Close Schools, Cut Personnel, Or Cut Programs

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Local funding, or lack thereof, has become the key issue for the proposed $62,884,101 school budget for 2007-2008.
Stapleton said that the proposed budget, approved by trustees following a public hearing last week, has been turned over to Halifax County Administrator Bryan Foster and the Board of Supervisors for their consideration.
The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the School Board budget on Monday, following a joint meeting, and Stapleton reminded trustees that Foster’s recommended budget includes no increase in local funding for the school system.
“The County Administrator submitted his proposed budget and recommended no new local monies,” said Stapleton, noting that trustees will get an indication of what to expect following the public hearing.
Stapleton added that staff will then consider its options in balancing the budget, but noted there would be no easy decisions.
“The only things we can do are close schools, cut personnel or cut programs,” he said.
The proposed school budget includes a 9.57 percent increase in local funding over last year.
The school system is asking for $14,236,432 in local funding for the 2007-2008 budget, compared to $12,992,430 for the current fiscal year.
The proposed school budget has also been impacted by a large reduction in state funding, a three percent raise for school personnel, the rise in health insurance contributions from the school board and the increase in mandatory payments into the Virginia Retirement System.
During a public hearing on the proposed budget last week, Chief Financial Officer Bill Covington said that although the school system will get some new money from the state for 2007-2008, when all is said and done, that money amounts to approximately $700,000.
State funding accounted for approximately $2.5 million for the current budget, he added, noting that staff did everything they could in expenditures to “hold the line.”
Student Code Of Conduct Adopted
The Halifax County Public Schools Code Of Student Conduct for 2007-2008 was unanimously adopted at Monday’s School Board meeting.
The most notable changes in the Code of Conduct concern corrective actions for threats or intimidation against school personnel, with “police notified in cases of threats against school personnel.”
Corrective actions for assault/battery and fighting at the elementary school level now require that “police must be notified when there is injury or battery against school personnel.”
Secondary corrective actions for assault/battery and fighting now require that “police must be notified when there is injury or battery against school personnel.”
Corrective actions for gambling have dispositions assigned at the principal’s discretion from a list of corrective actions.
Elementary corrective actions for theft include possible notification of police “in some instances,” while secondary corrective actions for theft, currently out of school suspension, now include the possibility of a recommendation for long-term suspension.
Other changes involve corrective actions available to the school administration for violations of the Code of Student Conduct.
Those included recommended evaluation for alcohol or drug abuse and recommended participation in a drug, alcohol or violence intervention, prevention or treatment program.
Trustee Steve Anderson, a member of the committee studying revisions to cell phone policy in the Code of Conduct, advised his fellow trustees that this committee may recommend changes in that policy prior to the next school year.
Bookbag/Homework
Committee Report
A committee including trustees Kelly Hill, Joe Bailey and Sandra Rister was formed in response to an issue raised by parents concerning the amount of homework given students and the resulting heavy weight of bookbags.
The committee considered two possible solutions, including purchasing an extra classroom set of books to lighten the load of bookbags, but found the estimated cost of such a solution - $1.2 million - was prohibitive.
Another possibility studied by the committee included obtaining E-books for the student population and teachers, but the committee found that some editions did not have that capability.
In addition, computers are not accessible to every household, the committee reported, recommending a copy of the current guidelines be placed in the Code of Conduct booklet which is kept in each student’s household.
They recommended that a joint effort between school administration, faculty and parents should be in place to adjust and refine guidelines when problems occur.

South Boston Names Three To
Public Service Authority Board

South Boston Council named R.O. “Rick” Harrell, Fred Mistal and Coleman Speece as its representatives to the Halifax County Service Authority following an executive session Monday night.
The PSA is expected to take over operation of the combined county, Town of Halifax and South Boston water/sewer systems next year.
A joint county, Town of Halifax and South Boston meeting set Monday at 6 p.m. at Mary Bethune Complex is expected to approve the nominations to the committee. A joint public hearing is scheduled.
The county has one representative, the Town of Halifax, two, and South Boston has three. A seventh member will be appointed by the original six appointees and confirmed by the governing bodies.
Harrell was named to fill a three-year term, Mistal, a two-year term, and Councilman Coleman Speece, a four-year term.
South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel said yesterday that town staff will conduct informational sessions for citizens on the Halifax County Service Authority at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday at Town Council Chamber, 502 Yancey Street.
In other business, Council unanimously approved a resolution approving enhanced retirement benefits — 1.85 percent multiplier — for public safety employees, which Daniel said is incorporated in the current budget proposal, and received the Finance Committee recommendation for a 2.5 percent salary increase for town employees increasing an earlier 2 percent town staff recommendation.
“This will benefit law enforcement and firefighters tremendously,” said Daniel of the enhanced retirement benefits. Effective July 1, the multiplier will increase from its current 1.7 percent rate.
The one-half percent increase in employee salary will translate into an estimated $30,000 overall increase, according to town officials.
Council also approved $4,000 for the YMCA program, which was not included in the initial budget proposal.
The employee salary increase and Y contribution leave an estimated $100,848 in the budget contingency fund, according to town officials. The town’s proposed $7,353,986 budget carries no real estate or personal property tax rate increases.
Council will hold the first public hearing on the budget June, and the second reading on June 25 prior to its adoption.
During the Monday night Council session, Mayor Carroll Thackston signed a proclamation recognizing May as Older Virginians Month, and Mark R. Wilkerson, Superintendent of Water in the town, accepted a Virginia Department of Health “Excellence in Waterworks Performance” award for achieving the state’s Optimization Program goals for clarification and filtration.

 

Obituaries

Prosie Conner Armistead
Prosie Conner Armistead, 77, of 1119 Ponderosa Road, South Boston died May 15, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Armistead was born in Halifax County on July 1, 1929, the daughter of Frank Lucas Conner and Eunice Edna McKinney Conner, and was married to the late Charlie W. Armistead. She was a member of the Church of God.
Survivors include two sons, Charles W. ‘Sonny’ Armistead and wife, Jackie, of Halifax and Kenneth R. Armistead of Lewisville, N.C.; four grandchildren, Jenny and Justin Armistead, both of Halifax, and Scott and Christopher Armistead, both of Lewisville; and two sisters, Anna Loyd and Maggie Overby, both of South Boston.
A funeral for Mrs. Armistead will be held tomorrow, May 17, at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Vance Midgett officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends this evening, May 16, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home and other times at her home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, 24592.

 

Ramage New HCHS Boys Hoops Coach

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Lynn Ramage has a good track record of turning around NCAA Division II and Division III college basketball programs.
This year, the Greensboro, N.C. resident will have the opportunity to turn around the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball program.
Ramage, who served as an assistant junior varsity boys basketball coach the second half of last season and is a teacher in the high school’s in-school suspension program, was named yesterday as the school’s new varsity boys basketball coach.
The 49-year-old educator replaces Ron Parson who was dismissed from the post at the end of last season.
Ramage has a tough assignment ahead of him.
Last year’s Comets varsity team finished with a 6-16 overall mark, failed to win a Western Valley District game during the season and finished the season with 11 consecutive losses. While a lot of work will be needed to get the program turned around, Ramage says he feels no pressure.
“I’m excited, but there is no pressure,” Ramage said.
“We have no way to go but up. I’ve always been positive about everything I have done. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could win. It’s not going to be overnight, but there is something here that I like.”
Ramage said no decision has been made regarding assistant coaches for next season.
“I think we have to evaluate what we have here now and go from there,” he said.
“It’s too early to talk about that right now. I’m looking for somebody that is going to be ready to work. We’re looking for people that understand the commitment that is going to be needed to make this program successful.”
Halifax County High School Principal Albert Randolph said he is pleased to have Ramage, who has 20-plus years of collegiate coaching experience taking over the reigns of the varsity basketball team.
“Mr. Ramage will bring several strengths to the Halifax County High School basketball program,” Randolph said.
“His knowledge of the game, experience and the ability to teach basketball fundamentals are several of his strengths. He will also bring discipline on and off the basketball court. Mr. Ramage challenges students to be involved in the program both during the season and the off-season. He also looks forward to working with the students at Halifax County High School and challenging students to improve academically.”
The new Comets coach is a former head coach of the Greensboro College team, which in 2003-04, posted the school’s best conference record in 19 years and best finish in conference play in10 years.
He was also named coach of the year twice, once while coaching at Connecticut College in New London, Conn. and once while coaching at East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg. Penn.
Ramage was an athlete at E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg and went on to earn First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-America honors as a member of the Frederick Community College (Frederick, Md.) men’s varsity basketball team.
One of the big things at Halifax County High School, Ramage said, is that the school has good athletes.
“One of the things that has not lacked at Halifax County over the years is athleticism,” he pointed out.
“One of the things you have to do is find a way to use that to your advantage.”
Ramage.
The new Comets basketball coach says one of the biggest things a coach has to do is get the students to buy into the program and what he is trying to do and build.
“The hardest part of rebuilding is selling yourself every day to the kids,” he remarked.
“I’ve been here since January, so the kids are familiar with me. I’ve done some after-school stuff with them and they know what to expect. Kids have to buy into your system. They have to believe in what you’re telling them. If the believe you, that’s half the battle right there.
“I think they like me,” he added.
“I can live without being liked, but I would love to be respected.”
As far as basketball goes, Ramage says he like to have his teams play tough pressure defense.
“I love pressure (defense),” Ramage said.
“No pressure no play. I don’t know exactly the knowledge we have defensively. I want to try to get in a basic man-to-man defense in this year and build upon that. From a team standpoint, we’ve got to be able to stop somebody.”
As far as offense goes, Ramage says he likes a motion offense.
“We want to run motion,” he said.
“I think we have some guys that can really shoot the ball and we’ve got to put them in position to do it. You’ve got to put people in position to do their strengths.”
Ramage also said there is a need to develop a half-court offensive scheme as well.
“We’d love to score in transition off of defensive steals,” Ramage said.
“That’s the easiest way to score. If we run into a team that wants to take the air out because there is no shot clock, we want to be able to execute at half-court. The key (in a half-court offense) is patience, poise and understanding time and the clock at all times.”
Ramage said there are several areas in which the players need work and that he plans to address those facets f the game.
“I think role identification is huge in any type of basketball,” he pointed out.
“You can’t have an “it’s my turn” offense. You have to understand what your role is. You explain it to each player and they act upon that.”
Ramage said he is big on discipline on and off the court, expects his players to be involved in the team concept and encourages academic achievement.
“They (the players) need to learn how to compete day in and day out,” Ramage pointed out.
“I always said the hardest part of basketball was not playing the game but getting to it. They need to learn how to get to the game – that means they carry themselves well on the court and off the court. Accountability for what you do, not just on Friday nights, is very important.”

Clash Of The Titans

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Thursday’s Halifax County-Franklin County softball showdown could be termed the irresistible force versus the immovable object.
The Comets, much like last year, find themselves in a must-win situation against the Eagles, needing a win here Thursday to force a playoff game for first-place in the regular season district standings.
There is extra incentive for the Comets to win both Friday’s contest and the ensuing playoff game.
The regular season district champion is awarded the top seed for the Western Valley District and home field advantage for the first round of the Northwest Regional Tournament.
Halifax collected three relatively easy district wins last week to prepare for Thursday’s game, all by 16-0 margins.
Looking at those results, Comets coach Melanie Saunders thinks the team is where it needs to be at this point of the season.
“We’ve been talking about getting back to Franklin County, but only by taking one game at a time,” explained Saunders.
Halifax played three games in four days last week, and Saunders added that the team was prepared both mentally and physically to meet that challenge.
“We’ve seen different pitchers and anytime you see live pitching, that’s better than practice.
“We got a chance to work the girls with the bats and put them in different places, defensively.”
Saunders expects the same type of game against the Eagles that occurred in the team’s first meeting, a 1-0 Franklin County win at Rocky Mount on May 1.
“It will be a tough ball game. We’re tit-for-tat right now and both teams will go after it,” noted Saunders.
“They’re a good ball team with a good pitcher who works the plate, and they have hitters throughout their lineup,” she said, adding that you can’t automatically assume an out once you reach the bottom part of the Franklin County lineup.
“We’re concerned about the game as a whole, but we’re a good team as well. Neither team made any errors the last game, both pitchers did well and it came down to one hit at the right time.
“That’s what I expect to happen here, and it isn’t a new situation. We’ve had this rivalry for several years and it’s simply two good clubs going after it.”
The past two games have given the Comets an opportunity to work on their hitting strokes at the plate, and varying the way they swing at pitches.
“We’ve been working with going with the pitch and not having the same swing with every pitch,” said Saunders.
“The last two games have given us an opportunity to work on that and I think we’ve accomplished it.”
Does the softball rivalry between Halifax County and Franklin County approach the baseball and football rivalries between the Comets and GW Eagles in intensity and anticipation?
Only time will tell, according to Saunders, who says the other district teams may have something to say about that.
“I don’t see it changing anytime soon, but the other teams are coming around as well,” she noted.
“Patrick Henry has a freshman pitcher on the varsity and an eighth-grade pitcher on the jayvee team who’s also looking good.
“So, I see this rivalry continuing, but I also look for some others to step into it.”

Comets Face FC In Pivotal Game

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
With no hope of winning the Western Valley District championship remaining, the Halifax County High School varsity baseball team will be playing for a secondary goal when it faces Franklin County High School here Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Comets Field.
The Comets (11-7 overall, 4-3 district) will need a win over Franklin County in Thursday night’s Senior Night game to grab second place in the standings and a home game in Tuesday’s Western Valley District Tournament semifinals.
Should the Comets lose, they would be tied with Franklin County for second place with the position to be decided by various tie-breaking criteria and, or a coin toss.
For the Comets, getting to the district tournament championship game is must if they are to advance to the Northwest Region Tournament as the district’s second seed. Regular-season champion GW has already locked up the district’s top seed and a first-round home game for the Northwest Region Tournament.
However, before they can get to that point, the Comets have to take care of business here Thursday night.
“Franklin County is a heck of a ballclub,” said Comets coach Kelvin Davis.
“We know each time we play them it is going to be a hack of a ballgame.”
The Comets and Franklin County have already played one barnburner of a game with the Comets edging the Eagles by a run in Rocky Mount. Despite that being the case, Davis said he and his team are not feeling a great deal of pressure.
“I really don’t think there is a lot of pressure to it,” Davis said.
“Our objective when we started the season was to try and win the regular season championship and we didn’t do that. Now, we’re fighting for second place. We feel real good about this. Hopefully, we can come out and play good baseball that night.”
Davis says the fact that his team has already beaten Franklin County in Rocky Mount is a good psychological lift for his team.
“It’s big in one sense,” Davis said.
“But, in another, it means nothing. Each day and each ballgame is different. You’ve got to play each and every night. You’ve got to bring it every night and that is what I hope our guys will do Thursday night.”
One of the keys to his team’s success, Davis pointed out, will be how well his team plays and executes on defense.
“If we can play good, solid defense behind our pitcher I think we will be alright,” the Comets coach said.
“The key to this whole thing is that we’ve got to play good defense. I think the sticks are finally coming around. Everybody has to be ready to make plays when they come. Hopefully, we can do that.”
Thursday’s game will be the annual Senior Night game with the seniors on the team being recognized during pre-game ceremonies.
“We’ve got a wonderful bunch of seniors,” Davis said.
“I hope we will have a good crowd of fans to come out and support them. It’s their time and hopefully we can get a win for them and it be real special for those guys. This whole team has a wonderful attitude. He guys comes out and work hard and these seniors are a big part of that.
“We show a lot of leadership from the top down,” added Davis.
“Hopefully our younger guys will look up to the seniors as we head into the tournaments because they will be hectic tournaments. The leadership of the seniors will help us tremendously.”