‘Don’t Close Our Elementary School’

The Halifax Town Council has a message for the Halifax County School Board regarding its plan to close Halifax Elementary School…SLOW DOWN.
After raising an extensive list of concerns, councilmen asked the School Board to delay closing Halifax Elementary School for another year giving the town time to study the effects the school closing would have.
Halifax Council met with county school Superintendent Paul Stapleton during its Thursday work session and four councilmen, Phil Hollis, Allen Stevens, Dick Moore and Jack Dunavant, had an impromptu meeting Friday at the school board office with Deputy School Superintendent Larry Clark to address concerns.
Several councilmen expressed concerns that transforming the facility into something other than an elementary school could have a negative impact on the town.
“If you close Halifax Elementary the only school we can point to is outside of town,” Councilman Charles Parker said to Stapleton Thursday referring to Sinai Elementary, “It looks like a strip mall with a demographic ratio that raises concerns.”
Stapleton countered that there are no major shifts in the demographics from Halifax to Sinai.
Also, Sinai was originally constructed to be an elementary school, whereas Halifax was constructed to be a high school, Stapleton said, making Sinai the better facility to house young students.
Councilman Parker also raised concerns about why students living on River Road were slated to go to the new South Boston school while other students were all being sent to Sinai.
“River Road kids are going to the South Boston schools now,” Stapleton said.
Stapleton also said he met with Halifax Elementary teachers Thursday to answer questions and assure them that they will have positions with the school system next year.
“We will try to honor their requests,” Stapleton said about where the displaced teachers will be assigned.
Parker said the loss of the community schools in Halifax and South Boston would be detrimental to the neighborhoods they serve, particularly Halifax.
“How do you convince outsiders that Halifax is a vibrant community?” Parker asked.
Parker said increased traffic at Sinai, test scores and attention to the children all concerned him with the potential closing of Halifax Elementary.
“This is not an argument about what makes the most economic sense,” Parker said, noting what should be done is what’s best for the children.
Stapleton said the new schools were not primarily an economic decision, but rather a way to offer students the best educational opportunities.
The new, larger facilities offer students things like technology and science labs that could not be put in older, smaller schools, Stapleton said.
Stapleton also said that he is committed to community schools and feels they serve children the best.
Dunavant said Halifax Elementary School hasn’t been a true community school for some time, with kids being bused nearly a half-hour to attend the school.
Parker warned Stapleton and the School Board that closing a community school against the community’s wishes is risky business.
“School Board members need to think about what they believed when they ran,” Parker said, noting most of the Board members were elected following the Virgilina school closing controversy and that superintendent is no longer with the school system either.
Stapleton responded that he looked at the situation as an educator and practically, he said he wasn’t concerned about his job.
Dunavant said the Halifax and Virgilina situations were not analogous.
In Virgilina the school was closed without plans for the facility’s continued use, he said.
Dunavant said he gets the sense from the constituents he’s spoken with that they’re comfortable with the elementary school closing as long as the facility is maintained and put to good use.
While he conceded that the School Board has not formally decided what the facility will be next year, Stapleton said the Board is committed to using and maintaining the building and property.
The facility would be ideal to house the new Law and Leadership Academy, Stapleton said, noting the school’s proximity to the county courthouse, county and town governments and town, county and state law enforcement agencies.
Stapleton also said the facility might house the school system’s popular firefighter and EMT training academies.
There is ample room behind the school for the students to practice with the donated emergency vehicles, whereas now at the STEM Academy on Main Street space is limited, Stapleton told Council.
During the Friday meeting, Moore said that many in the town, including himself, were unaware of the school’s closing and wanted more time for study and discussion before any plans to close the elementary school are finalized.
Thursday, Stapleton said he understood Council’s concerns but added that the closing of the elementary school didn’t have to be a negative for the town.
He said between the STEM Academy and the potential Law and Leadership Academy the town would be able to showcase programs for students that no other small locality in the commonwealth could match.
Moore made the point that since Halifax was not one of the two original schools scheduled to close with the opening of the new South Boston school, keeping it open another year to allow for more review and community input should be feasible.
Following the meeting with Stapleton Thursday, three residents addressed Council to oppose the closing of the elementary school.
Missy Slate, Chris Melvin and Deanne Shaw raised their concerns with Council.
Melvin said the school system and county are favoring South Boston and the southern portion of the county at Halifax’s expense.
“You’re not going to get new residents,” Melvin said. “You’re going to lose growth, tax revenue and new residents. It’s like they’re handpicking.”
Slate agreed and added, “This town does have small children.”
“All the new neighborhoods go to the new school,” Slate said. “While the children here are losing programs.
“Sinai is not equipped for K-2 students,” she added. “If Halifax is not suitable for K-2 how is it suitable for Pre-K students?”
Deanne Shaw, who teaches at Halifax Elementary, said the first time teachers were made aware it (the school closing) was in the paper.
“(School Board member) Joe Bailey said he talked to parents,” Shaw said. “No he did not, I’m a parent and he didn’t talk to me.”
Shaw said a main problem is that so many children who should be attending Halifax are going out of zone.
“We have children in the town that are going out of zone,” Shaw said. “They are too lenient and could be stricter.”
Halifax Council agreed that a representative would raise their concerns to the full School Board at the Board’s monthly meeting tonight at Mary Bethune.
In other business, Halifax Council:
n Is expected to set a public hearing date to receive comments on a proposed “Stoop and Scoop Law” in the town that will require pet owners to clean up messes made by their pets.
n Twelve prospects have been notified about the former Farmer Foods Building and shown new conceptual work, according to Town Manager Carl Espy.
n Put the nomination of Tommy Reagan to the town’s Planning Commission on their Tuesday agenda. Reagan was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Lisa Waller who is moving away from the area.
n Council received an update on the combined health insurance proposal with South Boston and the county. Espy told Council that a presentation and recommendation is expected at the governing body’s joint meeting March 19.
n Espy also provided an update on the joint water/sewer authority’s comprehensive agreement. The governing bodies will receive the first draft of the agreement at their March joint meeting and are expected to schedule a joint public hearing at their next meeting in May.
Halifax Council will meet Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Halifax Town Hall for their March meeting.

Vote Set On Proposed New School Zones

Despite an eleventh-hour effort by members of Halifax Town Council to derail the process, the Halifax County School Board is expected to vote on new district lines for the county’s schools tonight.
Tonight’s meeting will get under way at 7 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
During tonight’s meeting, school officials are also expected to present the School Board with a proposal for pre-K programs in the county’s schools.
According to Stapleton, initial plans call for a pre-K program in each elementary school in the county.
Faced with the proposed closing of Halifax Elementary School, Halifax councilmen challenged the proposal during a caustic meeting with School Superintendent Paul Stapleton Thursday. (See related story)
Following the Halifax meeting, Stapleton and the School Board met for a final work session on the new districts Thursday, a meeting where Stapleton addressed allegations made during Tuesday’s public hearing on the school zones.
“It (Tuesday’s meeting) was a public hearing and as a Board you have a responsibility to let the public get up and talk, but some of the comments made weren’t accurate,” he said. “I couldn’t say that at the time but they weren’t accurate.”
Stapleton said that out of 14 speakers Tuesday, only two parents – “and I listen to parents” – asked the Board to allow their children to attend their current schools.
“There has been lots of confusion about this,” he said. “One, the issue of Reading First, that by moving the faculty and staff to Sinai we would lose that status.
“The only reason Halifax Elementary has reading first is because of Sinai. We had to make a special request to have it. That was one of the teachers who said that.”
Stapleton said allegations that the school lines are being drawn in a manner that skews the racial makeup of the schools and could affect the school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is also incorrect.
“Let me say as superintendent that we’re public education and take every child that comes through the door,” he said. “Black, white, rich, poor, we’re going to educate them all. I strongly object to those comments as your superintendent. The other night (during the public hearing) wasn’t the place to say so, and we listened to them, but that comment bothers me more than any other comment. I resent those remarks.
“We will teach the children,” he emphasized. “We have lots of poor children in our county and they’re not all in one school. Some of the other schools are just as poor socio-economically as Sinai.
“It’s our obligation to do something for those kids and I believe that community schools have to reflect the communities in which they’re located,” Stapleton said. “You can’t change the demographics of the county, but you can keep the schools reflective of the community.”
Another issue Stapleton told the Board was inaccurate is the allegation that Sinai doesn’t have the space to house the additional students.
“Sinai Elementary was built as an elementary school for small children,” he said. “Halifax was built as a high school.
“The thing about moving to Sinai and not having the equipment or what they need, there’s nothing to that,” Stapleton added. “The school is fine. If we need to make any changes at all, it will be very simple for our maintenance department to make them.
“As far as space at Sinai, Sinai has 23 classrooms inside of the building and will house 475 students. You will have 350 students in there if you go with this proposal. Auxiliary things like art, music and P.E., we may have to shift around a little bit, but there will be classroom space for the children.”
Stapleton admitted that Sinai, like Meadville, Wilson Memorial and Turbeville elementary schools, doesn’t have a gym.
According to the superintendent, following Tuesday’s public hearing – at which a representative of Halifax Town Council was present but did not speak – he met with the faculty and staff at Halifax Elementary School.
“We tried to correct their misconceptions about things,” he said. “I told them that if they didn’t want to go to Sinai they don’t have to go, but I got the impression after we talked that they want to go. And I really believe that for the most part the teachers feel good about it after we talked. I don’t believe allof the faculty feels the same way as some of the comments made during the public hearing. No one will lose their job. We will take care of everyone on this.”
Stapleton told the Board that he is pleased with the proposed changes.
“This has been a difficult task and you’ve done something that I don’t believe has been done in 50 years,” he said. “Of course everyone isn’t happy, but I believe you have a reasonable plan on the table.
“The big question is what’s going to happen with out-of-zone requests,” he added. “I was asked and I firmly believe that the people in the western end of the county are very apprehensive that you’re going to take away their schools and those are truly community schools. Halifax Elementary isn’t a community school but those are.
“There’s no doubt that you can do other combinations and there’s no doubt that you could close other schools, but you have to weigh the options and try to do the best you can with what’s out there.
“We’re getting some good things done here,” Stapleton said. “Don’t let small, negative things deter you as a Board. If you compare where you are now with where you were five years ago, you couldn’t ask for more.
“You’re turning the corner,” he added. “We will have an outstanding school system and for the first time, you’re really helping with the economic development of the county.”

Obituaries

Roxie Ann Logan White

Mrs. Roxie Ann Logan White, of Halifax County, died Friday, March 9 in Chase City at the age of 87.
Mrs. White was born in Halifax County on October 2, 1919, the daughter of the late Clabe (Clay) Logan and Mary Bell Haskins Logan. She was married to the late Rev. George James White and was a member of Murphy’s Grove Baptist Church.
She is survived by two granddaughters; Linda Jackson and husband Luther of Halifax and Shirley Kelly of Raleigh, N.C.; two grandsons, Herbert Moore of Florida and Dalfonzo Williams and wife Tawanda of Richmond; five great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mrs. White was preceded in death by one daughter; Hattie Chambers; two sons, Moses Ferrell and Joe Ferrell; three sisters; Viola Dabbs, Josephine Wilson and Martha Womack; and three brothers, James Carden, Willie Logan and Matthew Logan.
A funeral for Mrs. Roxie Ann Logan White will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 13 at Murphy’s Grove Baptist Church. The Rev. Roger Logan will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Luther Jackson, 3010 Dudley Road, Halifax, Va.

Harry A. Jones

Mr. Harry A. Jones, of Albany, N.Y., and formerly of Halifax County, died March 6 in Peekskill, N.Y. at the age of 58.
Mr. Jones was a member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, N.Y. and was a retired machinist with Edna Light Company in Peekskill, N.Y.
He is survived by his wife, Doris Davis Jones; one daughter, Sheila Wagner; three sons, Harry Wagner, Lorenzo Wagner and Nicholas Wagner; the mother of his children Sally Arlene Wagner; one sister, Kathy Radcliff and husband Michael; one granddaughter, Nikivia Wagner and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
Graveside services for Mr. Jones will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14 at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clover.
The family will receive friends at the gravesite Wednesday.

David Earl Garrett Sr

A memorial service for David Earl Garrett Sr. will be held Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the home at 3116 Bradley Creek Road. The family will receive friends at the home this week.
Mr. Garrett, 63, died Friday, March 9, at his home.
He was born in Campbell County on June 11, 1943, a son of the late James Robert Garrett and Lena Daniel Garrett, and was married to Rachel Terry Garrett.
He was a member of the Sharon Methodist Church in Gladys and a member of the Bradley Creek Hunt Club.
A Vietnam veteran, Sgt. David E. Garrett, Specialist E5, was awarded the Army Commendation Medal on January 20, 1969.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Garrett is survived by one son, David E. Garrett Jr. of Williamsburg, and one daughter, Charity Jean Garrett of Nathalie. Also surviving, James Kendal Garrett Sr. of Gladys, one granddaughter, Kendra Joyce Garrett of Nathalie, and seven sisters, Ruby Lamb of Petersburg, Lola Miller of California, Rachel English of Gladys, Louise Mason of Rustburg, Mildred Adkins of Evington, Helen Hall of Rustburg and Mary Cooper of Maryland.
Mr. Garrett was preceded in death by one brother, Bud Garrett, and one nephew, Billy Joe Garrett.