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P ST Voice The Pender-Topsail
Swinging a hammer The sound of a hammer striking an anvil rings at Poplar Grove Plantation. Read about Autumn, the new blacksmith at Poplar Grove on page 1B.
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End of season Football season came to an end for all three Pender County high schools last Friday night in round one of the playoffs. Read more in sports on page 8A.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Volume 47, No.8
50 Cents
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Commissioners approve funding for Penderlea, Surf City school projects
‘Tis the season
BOC to look at Surf City project expansion at January meeting
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher The Pender County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution giving the Board of Education notice to proceed on the Penderlea School and Surf City projects. The Commissioners approved funding for a new Penderlea School building that will include a new gym and cafeteria. Commissioners also approved funding for the new Surf City K-8 school for 1,213 students. “This has been a time crunch from the very beginning, but I think we are going to have a better product in the long run,� said Commissioner David Williams. The board will revisit the Surf City project in January and consider additional funding to expand the school’s capacity to 1,568. “I’m hoping we can afford the larger building. We have gotten very favorable rates on
Staff photos by Andy Pettigrew,
An excited young admirer talks with Santa at the Surf City Christmas Tree Lighting Nov. 18 in Soundside Park. The Gospel Lites (right) provided a program of Christmas favorites. See more photos of the event on Facebook.
the bonds. We feel compelled to step up. We are going to need a bigger building in Surf City in the future. We can’t over build,� Williams said. “It is going to fill up. And when you build these middle schools, that means the high school is going to fill up. It won’t be long before we have to address high school needs. That is reality.� The Commissioners approved the additional funding from advance of sales tax refunds for school bond projects and from funds available from favorable interest rates on bond sales or otherwise in a total amount of $3,945,364, together with funds remaining from the bond total of $75 million. “I’d like to thank the Pender County Board of Education and the Board of Commisioners for making this happen,� said Pender County Schools Superintendent Dr. Terri Cobb. “These projects are going to greatly benefit our students.�
Learning together State ruling delays final Pender vote canvass Pender schools, UNCW partner at Rocky Point Elementary A federal court ruling affecting state voters casting provisional ballots has delayed the Pender County Board of Elections from certifying the vote on Nov. 18. The county election canvass was scheduled for that day, but a rule dealing with the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and address changes has caused a delay in counting provisional ballots. The court ruling delayed the vote canvass in most counties across the state. The Pender Board of Elections was able to meet Nov. 22 and make the vote official. “We are late because of the DMV. We have a court
order that says if people say they registered at the DMV, the ballots have to count,� said Pender County Elections Director Dennis Boyles. “The investigation wasn’t complete by Friday (Nov. 18). The DMV was investigating to see if these people actually tried to register through them.� In the final days of early voting, a federal court required election officials and the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to create a new review process for certain voters who claim they registered or changed their address at the DMV, even if no record of registration could be found. The State Board acted immediately to create necessary procedures and to print special materials for North Carolina’s 2,700 precincts in the week before Election Day. The order requires counties to approve a provisional ballot if the voter affirms she either registered or changed her address at the DMV, unless DMV can locate a signed form declining voter registration services during a certain period of time. “The votes that should count will be counted, and those that don’t will not,� Boyles said.
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Burgaw Christmas Tree Lighting Nov. 25, 6 p.m. Courthouse Square
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By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
By Miranda Roberts Special to the Post & Voice After the final bell rings, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program begins. At Rocky Point Elementary, teacher interns from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington can be found practicing reading skills with students huddled around tables in classrooms and working with groups of students to solve mathematic equations in hallways. Fifteen teacher interns from the university are participating in a pilot program at Rocky Point Elementary that gives them the opportunity to spend three semesters at the school, working alongside staff as they hone their skills as educators. As part of their training, teacher interns serve as volunteers for the 21st CCLC program, meeting with 48 Rocky Point Elementary students on a twice-weekly basis. The 21st CCLC program provides expanded learning opportunities to eligible students in all of the district’s Title 1 elementary schools.
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It is made possible thanks to a federally-funded grant administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Liz Barber, UNCW adjunct professor who coordinates the pilot program at Rocky Point Elementary with Dr. Heidi Higgins, UNCW Elementary Education Undergraduate Program Coordinator, said through 21st Century interns are able to conduct hyperfocused, engaging lessons and activities with students to promote academic growth. “We try to bring to these children the absolute finest tutoring they could possibly have,â€? Barber said. D r. D aw n M c Ke r n a n , Rocky Point Elementary principal, said Mowers the partnership student teaching, relaPush • Lawninto Tractors • Zero Turn has greatly benefited students tionships continue to grow Trimmers & Chainsaws through building powerful and become very meaningful learning relationships. for both Rocky Point students “We know that relation- and UNCW students.â€? ships are a key to student Teacher interns play an development,â€? Dr. McKernan important role in supporting said. “By hosting courses on initiatives in place at Rocky site at our school, and en- Point Elementary to continue abling tutors to work directly high student growth during with our students, these re- their three semesters at the lationships are cultivated. school, McKer nan added. As this coursework transfers They are familiar with stuinto the field block, and later dents’ academic needs, the
school’s demographics, and Mowers
they understand the school’s mission. In turn, the partnership allows inter ns to receive invaluable experience in a welcoming environment during their induction to the teaching profession. “They all wanted an experience with children in a rural setting,� Barber said.
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