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 Siler City, North Carolina  (919)663-3232   

School board ready to ask for date change

By Bob Wachs

Chatham County’s board of education will ask for public opinion at its next meeting before asking the state legislature to change school board elections from the May primary to the November general election.

The board is next slated to meet August 15. On the agenda will be a time period set aside for public comment about the proposal, something school superintendent Ann Hart this week said the county’s local delegation in the legislature requested.

Typically such measures are introduced into the General Assembly as either local bills or during what is known as “cross-over,” a deadline for filing bills for consideration. Both of those deadlines have passed, however, leaving the Chatham request seeking alternative ways for approval.

At a Monday night meeting of the school board, Hart told members she has been in touch with an attorney with the North Carolina School Boards Association, who suggested approaching members of the local delegation about attaching the measure as a rider to another bill.

“We’ve been in touch with Rep. (Joe) Hackney and Sen. (Bob) Atwater,” Hart told the board, “and they both said they agree to the request as long as there is public input on it.”

Since this week’s school board meeting was a work session and, by board policy, no formal votes could be taken, all five board members informally agreed to support the measure, pending the public comment period and a formal resolution in favor of the request.

Hart said members of the local delegation have been invited to that August 15 session, set for the board meeting room at the school system administrative office in Pittsboro.

Currently board of education members are chosen in a non-partisan vote during the May primary but do not take office until December. Board of education members have talked off and on for several years about changing the time of the election to eliminate the long waiting period between election and taking office. Counties do not have the authority to make such changes but must appeal to the General Assembly.

more- See Thursday, Aug 4  paper: Vol 85, No. 36

Driver killed in accident

By Joseph Pardington

A Pittsboro woman was killed in a one-car accident early Tuesday morning on Lystra Road, approximately 9.5 miles north of Pittsboro, according to reports from the NC Highway Patrol.

Anna Marie Milliken of 116 Tarheel Lane was traveling west on Lystra Road in a 1994 Mazda when she crossed the centerline, ran off the road to the left and struck a tree.

She was 21, according to a report by Highway Patrol Trooper B.M. Walker.

There were no passengers in the car.

According to the NCHP report the road was curving and steep where the accident occurred.

The report stated that the  driver’s car caught fire following the crash.

Funds earmarked in first step towards computers for students

By Bob Wachs

Chatham County’s board of education has approved a million dollar expenditure that marks the first step in getting a laptop computer into the hands of every student in the system.

Meeting Monday night with county commissioners, school board members and administrative staff heard a presentation from Apple computer representatives explaining the concept and particulars of what’s known as “One to One Learning Project” – meaning one computer to one student. The meeting was also an opportunity for school board members and staff to introduce the program to commissioners so that board would be familiar with the program when it shows up in future school budget requests.

In describing what she called “Phase One” of the program, school superintendent Ann Hart said the ultimate goal of the program was that “within five years to have a laptop in every student’s hands down to the early grades.

“By the time we get through,” she asked, “will it go to kindergarten? Who knows?”

Although the county has not yet bought the computers, a purchase order has been prepared for 900 student computers, which will go first to the three high schools on a percentage formula – 390 to Northwood, 300 to Jordan-Matthews and 210 to Chatham Central. There they will join 150 laptops already at each high school.

In addition to the student models, 200 laptops are being purchased for teacher use. The new student computers, coupled with those already in place, will mean approximately one-half of the county’s high school students will have access to a computer. School system officials say they expect the new computers to be ready when students begin the new school year on Aug. 25.

Until there are enough laptops for every student, the computers will remain at school, used during the day for classroom work. However, the concept behind “One to One” calls for students to have 24-hour, 7-day access to them, much like a conventional textbook. Purchase of the 200 teacher models will allow all faculty members to have a laptop assigned to them for continual use.

School financial officer Sheila Tilley says the school system will be able to afford the expenditure by using part of its local allocation. “The county commissioners allow us to do that,” she says, “to put part of our county allotment into current operating expenses. And we may use some fund balance to make up the difference.”

Tilley also says the school system will stand to receive a refund of $68,000 in sales tax reimbursement.

more- See Thursday, Aug 4  paper: Vol 85, No. 36

Residents concerned Wall-Mart eyeing site

Large crowed discusses plans for property

By Randall Rigsbee

While there are still no applications for permits to build on commercial property along US 15-501 near the Chatham/Orange county line, a large group of county residents aren’t waiting idly for it to happen.

About 200 people attended a meeting last week at a restaurant near the site to discuss potential use of the property, including the possibility of Wal-Mart building on the property

Residents gathered at Dockside Restaurant in north Chatham on Thursday, July 28 to learn more about how a 63-acre site, which is on the east side of US 15-501 near the Starpoint area close to the county line at Smith Level Road and US 15-501 could be developed.

The meeting was organized by Chatham First, a newly-formed citizen group comprised of residents concerned that Wal-Mart will build on the site.

Wal-Mart has not gone public with any plans it may have for a store near the Chatham/Orange border. Representatives for the retailer have contacted county officials with inquiries about the location, according to county planning officials.

Keith Megginson, county planning director, said in a recent interview that a number of proposals have been discussed in recent years, including a concrete plant, though none have been pursued.

Of the 63-acre properties, 20 acres has been for business use since the mid-70’s. The remaining acreage is zoned for residential use.

more- See Thursday, Aug 4  paper: Vol 85, No. 36

The Chatham News

is Published Every Thursday by The Chatham News Publishing Co, Inc at

303 West Raleigh Street, Siler City, NC 27344, (919)663-3232

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