The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • An artist’s rendering shows the proposed Biotechnology and Simulation Center on the Rocky Mount campus of Edgecombe Community College. Features of the state-of-the-art facility include a simulated hospital environment and a medical and environmental health technology laboratory. This facility, as well as a Workforce Training Center on the Tarboro campus, would be funded by a quarter-cent sales tax if approved by voters.

    MAIN ART Biotech_Simulation_Center.jpg
September 28, 2012

ECC proposes new facilities

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER

TARBORO — Over the next two decades, the number of people older than 65 is expected to double in the United States.

When an increased life expectancy is factored in, the need for workers in the health care field is expected to continue to balloon.

That’s why Edgecombe Community College hopes to build a new Biotechnology and Simulation Center on its Rocky Mount campus. The new facility will house about half of its present health care programs — with plenty of room to grow.

“We have a strong health sciences curriculum, with 22 programs,” said ECC President Dr. Deborah Lamm. “But we’re running out of space.”

With about half of the fastest growing jobs expected to come from the medical field — including the top three: personal care aides, home health aides, and biomedical engineers — Edgecombe Community College wants its health care programs to meet those growing needs.

“It’s one of the largest programs we have, and it’s expected to grow significantly, especially considering our changing population,” says Robin Pigg, dean of health sciences.

Since 2004, the new Biotechnology and Simulation Center has been a priority for Dr. Lamm and the college. But after attempts by the college to secure federal grants for the $9 million building were unsuccessful, the Edgecombe County commissioners are proposing a quarter-cent sales tax increase to help fund this building and the Workforce Training Center on the college’s Tarboro campus.

Commissioners have been adamant about staving off property tax increases, and Pigg says a sales tax hike has been used to help other economically challenged counties in North Carolina.

Purchases of food, gasoline, motor vehicles, and agricultural machinery will be exempt from the tax increase, as will labor and services.

The sales tax referendum will be on the November 6 ballot.

“We have gone down every avenue,” explained Pigg, “but the cost benefits to a quarter-cent sales tax increase are huge. Health programs, especially in the long term, always are going to be viable.”

The new 45,000-square-foot building will have lab facilities and classrooms. It also will enable the college to simulate a hospital environment, such as rooms for emergency treatment, surgeries, and basic treatment.

“Right now, many of our students have to drive to clinical sites,” Dr. Lamm says. “We want to be able to put them in scenarios in which they feel like they’re in a hospital environment with realistic settings.”

At present, the college has a mobile simulator, but it’s a one-room set-up used daily by several instructors on campus. Pigg says that only five to six students can use the mobile classroom at a time.

“We’ve had 30 to 40 percent more applicants for health care classes in the past three to four years,” Pigg says. “We can’t accommodate all of them. We can’t grow because we don’t have the space.”

With an older population, particularly in Edgecombe County, the college’s present health sciences programs will be in demand for years to come. And the college wants to add specialty programs to cater to specific needs in the community.

“We need to offer new programs; we just don’t have room,” Pigg added.

Some of the new classes the college hopes to teach in the new facility include asthma education certification, breastfeeding/lactation therapy, geriatric aide, health coach, home care aide, and mammography.

“Jobs in these fields are available,” Dr. Lamm says. “The jobs have excellent salaries and benefits.

“A new facility would allow us to add programs that would prepare students for these jobs.”

 

Text Only
Local News
  • DWI-Tests.jpg NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Susan-Barnes-headshot.jpg Measles cases have state health officials concerned

    Twenty-three cases of the measles have been reported in North Carolina in a recent outbreak and has state health officials concerned.
    “It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • MLK-Property.jpg County still looking for bids on 41 properties

    While county commissioners have accepted bids on seven foreclosure properties, a total of 41 others remain available for interested parties to submit bids.
    County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Buddy.jpg Scouts honor ‘Buddy’ Hooks

    Try as he might, master of ceremonies Dave Sharpe was unable to talk someone into telling an unexpected story on Ellis “Buddy” Hooks as Hooks was recognized as the 2013 Edgecombe County Distinguished Citizen Award recipient by the Boy Scouts of America.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sheriff_Knight.jpg Sheriff's Department to host junior academy

    The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department will be hosting a junior academy for students ages 13-18 years old. Sheriff James Knight believes that this is the most important times of a juvenile's life and wants them to learn about the criminal justice system.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Andrews.jpg Andrews assumes new position at ECPS Central Services

    John Farrelly, Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS), announced this week that Shawna Andrews has been named the Director of Middle Schools and Title I in the Educational Program Services Office at Central Services.
    Andrews, who most recently served as the Director of Elementary Schools and Title I, began her tenure with ECPS in 1995 as a math and science teacher at C.B. Martin Middle School. Following her completion of a Master’s in School Administration, she served as an administrative intern at G.W. Bulluck Elementary, SouthWest Edgecombe High School and Tarboro High School before being named an assistant principal at Tarboro High School in 2003.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Big ‘Happening’ set for Tarboro Saturday

    At no time of the year is Tarboro’s Town Common more bustling with activity than the second Saturday in May. It’s that time of year again and the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common is set for 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.
    “I think we’ve got a good day coming up,” said Carol Banks, event coordinator for the Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council. “We’ve got record-breaking (number of) vendors. So far we’re up to 56.”

    May 13, 2013

  • Pinetops 300 kicks into gear this weekend

    One of the biggest community events in the southern part of Edgecombe County – the Pinetops 300 – is set for Friday and Saturday at its usual spot – 309 School St. at the ballpark in Pinetops. The truck and tractor pull, South Edgecombe Rural Fire Department’s fundraiser of the year, is a longstanding tradition.

    May 13, 2013

  • BulluckScienceFair-Brake.jpg Bulluck Elementary science fair

    G.W. Bulluck Elementary School hosted a science fair on April 29 for all students in the third, fourth and fifth grade.

    May 10, 2013 1 Photo

  • Daughtridge keynote speaker for ECC graduation Saturday

    “The world out there starts here” is Edgecombe Community College (ECC)’s motto, and for hundreds of students, the “world out there” begins Saturday at spring graduation.
    ECC’s 44th spring commencement will begin at 10 a.m. in the Keihin Auditorium on the Tarboro campus.

    May 9, 2013