October 17 w BOE
Board of Commissioners & Board of Education Joint Session
October 17, 2011 1
PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OCTOBER 17, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Jimmy B. Clayton Heidi York, County Manager Kyle W. Puryear
B. Ray Jeffers Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Samuel R. Kennington
Frances P. Blalock
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in recessed session on Monday, October 17, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. for the purpose of meeting
in joint session with the Board of Education in Room 25 in the Person County Office
Building.
Chairman Clayton called the meeting to order.
In attendance representing Person County was Chairman Clayton, Vice Chairman
Puryear and Commissioners Jeffers, Kennington and Blalock. County Manager, Heidi
York, Assistant County Manager, Gene Hodges, Finance Director, Amy Wehrenberg and Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves were also present.
In attendance representing the Board of Education was School Board Chairman,
Gordon Powell, Vice-Chairman Jimmy Wilkins, and members, Margaret Bradsher and
Pecolia Beatty. School Board member, Ronnie King was absent. Superintendent, Dr. Larry Cartner, Executive Assistant, Teresa Shotwell, Finance Officer, Julie Masten and
Executive Director for Program Services PK-14, Marionette Jeffers were also present.
Dr. Walter Bartlett, President of Piedmont Community College was present and
participated in the meeting.
The Board of Commissioners presented to the Board of Education a Resolution
Requesting the Person County Board of Education to transfer the old Helena School
Property to Person County.
Chairman Clayton stated the Board of Commissioners at its meeting on October
3, 2011, adopted the Resolution requesting the Person County Board of Education to
transfer the old Helena School Property to Person County with instruction to present such
to the Board of Education at the scheduled joint session on October 17, 2011.
Board of Commissioners & Board of Education Joint Session
October 17, 2011 2
Board of Commissioners & Board of Education Joint Session
October 17, 2011 3
The Board of Commissioners advocated preservation of the old Helena School
property which consists of just over eight acres and multiple buildings and highlighted
the many potential educational and community uses outlined in the Resolution. All
commissioners stated opposition to allowing the facilities to further deteriorate to the point of having to be demolished.
The general consensus of the Board of Education members favored preserving the
property for educational and community uses. Gordon Powell, Chairman of the Board of
Education went on record to say the Board of Education would like to receive a timeline and guidelines of the County Commissioners’ goals and objectives of the use of the
property. Mr. Powell also suggested a reversion clause be included in the transfer should
the Board of Commissioners’ plans did not come to fruition.
Commissioner Jeffers asked the Board of Education members if they had any future plans for the property. Mr. Powell noted the property has been retained for a
potential school site noting two recent studies indicate Person County does not have the
population to demand another school.
Dr. Walter Bartlett, President of Piedmont Community College told the group of educational possibilities that could be touched in the Person Futures Strategic Plan and
his desire to partner with Person County Schools and Board of County Commissioners to
create a synergy of resources at the proposed dual use facility.
Commissioner Kennington stated the commissioners would keep their word to hold to the plan as outlined in the Resolution for further expansion of educational,
training and community opportunities and asked the Board of Education to show good
faith by approving the transfer.
Vice Chairman Puryear noted the partnership between all parties and proposed a committee consisting of Chairman Clayton, the Chairman of Board of Education, Gordon
Powell and the President of Piedmont Community College, Dr. Bartlett for agreement on
a clear, concise plan. Other potential members to such committee may also include Dr.
Larry Cartner, Superintendent for Person County Schools, County Manager, Heidi York
and a Piedmont Community College Board of Trustees’ member.
Mr. Powell indicated the Board of Education would place this item upon the
November School Board meeting agenda for further discussion.
In other business, Commissioner Jeffers read the following email exchange and requested the Clerk to include in the minutes. Commissioner Jeffers requested the Board
of Education to either present him with the local policy or create such policy that would
mandate the protocol of a visitor within local schools to have an escort. School Board
members apologized if the email offended Commissioner Jeffers but stated it was a
matter of school safety.
Board of Commissioners & Board of Education Joint Session
October 17, 2011 4
Commissioner Kennington asked if the Board of Education members had any
concerns to discuss with the Board of Commissioners. There were none.
RECESS:
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeffers, seconded by Chairman Clayton,
and carried 5-0 to recess the meeting 12:07 p.m. until November 7, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of a work session to discuss economic development with the Economic
Development Commission in the Board’s usual meeting room.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Jimmy B. Clayton
Clerk to the Board Chairman