TARBORO —
“Awesome!” is the word that Brownie Eidson’s first-grade son, Temple, used to describe his first day of school Monday at North East Carolina Prep School (NECP)’s new facility.
That’s also the term that Eidson, chairman of NECP’s board of directors, used to describe NECP Executive Director John Westberg’s “vision and courage” to open the county’s first public charter school, at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the school’s new facility Thursday afternoon.
“The teachers are happy, the students are happy, so that lends itself to a very productive learning environment,” said Taro Knight, NECP’s director of communications/ community outreach.
“A lifelong love of learning” is what administrators and teachers at NECP instill in their students, Eidson told the crowd of hundreds of parents, educators and elected officials gathered in the school’s cafeteria.
Westberg, whom Knight described as “visionary behind the dream of NECP,” recognized the school’s board of directors and staff, which he called “the best team of educators that I’ve ever been around and associated with.” He also paid tribute to High Mark School Development of Utah for their investment in NECP’s property acquisition and renovation of the former home of the Mary Frances Center, a residential drug rehabilitation center for women.
“This really isn’t a risk for us; it’s an investment in the community,” said Glenn Hileman of High Mark. “In all honesty, this is just an extraordinary piece of ground and a great place to educate kids.”
Eidson also expressed his awe of the school’s new property.
“Can you just believe this place? It’s unbelievable,” he said.
NECP’s 52-acre property will not only accommodate the school’s 403 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, but also offer plenty of room for expansion. The site has separate buildings for kindergarten and first grade and second through eighth grade. In February, Westberg said NECP plans to break ground on a new building, which will house middle- and high school students. The school has an ultimate targeted enrollment of 2,200 students.
Tarboro Mayor Donald Morris thought NECP’s new location deserved a round of applause and asked the crowd at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to get up and cheer.
“On behalf of the Tarboro town council, we offer our congratulations to you and for the progress you have made in such a short amount of time. You are to be commended for such a beautiful campus, and the upgrade of the facilities, with great emphasis on future growth,” Morris said. “As you move forward, stressing the importance of a good education, good ethics and community involvement, these young folks can make a difference in the economic viability here in Tarboro and Edgecombe County, as well as adding to the quality of life we all enjoy.”
Later, the crowd got a chance to applaud once again when the school’s band played a rousing rendition of “Louie Louie.” The band has a room in which to practice for the first time at the new school.
Rep. Joe Tolson called Thursday’s ribbon cutting a “great day for education, especially in Edgecombe County.” He went on to say that education is “very key to the development of all our young people,” and stressed the importance of preparing students for jobs in today’s global economy.
Betty Jo Shepheard spoke on behalf of Sen. Richard Burr, and said he believes it is essential that “all North Carolina students have equal educational opportunities.”
Haley Cooper, an eighth grader at NECP and Morris’ granddaughter, appreciates the opportunity to receive an education at the charter school.
“I love the school. My teachers are wonderful,” she said. “It’s bigger, a lot more space and it’s just beautiful on the inside. It looks like a college campus.”
NECP is adjusting to its new location on the outskirts of Tarboro, at 274 Husky Trail off Howard Avenue Extension. The school opened its doors at a temporary facility last August, but soon outgrew the Davis Street facility leased from St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church. NECP was created through the North Carolina State Board of Education Fast Track Initiative after the state’s General Assembly lifted the cap on charter schools.
While the educational transition to the new semester has been smooth, the school still has some “kinks” to iron out at the new facility, said Knight, among them traffic flow during drop-off and pick-up times. All students arrive in personal vehicles rather than buses and the drive is narrow.
“Parking, with the help of the Tarboro Police Department directing traffic coming into and out of the property, has gotten better each day,” Knight said. “We’re going to explore some things to increase the effectiveness of the traffic flow.”
Homepage
Related Photos
-
Participating in Thursday’s ribbon cutting at NECP were (from left) Betty Jo Shepheard, of Sen. Richard Burr’s Rocky Mount office; board member Troy Lewis, Rep. Joe Tolson, board member Othar Woodard, Mayor Donald Morris, NECP executive director John Westberg, board chair Brownie Eidson, board member Dr. Jeffery Alejandro and board member Bernice Pitt. For The Daily Southerner
-
Tarboro Mayor Donald Morris (from left), NECP Executive Director John Westberg and NECP board chairman Brownie Eidson watch at the ribbon drops after being cut. For The Daily Southerner
NECP celebrates milestone
NECP RIBBON CUTTING
- Homepage
-
Nathan Sherrod (left) and his twin brother Melvin, of Tarboro, enjoy a carnival ride Saturday afternoon at the Happening on the Common. Abrams Rentals provided the rides.
-
HAPPENING ON THE COMMON
Tarboro’s Town Common was clearly the center of activity in town Saturday, with cars lining the streets surrounding the common, music that could be heard from blocks away, and a sea of people navigating their way through the vendors’ tables under a canopy of trees. The occasion was the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common.
- Entertainment variety highlights Saturdays Happening
- PINETOPS 300
-
HAPPENING ON THE COMMON
- Local News
-
-
Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers. - Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday
-
Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
- Sports
-
Tony Everett, of Wake Forest, backs his Chevrolet truck named DoeRunner up as he prepares to pull in the four wheel drive event Friday night.
-
Pinetops 300
PINETOPS – With the threat of rain during the weekend, it put a little damper on the Pinetops 300 Tractor and Truck Pull attendance. Friday night there was a large crowd in attendance, but not the amount it has been the last several years. There was 500 less people in attendance Friday then there was a year ago, but it didn't stop the pullers from slinging mud everywhere. The fans in one section even had a chance to see what it looked like when a belt breaks on a fine tuned machine. During the Mini Modified run, Thomas Coleman, of Stoneville, had a belt break on his KB 526 Pure Hell ride and the belt slung into the crowd. No one was injured.
- Vikings, Cougars compete in 2-A state meet
-
Pinetops 300
- Opinion
-
-
My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.
-
My 13 years have been lucky
- Lifestyles
-
-
Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.
-
- Obituaries Archives
-
-
MATTIE RUTH BULLOCK
BELVOIR — Mrs. Mattie Ruth Bullock, 81, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The funeral service will be conducted Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, Wilson.
Mrs. Bullock, a native of Wilson County and a lifelong resident of Pitt County, was a graduate of Belvoir-Falkland High School. She was engaged in farming with her husband until 1989 and was a charter member of Belvoir Free Will Baptist Church. - CLAYTON JERELL EPPS
- NONA DEE EZZELLE
- JESSE CLARENCE GARDNER JR.
- CHRISTINE GORHAM
-
MATTIE RUTH BULLOCK
- Food
-
-
Budget Friendly Deliciousness
It's nice to be able to put a good meal on the table without having to spend a fortune. Today's recipes are easy, delicious and inexpensive. But, they won't taste inexpensive. I hope that you will give them a try.
- Barbeque Bests
- Coffee isn't just a drink
- Reboot your pantry
-
- Events
-
-
Edgecombe Events May 20
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
-
Edgecombe Events May 20
- Our Community
-
-
Stocks Elementary School celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Week
In celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Week, Stocks Elementary School hosted several guest speakers and exciting activities during the first week of May.
- HOBGOOD SCIENCE FAIR
-
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
