Burgaw, NC (WWAY-TV) - During a news conference Thursday, the NAACP called Tom Roper an unfit leader and asked that he step down from his position as Pender County School Board Chairman.
Roper told us that was not going to happen. He couldn't talk to us on camera because he was going out of town. When we told the president of the NAACP that he wouldn't be stepping down, she wasn't surpised.
"Well we figured he would not resign," said Dr. Rachel Stephens, "but we just assume that since he is in this position and he can see that there are so many people upset with him that he would have the decency to step aside as chairman. We didn't ask him to step off the board we just ask him to let someone else lead the board chairmanship."
One of the reasons the civil rights group wants Roper to resign is because of hiring practices. The NAACP says it has a complaint from Melanie Debouse who is African-American and has been an educator for 20 years - working much of that time as a principal in other school districts.
She says she applied for Assistant Principal positions at both Malpass Corner Elementary School and Cape Fear Middle - but she never heard back. Instead, the school hired the sister-in-law of the Assistant Superintendent.
"I was really concerned," Stephens said. "You know I was like no they wouldn't do anything like that we are working with them we are trying to get this ironed out here.... I emailed the Superintendent specifically and I asked her was that the truth and she said yes it was."
Roper says he has absolutely no influence on who is hired. Still the NAACP says he's the man in charge...and there's not enough diversity.
"When you have 500 and some teachers and 400 are white and 50 are African-American, Something is wrong," Stephens said.
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Story Background:
BURGAW, NC (WWAY) -- For six months the Pender County NAACP has been investigating Pender County School Board Chair Tom Roper. Today the civil rights group released its findings, calling for Roper to resign.
The NAACP received the first complaint against Roper in October. It said Roper did not attend required school board meetings, that he had rare interaction with students and parents and that he made derogatory and insensitive remarks concerning minorities. After the investigation began other complaints surfaced about hiring practices of minority candidates, nepotism and disparity in test scores. Today the NAACP said it found the complaint to be valid.
"We all have a dog in this fight," Pender County NAACP President Rachel Stephens said. "Every family in Pender County has a dog in this fight, and that fight is for our children, because the success of our children has nothing to do with race, background or gender."
If Roper does not resign the NAACP wants the community choose someone else to replace him in the next election.
Roper said he did not want to talk yet, because he has not had a chance to review the NAACP's findings.
Meanwhile
the Superintendant has reported the School Board anticipates a further cut of $500,000 in state funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
With the status of the State's economy, that is likely an optomistic number given a state budget shortfall of $1.3 Billion.
In an attempt to offset a portion of this, they are tapping into some reserve funds and have submitted a request to the County Commissioners for an additional $278,000 in County funding.
Now where they expect the County to find the money is another story. Property and sales taxes are already high enough.
BUT, when you consider the time and resources which the County has expended responding to these allegations, you wonder when the local Chapter will put some meat on the table to validate its charges.
So far, it appears they are unhappy because only 2 of the 3 vacant assistant principal positions were offered to African Americans.
On the other hand, from previous articles, it is evident the School Board provided all documents required for this "6 month investigation" including expense reports.
Is there some way the County can itemize a list of charges and submit to Dr. Stephens and the local NAACP chapter?
Either they can come forward with the specific allegations or they can write a check for the expenses incurred by the County in responding to what appears to be a frivilous attempt at bullying and blackmail.
Finally
a specific charge. An African American was not hired for an Assistant Principal's position. But, there were 3 open positions; and 2 of them were offered to African Americans.
It would certainly be against any normal personnel policy for comments to be made by the School Board concerning qualifications of one candidate versus another.
But again, I have to ask how Mr. Roper could have been involved in this process. Answer, he was not.
As noted earlier, the review commitee for Assistant Principal positions consists of the Human Resources Manager and 3 School Principals selected at random.
And, if anyone reads the quotes from Ms. Moore, Human Resource Manager, identities, gender, and ethnicity are vetted from the applications so that only the applicants' experience and qualifications are considered.
So, if the review commitee can not tell whether an applicant is male or female; if they can not tell whether they are Caucasian, Oriental, or African American, how does this become a racial issue?
Peter is crying wolf again.
Pender County NAACP President
"We all have a dog in this fight," Pender County NAACP President Rachel Stephens said.
Someone call Micheal Vick! He better teach her not to say things like this on the news! She's a dog fighter, need to contact Paws!
Why is it always a "race" issue
My goodness...I am so sick of the "race" issue. Further more, the media stirring the pot. If you have to bring race into the pic...you are the racist...same with homosexuality...you must be ashamed of who you are. Get over it and realize you bleed just like the rest of us...you are no different...just your attitude.
Well
I delayed dinner on Friday in an effort to see if she or the NAACP would come up with one, just one, specific allegation against Mr. Roper.
If you watched, you know the answer. A big NO.
In fact, she did some back peddling. On Friday, she stated she did not want him to resign from the School Board; merely step down as President. That's a far cry from her earlier statements. Just go back through the archives of WWAY and read some of her earlier comments. Or look at the Star News, Topsail Voice, or Pender Post.
On this website, however, have been posts concerning Mr. Roper's openness and availability to Parents at workshops and meetings.
No mention of what meetings, or when, he failed to attend. Maybe he did miss a meeting; but maybe too, he was ill or hospitalized. Without specific allegations, who knows?
Statistics have been posted which confirm the minorities are more than represented, in hiring, from a statistical standpoint.
No comment on what he is alleged to have said which might have, in some way, been insensitive.
When is Dr. Stephens going to remove the smirk from her face and get some specific data on the table?
Is she still employed by the County as an instructor at the Pender Early College High School? If things are so bad, one must wonder why she does not resign in protest. You know, be a person of conviction.
Reference to a lot of unnamed and annonymous reports and complaints. Define a lot. Without the conviction of principle to stand up and be identified with your complaint, annonymous complaints aren't worth the air required to voice them.
Perhaps before she makes another statement, or threatens to unleash another dog, she should read "Peter & The Wolf".
She certainly has shot her credibility and that of the Pender County NAACP full of holes.
On another note, WWAY, if you have the 6 month in the making "investigative report", why not post it on the website for all to view?
Push miniority to the side......
has anyone looked at the overall issues within Pender County Schools? The gangs, bullying, violence that goes unpunished? What is the grade retention percentages? What is the drop-out rate? Did you know according to the student code of conduct if your child makes A/B honor roll all year but fails to pass the EOG, your child can be retained??? The decision is at the discretion of the prinicpal. Better hope your prinicipal likes your child.
The NAACP can cry minority if they want but ALL children are being effected. The problem is most parents within Pender County cannot afford private school or to move. I say start at the top and work down.
Did you know one Pender County school made the entire 4th Grade have SILENT LUNCH for a week? And any student who spoke out was sent to detention.
The survey they give at the end of the school year needs to be redone. It needs to have questions such as: 1. Has your child ever been bullied? 2. Has your child ever been threatened with harm by another student? 3. Has your child ever been retained in a grade? If so, why? 4. Has your child ever had detention with no notification to you? 5. Have you tried to schedule a meeting to discuss concerns of your child to no success? 6. Have you ever been told by a Pender County teacher your child is too hyper or not focused and needs to be tested for ADHD?(yeah, this is a common one) The list can go on and on.
I encourage all Pender County parents of school children to sit and talk with your child. Ask them these questions above. You may be shocked at what you find out. Even ask have you or another classmate ever.....come up with another question.
Parents be involved. Be sure to ask your child how their day went. Not just at school but on the bus as well. Most often issues are dealt with individually and no one else really knows the number of the same complaints. Its time to reveal those numbers.
Amen!!! I totally agree with
Amen!!! I totally agree with you and I am sooo glad someone else see this problem also!! I am a parent that listen to my children and ask questions about their day and what is going on in school. It is absolutely ridiculous what I hear and also what our children have to go through!! I can say from experience and what my children has went through in school and to tell it frankly, if I wasn't as involved with my children they would be in trouble. We have dealt with the teachers that don't care, the teachers that wish they were back at their old schools that have more, and I have even had a teacher tell my children the kids at their high school doesn't get anything because the kids always tearing it up or they are too bad to get anything new, and not to mention administration, that is a story upon itself. To make a long story short, it seems I am the only one willing to say anything I have three children in the Pender County school system and it is sad the drama that we have had to go through. A lot of things that happen at these schools will push a child to quit school if they don't have some support from home. I don't see the problems a whole lot in elementary school but it seems high school is the worst! So my plea to all parents is take this person article seriously and please listen to your kids because if we don't support them, who will????
How is this
a racial issue?
If there's a problem at a specific school, have you contacted the School Superintendant?
If there's a problem with a specific teacher, have you contacted the School Principal?
So the entire 4th grade at one school had to have a silent lunch for a week. Maybe there was a good reason for that.
Other than that one condition, which you by the way did not mention, you like so many throw out generalities and vague items with no specitivity.
The only way problems get solved is to face them head on. Sitting back; spouting off -- nothing is solved.
Get involved. Go to PTA & School Board meetings. When you do have specific facts. Vague generalities give no school administrator any basis on which to act.
To SurfCity Tom
Lets just say the answer to all of your questions above are YES. I have taken the approach to each.
As for the silent lunch, the specific schools involved are Cape Fear Elem and Burgaw Elem. I am trying to get other parents involved in asking their children about their day. So many things go untold and its not fair to the kids. Not only do the children get retaliation from other children, they get it from the teachers and administration.
Due to this, I will not give you specifics online here. But some incidents involve, detentions w/o parents being notified, student threatening others w/knife on bus, bullying, and as for the silent lunch, it only takes a few students to cause silent lunch for all.
Why do teachers/administration not have to commit to the dress code? Have you ever seen some of the clothing they wear? Short skirts, low cut blouses.
And last but not least, I don't have to be specific to you. You are not the one who will resolve my issues or any other parents issues from these schools for that matter. So don't be sooo nosey and try to get the specifics. All of these are already in the hands of the Pender Board of Ed and the school itself. Who knows, maybe even an attorney. Plus me giving you specifics would be breach of student privacy. Should these issues escalate to publicity viewing, then you may get your specifics.
Well Factless
where did I ask for specifics?
I noted solutions. But, you seem to think you can throw irrelevant dribble out there.
What did any of that have to do with the NAACP and their racial charges?
If it is possible, stay focused.
You're right......
I am factless. That's what I am looking for...the facts, the numbers that are hidden.
My comment was not geared toward racism. If you truly read the subject line it stated...."push minority to the side". In other words, excluding any NAACP or racism. My comment went on to say it involves ALL students/parents.
As for you stating YOU didn't ask....well you did mention the fact I didn't give specifics....let me remind you of your statement...as I copy & paste.........
"""Other than that one condition, which you by the way did not mention, you like so many throw out generalities and vague items with no specitivity.""""
All arguments aside, my comment was only to ask ALL parents to get involved. It was an overall general statement of the Pender County School System. Your solutions are tactics I and other parents have alread tried. We get nowhere.
I am only trying to be sincere and send a message to the parents. I don't care to argue my reasons of my posting to you anymore. Say what you want, but you'll be "dribbling" to yourself.
I've stated my concern and suggestions. May all Pender County school parents who read take heed and get involved. Ask the questions as I originally posted. My concern is for the kids.
I encourage any other Pender County parent who reads these postings to enlighten Mr. SurfCity Tom of your dealings with the schools. He seems to think he has all the right solutions that none of us would have already tried.
Were
your last paragraph true, everyone would be getting fitted for angels wings or red union suits.
Have you tried the media?
We have tried media.....
but not this media if you know what I mean. I would like to get some more parent involvement so its not as though I am the only one who sees the issues. Behind the scenes the talk is all there. But no one else wants to come forward. Mr. SurfCity Tom if you know of way to help please send the outfits and wings...I think at this point its like whatever it takes.
You missed
my point entirely.
This post was concerning the NAACP and their whiney, unfounded allegations.
You and another Poster brought an entirely seperate issue concerning bullying and other issues which while important were lost and not relevant to the original issue.
No, I do not know why you don't go to the media at TV-3.
If this is such an issue, and your child is that important, it should not matter if no one else will join you. Were I in your shoes, I'd be at the School Board meetings. I'd be in Mr. Roper's face with specifics. He seems to be a reasonable individual who gives freely of his time to improve the education system in Pender County.
Were it my daighter, or one of my grandchildren, it would not matter how many stones got thrown at me. I would do whatever was necessary to correct the situation. I would not stand on the sidelines with occassional posts laden with innuendo and less than specific allegations.
Want to solve the problem? Gather your facts; go to the next School Board Meeting; present your case and call for corrective measures. If that doesn't fix it, hit the County Commissioners; they fund the School System. That doesn't work, get the Director Of Education from Raleigh involved. You can get that name and email address from the state website.
At the same time, get the names of the people bullying your child. Give their parents the opportunity to correct the issue; if it continues, go file charges in Burgaw.
There's a whole lot you could do beside posting in the media. For that matter, if WWAY has issues which cause you not to appear on camera or seek their Troubleshooter's help, why do you even post on this site?
Pot calling the kettle black!
maybe I enjoy posting my views and thoughts here as well. Just as you have done. You try to be sooo "I know everything and your post is just stupid" It's not stupid. If you wanted to know the true allegations of Mr. Roper why didn't you go to a board meeting or to his office and ask him yourself. See you have issues that you would like more info on but you are quick to tell others on here their opinions are nonsense. I'm not talking about just this post. I follow more subjects on here. Appears you have nothing more to do than to comment on every post. Why don't you get out of YOUR seat and go stand on the streets or sit in the meetings and voice your concerns there. You seem to give some good advice that you don't heed yourself! Comment if you desire so you can get the "last word" in almighty......but I don't care to discuss this with you anymore.
Well Well
did not see a single thought on what you were doing to protect your youngster from bullying.
For the record, I know Mr. Roper & have spoken to him.
I think if you heed some advise rather than letting your emotions get in the way, something might be accomplished. That is of course if your concern is the well being of your child and not your 3 minutes in the spotlight.
For the most part, I do give good advise which is mingled with some sarcasm and humor when merited. But advise is what it is; never have I given professional advise.
So what you doing to protect your youngster today? You could have gotten Joe Masceri up there for an interview; he was in Burgaw looking into some Health Department issues. Oh, but you would have to be specific and not fall onto the innuendo sword. You think you can talk the talk; but clearly you can not walk the walk, even for the sake of your child.
Mr Roper
This ladie is desperate for attention and we should not give her the time of day.I cant imagine Mr Roper ever behaving this way.WWAY CANT YOU GET ALL YOUR INFORMATION BEFORE YOU LET THIS KIND OF NEGATIVE ATTENTION LOOSE?
NAACP is irrelevant
The NAACP is an instigator that is not worthy of recognition by the media. This racist organization should not be given the attention by WWAY TV 3. They cry wolf too often ! No other racist group is catered to more than the NAACP. Enough is enough. My suggestion is to cover newsworthy events in our community. Not garbage spewed by a bunch of clowns !
I agree 100%. To give this
I agree 100%. To give this organization coverage is crazy. Ignorance is what I call it.
Allegations??
Allegations, not supported by fact and witness, are nothing but a crock of hog waste.
From the archives of 2009 in Carolina Coast online:
When Dr Stephens claimed bias and nepotism in hiring "...It’s not true,” said Human Resource Director Alfredia Moore.
...In explaining the situation, Moore said there were actually three assistant principal positions opened during the time when Angel was hired, with 16 applicants interested in the positions.
“Six of them were minorities and two of the minorities were offered positions,” she said..."
It should be noted, Ms. Moore is African American.
The above claim was launched at the School Board.
"...A breakdown of minorities working in the Pender school system, provided by the central office, shows that out of nearly 8,000 students 20 percent are black and eight are other minorities. The staff consists of 18 percent minority principals, 35 percent minority assistant principals. In the past two years 30 percent of all administrative hires have been minorities..."
So 28% of the students are minority; 35% of assistant principals are minority; and 30% of all new administrative hires are minority.
And Mr. Roper is not involved in this hiring proceedure.
For the record, the interview commitee, for assistant principals consists of Ms. Moore and 3 school principals. No mention of Mr. Roper.
But could part of this be due to Dr. Stephens' distress that her husband Charles was not appointed to the County's Planning Board despite her bullying tactics in early 2009? For the record, an African American, other than her husband, was appointed to the vacancy.
And since November, she has repeatedly failed to specify what Mr. Roper said which might have been considered etnically insensitive.
And oddly, or perhaps not, the state Chapter of the NAACP has declined to join in this action.
How about that. Guess they didn't want to get involved in dog fighting.
Let's see if she has the spine to show up. Let's see if she has the spine to face your questions without an attorney. Let's see if she can make one clear statement, with facts, which support all of her allegations.
Despite dinner plans downtown, I will be watching with interest at 6:00.
I am very impressed with
I am very impressed with your knowledge of this! Thank you for supporting your comment with facts and numbers! I agree with you 100%!
Good Luck
I believe you went down this path once before. She was going to be interviewed and then had a change of heart when she realized you might ask questions she'd prefer not to answer.
Is she going one on one or will her attorney be present?
Tom, You'd do better go get
Tom,
You'd do better go get downtown ahead of the traffic. I'm gonna' bet "cut and run" or "no show" to be sure.