THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603200531
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Long : 147 lines
While everyone seems to agree that Currituck County children need improved computer instruction to compete in today's job market, the officials who must find ways to pay for it aren't sure how much the county can afford.
The Board of Commissioners on Monday night offered no promises to spend $284,000 annually of taxpayers' money to help fund its $5 million, state-approved, five-year technology plan.
``We'll do the best we can with what we've got,'' said Chairman Eldon Miller Jr.
The plan would improve the quality and quantity of computers in each of the seven county schools and help bring the school system up to state standards in computer instruction.
School officials have asked commissioners to set aside $284,000 annually to help finance the Currituck County Schools Long-Range Technology Plan.
Officials say they hope the state will provide the remainder of the funds for the five-year plan.
The plan was created by school personnel and community members and is designed to make students competitive and computer literate. In a 1994 state curriculum audit, the school system ranked high in all but a few areas, including technology.
Today's seventh-graders, who will be the class of 2001, will be the first in North Carolina required to pass a computer literacy test to receive a high school diploma.
Most of Currituck schools' classroom computers are outdated and there are not enough of them, school officials said at an earlier meeting.
A few dozen teachers, parents and school officials attended Monday's regular commissioners' meeting to support funding the plan.
``Technology is a very important part of our children's education,and the demand for more technology grows stronger every day,'' said Janet Taylor, a School Board member and mother of three.
Commissioner Owen Etheridge asked about the dollar amounts for certain projects, which were derived from state contractors and catalogs.
Etheridge said he'd made calls to area vendors and found that the county could save some $922,000 out of the $5 million total by buying computers and software on the open market.
``I just think we need to approach every avenue to try and save some money,'' he said.
Chairman Miller said the $5 million estimate could balloon to more than $8 million with additional expenses over the years.
Even some of the people who worked on the plan conceded the county may not be able to finance everything. But they urged commissioners to fund as much as possible.
``All we ask is your consideration, and for you to do the best you can for our children,'' said Garry Owens, a School Board member.
Etheridge answered, ``We will give it every consideration that we can at budget time.''
In other action:
The county's economic development board gave $1,000 to help sponsor the 1996 Babe Ruth World Series this summer at Manteo High School.
Charles Hartig, the Dare County public information director, made a pitch to commissioners to support the tournament, which will run from Aug. 17 to 24. ``This is the most exciting event this area has seen, at least since Orville and Wilbur arrived on our shores almost 100 years ago to play with their kites,'' Hartig said.
Commissioners agreed to seek legislation expanding fox hunting during the next two years.
In recent months, an overabundance of foxes has become a problem for some county residents. The animals, which can carry rabies and have no natural predators here, eat waterfowl and their eggs, among other things.
The proposed change would make it lawful to hunt, trap and take foxes with a gun or dog year round in Currituck County.
Commissioners accepted county auditor Anne Romm's unqualified report of the Knotts Island Volunteer Fire Department's books and agreed to release funds that had been held up until the audit was completed.
The board unanimously approved increased lot coverage and expanded floor-area ratio in general business, limited business, light manufacturing and heavy manufacturing districts.
CURRITUCK - While everyone seems to agree that Currituck County children need improved computer instruction to compete in today's job market, the officials who must find ways to pay for it aren't sure how much the county can afford.
The Board of Commissioners on Monday night offered no promises to spend $284,000 annually of taxpayers' money to help fund its $5 million, state-approved, five-year technology plan.
``We'll do the best we can with what we've got,'' said Chairman Eldon Miller Jr.
The plan would improve the quality and quantity of computers in each of the seven county schools and help bring the school system up to state standards in computer instruction.
School officials have asked commissioners to set aside $284,000 annually to help finance the Currituck County Schools Long-Range Technology Plan.
Officials say they hope the state will provide the remainder of the funds for the five-year plan.
The plan was created by school personnel and community members and is designed to make students competitive and computer literate. In a 1994 state curriculum audit, the school system ranked high in all but a few areas, including technology.
Today's seventh-graders, who will be the class of 2001, will be the first in North Carolina required to pass a computer literacy test to receive a high school diploma.
Most of Currituck schools' classroom computers are outdated and there are not enough of them, school officials said at an earlier meeting.
A few dozen teachers, parents and school officials attended Monday's regular commissioners' meeting to support funding the plan.
``Technology is a very important part of our children's education, and the demand for more technology grows stronger every day,'' said Janet Taylor, a School Board member and mother of three.
Commissioner Owen Etheridge asked about the dollar amounts for certain projects, which were derived from state contractors and catalogs.
Etheridge said he'd made calls to area vendors and found that the county could save some $922,000 out of the $5 million total by buying computers and software on the open market.
``I just think we need to approach every avenue to try and save some money,'' he said.
Chairman Miller said the $5 million estimate could balloon to more than $8 million with additional expenses over the years.
Even some of the people who worked on the plan conceded the county may not be able to finance everything. But they urged commissioners to fund as much as possible.
``All we ask is your consideration, and for you to do the best you can for our children,'' said Garry Owens, a School Board member.
Etheridge answered, ``We will give it every consideration that we can at budget time.''
In other action:
The county's economic development board gave $1,000 to help sponsor the 1996 Babe Ruth World Series this summer at Manteo High School.
Charles Hartig, the Dare County public information director, made a pitch to commissioners to support the tournament, which will run from Aug. 17 to 24. ``This is the most exciting event this area has seen, at least since Orville and Wilbur arrived on our shores almost 100 years ago to play with their kites,'' Hartig said.
Commissioners agreed to seek legislation expanding fox hunting during the next two years.
In recent months, an overabundance of foxes has become a problem for some county residents. The animals, which can carry rabies and have no natural predators here, eat waterfowl and their eggs, among other things.
The proposed change would make it lawful to hunt, trap and take foxes with a gun or dog year round in Currituck County.
Commissioners accepted county auditor Anne Romm's unqualified report of the Knotts Island Volunteer Fire Department's books and agreed to release funds that had been held up until the audit was completed.
The board unanimously approved increased lot coverage and expanded floor-area ratio in general business, limited business, light manufacturing and heavy manufacturing districts. by CNB