THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230351
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 70 lines
Of almost 120 school districts in North Carolina, only seven are governed by a school board with multiple names.
If the Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners has its way, that number soon will be reduced to six.
The commissioners want to change the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Board of Education to the Pasquotank County Board of Education.
More than a month ago they voted unanimously to seek legislative approval for the shorter version.
It's simpler and better reflects the entity that funds schools in both the city and county, the commissioners argued.
But the proposed change of the school board's name, which has been combined now for 30 years, has met resistance.
The Elizabeth City Council has sent a resolution to commissioners asking that the current name remain.
At the time of a school-district merger in 1967, Elizabeth City had been responsible for twice as many schools as Pasquotank County.
And, council members contend, the county may pay for schools, but a majority of the local revenue is raised by city residents.
Then there's the question of recognition. Elizabeth City is more widely known than Pasquotank County.
The issue has put the apolitical body most impacted by a name change in an awkward position - a situation school board members acknowledged at a Tuesday night committee meeting.
The school board is expected to adopt a resolution on Monday that asks commissioners to reconsider the name change.
If, after a reconsideration, the county board still wants the new name, the Board of Education will back it.
The reasons for the resolution include:
The ``community dialog'' on the necessity and appropriateness of the name change since the issue first became public.
``To minimize negative feelings and perceptions which may affect support for the public school system in Pasquotank County in the future.''
To recognize contributions of both city and county citizens to public schools since the merger in 1967.
``We're more or less putting it back in the county commissioners' court,'' said Pat McDowell, chairman of the school board.
A few minutes later, McDowell added that ``I'm attempting for us to try and lay it to rest.''
That seemed to be the consensus of other board members, who believed the issue was minor compared to other pressing needs within the school system.
``It doesn't matter to me. It really doesn't,'' said Janice Boyce at the committee meeting Tuesday. ``I guess I'm looking at $3,000 or $4,000 that could be used on something better than this.''
That amount is the expected cost to change signs and stationery to the shorter name.
Said vice chairwoman Peggy McPherson, ``I don't see how it's going to help any of the school children in our system be better.''
Matt Wood questioned whether the issue warranted the public attention it has received.
``It seems like a trivial issue, but I think it's become bigger than life in some ways - and bigger than it should be.''
Wood, like others on the board, commended the strong support commissioners have demonstrated toward the school system, which is in the middle of a $21 million school construction expansion program.
``I think we have made tremendous progress in the community with support for schools,'' Wood said.
Others agreed and said they would go along with commissioners if it came down to it.
Nita Coleman said she didn't see how the name change was part of their jobs as school board members.
But, she added, ``I will defer to the people who are footing the bills.''