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Wake hopes to preserve
farms
New volunteer program
for farmers kicks off in Apex area
Shawn
Daley, Editor
January 23, 2004
As developers gobble up more and more land
throughout the area, Wake County is doing its share to help farmers show
pride in their livelihood.
The Wake County Voluntary Agricultural District program kicked off
last Thursday with a brief ceremony at an Apex area farm.
At Macon Williams’ farm on Green Level Road, county
officials unveiled a large sign proclaiming the land as an agricultural
district.
The sign lets everyone know that there is a working
farm in the area and the owners are darn proud of it.
“It shows that a citizen can stand up and do
something,” said Dale Threatt-Taylor, a natural resource conservationist
with the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District. “It’s their way of
saying they value agriculture, agri-business and rural communities.
“It says, ‘We are here. We may have tractors on the
road sometimes and may have to pull (loads) of tobacco sometimes but we
are here and we value our community.”
Besides getting a sign that shows their pride, the
program also offers farmers some increased protection from noise suits.
Anyone buying land can simply look at a county map and see where the
agricultural districts – with their accompanying noise and odor – exist.
Farmers may also be eligible for farmland preservation
grants from local, state, or federal sources.
Wake County Commissioner Kenn Gardener said the timing
of the program is important, especially in southwest Wake where the 540
beltline will be extended.
“Farmers are feeling a tremendous amount of pressure
(to sell their land),” said Gardener. “Mr. Williams’ sister has a farm
not far from here where the new beltline will go right through her
property.
“Once that beltline is extended you are going to see a
tremendous influx of interest in development. So now is the time to be
planning and asking, ‘Where do we want development and where don’t we
want development?’ This program is part of the tools we need.”
Farmers in the program are part of a non-binding
agreement with the county that prohibits non-farm use of the land for at
least 10 years. But if the farmer decides to sell his land the deal can
be revoked at any time with a simple written notice to the county.
“It’s not Big Brother saying you have do something with
your land,” said Threatt-Taylor. “It’s farmers saying, ‘This is what we
do and it is important.’”
There are currently nine farms in the program and
county officials are hoping to see that number increase.
“This is important in a county that has so much growth,
growth that isn’t always managed well,” said Threatt-Taylor. “We’ve got
some pretty good mayors, councilmen and town managers that are trying to
control the growth but there are just so many factors that affect our
agriculture.”
While farmers and conservationists understand the
importance of preserving agricultural areas in the county, Threatt-Taylor
says that all area residents benefit from their existence.
“Ordinary citizens should value it because of the
environmental benefits – clean streams, high water quality, groundwater
recharged, high air quality, and wildlife benefits,” said Threatt-Taylor.
“Agriculture also brings a lot of money into Wake
County. But most of the time people only see Raleigh or Cary and forget
about the small towns and small crossroad communities that have valuable
businesses.”
According to Gardener, it was farming that helped shape
America and it’s now our responsibility to preserve that farming
heritage.
“I think there is something in every American that says
(farming) is where our roots are,” said Gardener. “It is something people
feel intrinsically responsible for. Those farmers are out there working
hard for long hours and we get an appreciation for it.
“Anything we can do to encourage our farmers to
continue to work the land and pass their land down to future generations
is important. As we continue to grow those opportunities are going to
become fewer and more important. This is an important step in that
direction.”
For more information about the program call Threatt-Taylor
at 250-1068.
Sharing expertise
NBC reporter teaching course in Apex
Hilary Caryl Russell,
Staff Writer
January 23, 2004
Some students at St. Mary Magdalene’s (STMM) Catholic School in Apex are
getting an up, close and personal lesson in television broadcasting twice
a week. And if their teacher has her way, students could be producing a
live school news show of their own sometime in the future.
NBC network correspondent and Apex resident Donna Gregory teaches an
Introduction to Broadcasting class to 22 seventh and eighth grade
students.
Gregory, an award-winning producer and writer, has more than 21 years of
experience as an on camera news reporter and anchor at TV stations in
Illinois, Oklahoma and in North Carolina.
Parents picking their kids up from school may recognize her since she
anchored for local CBS and NBC stations from 1988 -2001.
This is her first semester teaching at STMM and so far, she said, she
loves it.
“I love the energy that the kids bring to the class. I love their
inquisitiveness, They ask some really deep questions that make me think
about a lot of things as well,” she said.
Students participate in mock newscasts, taking turns to act the roles of
the different players involved in putting together a daily newscast.
“They have a lot of fun doing this. They love to give the time cues and
they love running the camera and learning about all of the different
aspects of the process,” she said.
The class takes field trips to local television studio to watch the
taping of actual newscasts as well as learning how to write in broadcast
style.
“I taught them the difference between a lead sentence a headline, which
has fewer words. They are also learning about deadlines and
accountability. They know they have to have things turned in on time,
while staying within the school policy’s guidelines on turning work in
late,” she said.
The students also have opportunities to work on their writing skills and
on-air performances.
“They’ve learned what a reporter’s package is and a VOSOT (a voice over
with sound on tape) are in a newscast, so it’s been a lot of fun and they
are such and energetic bunch of kids, they love doing this,” she said.
The next semester, which begins in a few weeks, the students will have
access to editing software and will begin learning how to edit the tape
they shot his semester.
“My whole goal is to make this interesting and fun. I want the kids to
know what’s going on so hopefully this class will help educate them about
what they are watching.”
In addition to teaching one class at STMM, Gregory serves a correspondent
for MSNBC, NBC News and the Today Show.
Her last two assignments included covering Hurricane Isabel and a copycat
sniper shooting in W. Va.
But, she says, five years ago she never dreamed she would be teaching in
a middle school, and can’t praise teachers enough for the job they do.
“There is no amount of money you could pay a teacher that would be enough
to compensate them for what they do.”
In addition, Gregory said,
She loved anchoring and reporting but missed doing things with her kids
that a 60 plus hour workweek simply wouldn’t allow time for.
Even as the president and owner of Donna Gregory Communications, a
successful video production company, a part time teacher, a fitness
instructor, freelance correspondent and mother of three, Gregory said she
has much more of an opportunity to spend time with her family.
“I’m able to do a lot of little things now and I’m doing more in terms of
diversity than I’ve done before,” she said.
“I am able to nurture girl friendships that I wasn’t able to when I
worked 50 to 60 hours a week. And I get to spend a lot time with my
husband and my kids, which is the most important.”
Gregory’s husband, Greg Hoerdemann, has operated a video production
company (Hoerdemann productions) that works with major broadcast and
cable networks, with his brother Joe out of Apex since the early 90s.
Bailey named town's top
employee
Strong work ethic recognized by peers
January 23, 2004
Bonnie Bailey, Senior Administrative Support Specialist in the Apex
Planning Department was named the Town of Apex “2003 Employee of the
Year”.
Mayor Keith Weatherly presented the award to Bailey during the annual
holiday luncheon held at the town's community center.
In selecting the Employee of the Year, Town of Apex employees submitted
nominations for the award and a secret committee selected the winner from
among the nominations.
Bailey's co-workers praised her strong work ethic and “get it done”
attitude, and Weatherly noted that she was known as “hound dog” by her
co-workers because of her desire to tackle a problem relentlessly until
it is solved.
Bailey began her town career in 1995 as a customer service assistant in
the finance department, and in 1998 accepted a promotion to her current
position in the planning department.
In her position she takes minutes at all planning board meetings and
assists citizens and developers with planning-related issues and
questions.
Not every customer of the planning department is always happy, but after
meeting Bailey they often come away with a handful of information and
feeling as though they have been listened to and understood.
As the “Employee of the Year” Bailey received a recognition plaque, a
$100 gift certificate, and an assigned parking space at Town Hall.
During the annual holiday luncheon, the Mayor and Board of Commissioners
also distributed service awards to employees reaching five-year service
milestones.
Highlights of the service awards included a special recognition to
Sergeant Ross Denson for his 30 years of service to the Apex Police
Department, and an award to assistant town manager Mike Wilson for his 25
years of employment with the Town of Apex.
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County's student shuffle
begins
School system reveals proposal for reassignment
Hilary Caryl Russell,
Staff Writer
January 23, 2004
Wake County school administrators unveiled a tentative growth management
plan for students to the public via the Wake County Public School
System’s website on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 5 a.m.
The plan is only a draft and administrators will hold a two -week public
comment period before a final plan is submitted to the Board of Education
for approval in March.
Based on the number of students involved in the move and seven new
schools opening, this year could be the largest reassignment in Wake
County’s recent history. Reassignment is determined by a student’s home
address.
The new schools that are opening are Highcroft Drive Elementary, Salem
Middle, Turner Creek Elementary, Forestville Road Elementary, Heritage
Middle, Jones Dairy Elementary and Knightdale High School.
If no changes are made to the plan and students don’t take advantage of a
grandfathering provision that is included in the plan, 6,970 students
will be reassigned to fill the new schools, promote diversity, and or
ease overcrowding at existing ones.
The eastern/northeastern portion of the county will be the most affected
with 3,467 students assigned for a proposed move.
Two thousand four hundred and four students living in the
western/southwestern portion of the county; 495 students living in the
north/western portion and 604 students who live in the central/southern
portion of Wake County should prepare to be reassigned.
The manner in which this year’s reassignment plan was formulated was
based on administrators holding a series of meetings with the community,
something they’ve never done before.
“This year we went to all parts of the county several times, listening
and gathering and assimilating information,” said Dr. Ramey Beavers,
Wake’s senior director for growth management.
“Then we cataloged that information by school and every time we made a
move…we based it on the information we had gathered.”
With four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school
opening in 2004-2005 and with a projected 113,150 students attending
school this year, Beavers said the reassignment was necessary.
“We have a variety of schools that we’re having to fill…and if we weren’t
doing this, we’d have some major overcrowding in schools.”
Students used to a traditional school calendar may have to get used to
the idea of year-round school since there will be some students who will
be reassigned to a year round school.
Year-round schools, said Beavers, will now have a base population
(students who attend the school based on where they live not because
filled out an application to attend).
“The base nodes will alleviate some of the circumstances at other
schools,” said Beavers.
The application period to attend a year-round school begins Feb. 7.
Most year-round schools, added Beavers, are attended voluntarily or
application based. One of the new year-round schools is Turner Creek
Elementary.
Three new year round schools are opening this year, Turner Creek
Elementary in the western/southwestern Wake County, Heritage Middle and
Jones Dairy Elementary in eastern/notheastern Wake County.
Students who are assigned to those schools have the option of returning
to their home base assigned school and leaving the year-round program.
Several elementary schools in the western/southwestern portion of the
county will be affected by the proposal.
Highcroft Drive Elementary, Salem Middle School and Turner Creek
Elementary (year-round) will pull students from nearby schools to form
its own base population as well as ease overcrowding.
Apex Elementary Students:
Some of the students who currently attend Green Hope Elementary, Salem
Elementary, Baucom Elementary, and Olive Chapel Elementary will be
reassigned to Highcroft Drive Elementary. In addition, some students from
Olive Chapel Elementary will be reassigned to Baucom Elementary.
Olive Chapel Elementary perfect example of why reassignment is necessary.
“Olive Chapel Elementary has not been able to take any kids for the past
two years,” Beavers said.
Holly Springs Elementary
Students:
Some students from Lincoln Heights Elementary will go to Holly Springs
Elementary.
F-V Elementary Students:
Students attending Willow Spring Elementary may be reassigned to
Ballentine Elementary as well as some students at Middle Creek could go
to Yates Mill Pond Elementary.
Middle Schools:
Students from Davis Drive Middle, Apex Middle and Reedy Creek Middle
could be reassigned to Salem Middle School.
Students attending West Cary Middle and Reedy Creek Middle could be
reassigned to Davis Drive Middle or Lufkin Road Middle School.
Students attending Martin Middle could go to West Lake Middle as well.
The proposed reassignment plan could potentially be the largest in Wake
County history
due to seven new schools that are opening this year.
Parents who have access to the Internet can log onto the Wake County
Public School System website (wcpss.net) to determine if they’re children
are going to be reassigned by clicking on a pull down menu.
A public comment period regarding the proposal will continue until Feb. 4
when administrators will continue gathering feedback. Snail mail, email,
and voice mail will all be accepted.
Then a series of public hearings will be held sometime in March before
the final draft is sent to the Board of Education for approval in late
March.
A series of 11 community engagement meetings were held over a period of
three months late last year, when school administrators explained the
reasons behind the need for a reassignment plan and sought public input.
“We hope this will demonstrate that we did hear the community and we did
listen to them,” said Beavers.
Participants who attended those meetings filled out surveys and it was
those responses, in part, said Beavers, that helped school administrators
shape the proposed plan.
“The numbers and percentages are based on the surveys we handed out,”
said Beavers.
Based on the survey responses, 98 percent of participants agreed that
travel time should be taken into consideration for reassigned students.
Ninety-five percent agreed that travel distance should also be taken into
consideration for those who are reassigned.
Of the students who will be reassigned to different schools,
approximately 77 percent will be moving to a school that is closer to
their home.
“We started at the schools and then worked our way out into the
neighborhoods,” said Beavers.
“We tried to keep the units as close to home as possible.”
In addition, the Board of Education approved $1.8 million for 25 new
buses and 25 drivers in effort to reduce student ride time.
“Every time we add buses and drivers we shrink travel time,” Beavers
said.
The second consideration school administrators factored in was stability.
Survey results indicated that 85 percent of parents agreed that stability
and keeping their kids in the same school on a consistent basis was more
important than reassigning students for a feeder pattern adjustment.
In the past, the school system has been able to keep 97 percent of
reassigned students in a school for four-plus years, even though they
only guaranteed three years.
The third issue identified was the need to alleviate overcrowding.
Eighty-eight percent of responses said they agreed that the most
overcrowded schools nearest a new school should b given highest priority
for reassignment.
Action taken by school administrators to address overcrowding resulted in
assigning a percentage of students in the plan to fill the seven new
schools.
Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed agreed that a new school should
open with free or reduced price lunches similar to other schools in the
area.
Beavers said diversity was a definite consideration in deciding who to
send where and that students whose families are classified as lower
income should not all be grouped together.
The plan includes feeder patterns for the new schools and administrators
said they try to keep students together whenever plausible as they go
from elementary to middle to high schools.
The good news is that a grandfather provision has been included in the
plan allowing students who don’t want to switch schools to remain
provided they find their own transportation.
Eighty percent of those surveyed agreed with the provision suggesting
that students in grades 4, 5,7,8,10, 11, and 12 should be allowed to
remain at their existing school with the transportation stipulation.
In addition, as in the past, the plan includes the recommendation that
grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 not be reassigned more than once during a
three-year period.
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