Pender County Schools talk progress not allegations

Monday night the Pender County school system held its first community forum since the NAACP leveled allegations of unfair hiring practices by the district. The West Pender Middle School cafeteria was filled with teachers, students and parents, but the complaint that’s been making headlines was not the evening’s top priority.

Test scores, technology and teacher appreciation were just some of the topics Pender County faculty and staff addressed. Parents who attended the district’s community forum said it’s a good way to stay linked in to what happens inside the classroom.

“To find out what’s going on in the school system,” parent Judy Powell said. “To find out more information so I can prepare my children for the next step.”

This parent outreach is the first of several open forums planned. After more than a year, it’s something the school system is beginning again to highlight sucesses and create transparency. Recently, Pender County Schools have gotten attention for a complaint lodged by the NAACP for racially unbalanced and potentially nepotistic hiring practices. The NAACP did not voice concerns at the meeting, nor did parents.

“Our hiring practices are very solid,” School Board Chair Tom Roper said. “They may not appeal to every community, every person, every situation, but overall they’re very representative of our population.”

Hiring procedures were discussed by school staff during the informational portion of the meeting. Before the meeting started, Roper made it clear that personnel issues are not a matter of public record. Still, since the complaint became public January 21, this forum was the first time a community platform was available.

One teacher said that could point to more people happy with the school system, than not.

“It really shows that the leaders of the school system are working to be a group that’s going to work together, not be divisive,” Dave Glen, a teacher at Burgaw Middle School, said.

Roper said Pender County Schools have provided information to the NAACP like expense reports and the faculty ethnic breakdown. The complaint is still being investigated.