THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996 TAG: 9605030495
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
Education has always been important to Rodney Robinson's family, the school board candidate says.
Since the 1800s, his ancestors have considered knowledge as a tool for advancing in society and contributing to their communities. Just about everyone in his family has attended college, he said, and his line has spawned a number of teachers - including his mother, an instructor in Currituck for 33 years.
``Education is a big thing here in the Robinson family,'' he said. ``That's something that we take very seriously here.
``It was very important to my grandparents that we not just be good black people but good people in our community. Education has given us a focus. And religion has given us a key to that focus.''
Robinson, who runs a funeral home in town and has served on several state advisory panels, wants to put his heritage to work on the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank School Board.
``I would bring some sort of accessibility and trust to the table,'' Robinson said. ``I'm not one of those untouchables.
``I truly consider myself a youth advocate, interested in the well-being of students and teachers as well. I'm a people person. I do have an agenda, and that's the students, the faculty and the staff of Pasquotank County schools.''
As a board member, Robinson said he would support the current building projects and lobby for state Rep. Bill Owens' proposal to adopt model building plans in Raleigh that school districts could use to reduce architects' fees.
He also would work to bring together all aspects of the community around schools.
``We're going to have to bring some sort of connectivity to the parents and teachers that we don't have today, make parents more accountable for their children,'' Robinson said.
As an employer, Robinson said, he makes sure his employees can deal with their children when they have a problem at school. If employers, community groups and others can get together, they can do a better job raising children, he said.
One way to rally communities around schools is to make sure children go to schools in their neighborhoods when the system re-draws its district lines in a couple of years, Robinson said. He also believes in school choice.
Robinson, who has children at J.C. Sawyer and H.L. Trigg elementary schools, said there is a big advantage to being in the same neighborhood as his children's schools. If he needs to, he can drop everything and get to them. And their teachers look out for them outside school, as well as in class.
``I think we need to have sensible redistricting,'' Robinson said. ``Being able to have access to my kids has been a blessing.''
Robinson also said he will push to keep the school system on the cutting edge of technology.
``I want the system that we have here, which I think is a very good system, to be up to snuff,'' Robinson said. ``That's going to include technology. That's going to include distance learning.''
Robinson said Ritalin, a drug used to treat children with attention-deficit disorders, is overused. The drug is ``mind-destroying,'' and advocating its use is hypocritical when officials preach an anti-drug message so loudly.
Robinson said he also opposes using the Miles Clark Band Trust Fund for anything other than strictly band use. The school board and trust fund officers have agreed to ask a Superior Court judge to free up about $200,000 of the $680,000 fund to buy new activity buses for the school system and band. But Robinson said that would go against Clark's intentions.
``That money was earmarked for the Elizabeth City High School band,'' said Robinson, a band alumnus.
Overall, Robinson said he has good feelings about his candidacy.
``Win or lose, I feel very comfortable. I don't see this as an issue of color or ideologies. I'm the best experienced person and the best qualified person.'' ILLUSTRATION: R. RODNEY ROBINSON
Age: 40.
Home: Elizabeth City.
Occupation: Funeral home director.
Education: Graduate of Elizabeth City State University and
Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta.
Memberships: Vice president of Elizabeth City Boys and Girls Club,
Community Prescription Board, trustee for Corner Stone Missionary
Baptist Church, past director of the Elizabeth City Jaycees. Served
on several state boards under Gov. James G. Martin. Former trustee
of Elizabeth City State University.
Family: Wife, Sharon. Two children in Elizabeth City-Pasquotank
Schools.
KEYWORDS: PROFILE CANDIDATE SCHOOL BOARD RACE by CNB