NHC SCHOOL BOARD HIRES
NEW BLACK SUPERINTENDENT
By Cash Michaels
Staff writer
The New Hanover County Board of Education has hired the first African-American superintendent in modern history to lead the school system in it’s history.
His name is Dr. Charles Foust - the superintendent of the Kansas City, Kansas Public School System since August 2018, and according to the New Hanover County NAACP, when Dr. Foust starts on Sept. 1st, he has a lot of work to do.
“The New Hanover County NAACP welcomes Dr. Foust to our community, Ms. Deborah Dicks-Maxwell, president of the New Hanover County NAACP said in a statement to the Journal.
“It is always good to return home as he is doing by coming back to North Carolina. He has a history of improving school systems and we all know New Hanover is in need of improvement to become a fairer and more equitable school system.”
“He has a lot of work to do,” Ms. Dicks-Maxwell said.
“Issues like elementary school suspension, increasing staff morale, providing a safe environment teaching environment during COVID, reductions of SROs for disciplinary measures the school should address, are just a few of the issues he will have to contend with in the opinion of this branch,” Dicks-Maxwell continued.
“We are also cognizant of the fact he will be the first African American school superintendent since Reconstruction,” she continued. “This is important from a historical perspective and his presence should also encourage our youth to aspire for a career in education. He will be held to the same standards of accountability as any other superintendent.
“It is our sincere hope that the community, school board, staff, principals, teachers and non-classified personnel support him as there will be change because there has to be for this county to improve. Our courts have stated that each child deserves a 'sound basic education" which we are not equitably providing. Dr. Foust has a large task and with our support it can be achieved.”
Dr. Foust, unanimously chosen by the school board from a list of 39 well-qualified candidates, will earn $225,000 annually as NHC school supt. As far as School Board Chair Lisa Estep is concerned, he’s worth every penny.
“The members of the New Hanover County Board of Education unanimously and enthusiastically support Dr. Foust’s selection as our new superintendent,” Estep said in a statement. “We are certain that Dr. Foust’s energy, aggressive goal-setting, and experience with school turnaround will lead our high-achieving school system to even higher achievement. His demonstrated commitment to equity, communication, and transparency made his selection a strong choice for our schools and our community right now.”
Foust was appreciative.
“Thank you to the New Hanover County Board of Education in this new partnership,” said the new supt. said Friday. “What an honor to be entrusted as the next district leader of New Hanover County Schools. I sincerely believe all students have the ability to learn; our job is to create and offer a first-class education in a safe and inviting setting. My charge is to assist all employees in the development of our school district so that we move from a good district to a world-class educational facility. I’m thrilled to be at the helm at this critical moment for our school district, which I believe has the potential to be an exemplar of educational excellence and social impact.”
Charles Foust has deep North Carolina roots.
Before leading Kansas City Public Schools, Foust was chief school performance officer in the Union County Public Schools in Monroe. He started his education career as a fourth grade teacher, then as a principal, asst. principal, and curriculum facilitator for the Guilford County School System in Greensboro.
Foust also served as an asst. principal, school support officer and principal in the Houston Independent School District in Houston, Texas.
He has served in public education for 23 years, and has a strong record of student achievement.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 08-06-20
OAK ISLAND UNDER CURFEW IN HURRICANE AFTERMATH
[OAK ISLAND] One of the coastal areas damaged by Hurricane Isaias was Oak Island, forcing officials to order a mandatory evacuation and daily curfew in the storm’s aftermath. Sections of the island were ordered closed, including the beach, until further notice as a result of flooding, wind damage and power outages. Several other coastal and Eastern North Carolina areas, including Wilmington, also experienced wind and flooding damage.
ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR WANTS UNC-CHAPEL HILL TO CANCEL IN-PERSON CLASSES
[CHAPEL HILL] With COVID-19 cases in Orange County nearly doubling since June, Health Director Quintana Stewart wants UNC-Chapel Hill to curtail in-person instruction until November, or at least for the first five weeks of the fall semester. Stewart, in a letter to the university, wants student housing to be restricted to only at-risk and international students. UNC faculty have already expressed similar concerns abut the school reopening.
UNCW CREATES CAMPUS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE
[WILMINGTON] In an effort to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion on UNC-Wilmington’s campus, and in the aftermath of the death of controversial Professor Mike Adams, the school has created The Chancellor’s Renewal and Change Accountability Committee. The group will be comprised of both students and board members. Chancellor Jose Sartarelli says the committee is an “opportunity to reaffirm the university ’s commitment to an inclusive campus.” Prof. Adams was forced to resign from UNC-W because of statements he made that many considered to be racist and sexist. He was found dead in his home two weeks ago, the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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LOCAL BLM LEADER SAYS
NOTHING LESS THAN
“BLACK LIVES MATTER.”
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
The leader of “Black Lives Matter-Wilmington” agrees with City Councilman Kevin Spears - nothing less than BLACK LIVES MATTER for a street mural will do, to be placed on Third Street downtown.
Sonya Patrick, head of the group, as well as the National Black Leadership Caucus for the Southeastern Region, tells the Wilmington Journal that neither she nor her member will accept any of the substitutes offered by City Council members in an attempt to soft-soap the message.
We will not compromise on the Black Lives Matter Street Mural on Third Street,” Ms. Patrick told The Journal.
“If the Mayor Pro Tem honors Congressman John Lewis as she stated in the last city council meeting. she would respect the fact that the last public appearance Congressman Lewis appeared, was on Black Lives Matter Plaza in [Washington]DC which is the name of a street which displays a Black Lives Matter street mural. We feel certain that if Congressman Lewis was here today, he would have concerns with the mayor and City Council not approving a street mural in a city that imposed the only successful government takeover known as the 1898 Massacre - killing unarmed black men, women and children.”
Noting that “…old school good old boy money doe not fund all …tax dollars generated by New Hanover County, just a portion,” Ms. Patrick went on to assert that “We are taxpayers too, and 5000 of [us] petitioned for a BLACK LIVES MATTER street mural although the petition was altered and there was no way [to] change it back.”
Patrick further states that BLM was not asked “to the table” by those planning the art installation that the council seems to be leaning towards.
“The current artwork needs improvement to reflect the spirit and historical significance of our culture. The city’s request for “Black Lives Do Matter” …is unacceptable. If Black lives do matter w would not need the movement Black Lives Matter.”
Ms. Patrick also made the point that the BLACK LIVES MATTER street mural on Third Street would not be a traffic obstruction in any way.
“BLM street murals are visible by plane, helicopter and walking traffic. There is no walking traffic on Third street which is where we want the mural to protect it from vandalism.”
“However, the [mural] can be visible from the 1898 monument if placed on Third Street.
The Council is expected to make it’s decision at it’s next meeting.
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OBAMA MAKES NC
ENDORSEMENTS
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Remember when former President Barack Obama was carefully keeping himself publicly at arms length from anything political once he left office?
Well apparently those days are over. Beyond giving a full-throated endorsement of his former vice president in the upcoming November election a few weeks ago, and speaking out forcefully against what he sees are the excesses of the current Trump Administration, the nation’s first black former U.S. president is now endorsing 118 Democratic candidates for federal, statewide and state legislative offices across the country, including here in North Carolina.
The high-profile move further confirms North Carolina as an important swing state in the crucial Nov. 3rd elections. Pres. Trump had already declared North Carolina as a key state in his re-election, having originally chosen it for his Republican National Convention, only to cancel much of it here because of COVID-19.
According to the press release from his office, Obama “… set guiding principles for issuing this fall’s endorsements. He selected candidates because their election would advance key goals: winning control of the U.S. Senate and holding the majority in the U.S. House; electing Democrats who will support fair redistricting in 2021; supporting alumni of his campaigns and Administration; and promoting diverse, emerging leaders for this time.”
In his Monday endorsement announcement, Obama threw his backing behind incumbent Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, now vying for his second term.
Then Obama listed several Democratic statewide hopefuls for support, including state Rep. Yvonne Lewis Holley for lt. Governor, Ronnie Chatterji for state treasurer, Wake County Commissioner Jessica Holmes for state labor commissioner, and former state Sen. Cal Cunningham for U.S. senator, and former state Supreme Court Associate Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson for U.S. House Eighth Congressional District.
Other Obama picks for the November 3rd elections were new Democratic candidates for the state House and Senate, including Brian Farkas in District 9; Adam Ericson in District 20; Terence Everett in District 35; Sydney Batch in District 37; Kimberly Hardy in District 43; Frances Jackson in District 45; Ricky Hurtado in District 63; Dan Besse in District 74; Christy Clarke in District 98; and Brandon Lofton in District 104.
For the N.C. State Senate, former Pres. Obama endorsed Donna Lake for District 7; Harper Peterson for District 9, Allen Wellons for District 11 and Kirk deViere for District 19.
Pres. Obama is also expected to be active in terms of fundraising and campaigning for Democratic candidates this election.
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