Chapel Hill Herald (Durham, NC) April 7, 2009

HEADLINE:  Hagan hears education concerns during visit

By Lisa A. Young

EFLAND -- County school officials shared their concerns over standardized testing and federal education funding with U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan during a brief visit by the Greensboro Democrat to Gravelly Hill Middle School on Monday.

Hagan toured the school with 2008-09 National Teacher of the Year finalist Cindi Rigsbee, who teaches reading at Gravelly Hill. It was the first of several stops for Hagan as she spends the Senate's April recess traveling across North Carolina to talk with citizens about some of the state's most critical issues.

Of particular concern for the school board and Superintendent Patrick Rhodes is the status of the federal No Child Left Behind Act under the new administration.

While the district appreciates the intent of the law -- to provide greater accountability in public education -- officials say serious reforms are needed because the law as written is too "one-size-fits-all." Rhodes said there are even some schools that refuse Title I funding under No Child Left Behind because they fear the sanctions associated with being branded a "failing school."

Hagan agreed that No Child Left Behind is too broad, and promised to make education a top priority along with health care and the economy. Board member Debbie Piscitelli pointed out that the latter two issues also "affect what students bring to school" in terms of their overall physical and emotional health.

Another key issue for North Carolina's junior senator is unemployment, which continues to rise across the state.

"We've got to be sure we're educating students for jobs," Hagan said, and part of that goal means making college and vocational programs attainable and affordable.

Hagan also used Monday's visit to publicize a 77-page reference guide prepared by her office that details money available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and how local governments will receive the funds. Included in the guide, Hagan said, is information on $15.6 billion in Pell grants that are part of the federal stimulus package.

Piscitelli said she's glad to know the information is available, and echoed the sentiments of many elected officials in Orange County when she said that the stimulus package has "been confusing because we don't know the procedure."

In addition to school board Chairman Stephen Halkiotis and other county school officials present at Gravelly Hill on Monday, state legislators Sen. Ellie Kinnaird (D-Orange, Person) and Rep. Bill Faison (D-Caswell, Orange) were in attendance. Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass and Mayor Tom Stevens welcomed Hagan on behalf of Orange County and the town of Hillsborough, respectively.