Orange County, education Carrboro Board of Aldermen, Chapel Hill Town Council, Hillsborough, Hillsborough Town Board of Commissioners, Lucinda Munger, Orange County Board of Commissioners, Orange County library
