Assistant Editor

Construction of a new Charles E. Perry Elementary School is still on go, at least as far as the Sampson County Board of Education is concerned.

At board committee meetings held earlier this week, superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker informed board members that the plans are still on go. Discussion of the school came up after board member Glenn Tart inquired about the Roseboro school’s future at the tail-end of the meeting.

“What about Charles E. Perry? Have we still got the go-ahead on that?,” Tart asked Lenker.

“I recently had a short meeting with Anthony (Vann, executive director of auxiliary services for Sampson County Schools) and Dale (McLamb, finance officer), and I met with the county commissioners last Friday to let them know where we were with the project load and where we were with (builder) Robbie Ferris ...”

Even though the school was delayed from 12 to 24 months in October of 2008, Lenker told board members last week’s meeting with commissioners went well.

“According to the county commissioners, at least a couple of them, it looks good,” Lenker said. “It is on the table and it looks good.”

In a recent interview, commissioners chairman Jarvis McLamb noted the issue with the school and the indecision by commissioners.

“We have had some differences here, especially about Charles E. Perry,” McLamb said. “We do need the school. The more kids that we can educate, get them a high school diploma and have them going to college, that is less people, in my opinion, that the sheriff’s office will have to mess with. I am all for schools, but I don’t want the people to have to pay higher taxes for it either.”

Parking issues at

Plain View Elementary

Lenker also addressed an inquiry from Tart about parking issues at Plain View Elementary School.

“I know you have spent a lot of time monitoring that,” Tart said to Lenker.

There has been some concern at the school about the time it takes to drop off and pick up students before and after school and the best ways to make the process quicker for all involved.

“Mr. Vann and I had a conversation about changing where the buses park,” said Lenker, noting one possible solution. “(By) just moving them closer in that loop area, so we can bring the parents in from a different angle (might work) ... but we are still looking at that.”

However, the superintendent did say there were other options that needed to be looked at to help the situation as well.

“When I was out there the other day, it was going really well,” he said. “They had teachers out there opening (vehicle) doors, and it went very smoothly. Maybe there are some days that have more traffic and more people driving ... but when I was there, everything was going fine.”

Lenker assured the board that solutions to the situation are still being worked out. “We are still having conversations about it,” he said.

Use of old

Midway High

The board may also have to consider the prospect of having a local group use two classrooms in the old Midway High School for six months and possibly longer.

“One of the Head Start programs has asked us about possibly using two classrooms in the old Midway High School for six months,” Lenker said.

While the school has, for the most part, sat dormant since late 2008, with a local church using it twice a week for services, the usage, he said, would be a good thing for the school.

“This will be the two classrooms in the old business wing of the school ... We are still finalizing all the cleaning details and things like that, but the energy costs will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 a day.”

Lenker told board members he would bring more information back to them as soon as he gets it.

The Sampson County Board of Education will meet again Monday, Feb. 22 at Charles E. Perry School. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.