Board revisits school district options
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 29, 2018 5:50 AM
The Wayne County Board of Education voted Wednesday to pursue a demographic study as part of its efforts to move district lines.
Earlier this year, the school system formed a student reassignment committee to begin gathering information on redistricting, prompted in part by the state's mandate to address class-size legislation.
The school board had already placed a moratorium on student transfers more than a year ago.
This is not the first time the notion of a district study has been introduced, although the one more than a decade ago had been spearheaded and funded by the county commission.
"We had had an Evergreen study done years ago," said Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore. "It was quite expensive, and I'm not even sure they're even still doing this.
"We've reached out to N.C. State, who does some similar work, and they're about two years behind."
He said he had had a conversation with McKibben Demographics, a South Carolina-based company that offers targeted research and advice to school systems, planners and developers.
His request was to have a representative attend the July 23 school board meeting to share what the company could do.
"All I'm asking for tonight is approval to go ahead and allow him to come here and hear his presentation," he said.
The suggestion met with some resistance.
The board engaged in a lengthy discussion about the merits and pitfalls of inviting only one potential company to the table.
"What are the plans for what you're going to do with this information?" board member Arnold Flowers asked.
Dunsmore said that ultimately there is a desire to fill empty space and address capacity of the school buildings, especially if the attendance lines will be adjusted in the future.
Flowers said he remembered the Evergreen study and the hefty price tag it had attached -- an estimated $125,000.
Evergreen Solutions was a Florida-based consulting firm hired in 2005 by the commission to assess the needs of the school system. The comprehensive report was released in May 2006, resulting in a series of community meetings, visits to individual schools and surveys about the needs and priorities related to finances and facilities.
He said he had read the final report, which was quite lengthy in size as well as scope.
"The other report went all into the number of personnel we needed, the number of maintenance (workers needed). I don't know how much the Board of Education took and used out of that, but it didn't seem like a whole lot," he said, asking Dusnmore, "Do you feel like your staff and the folks we have on board with the information we have could make these kinds of decisions without hiring outside counsel?"
Dunsmore maintained it is "always good" to have impartial representation from outside the area weigh in.
He said he had spoken with a representative from McKibben as well as the superintendent in Union County, a beneficiary of McKibben's work.
"Their staff went through this and did an awful lot of work and missed, I think, the exact term was 'missed the forest because some trees got in the way,'" Dunsmore said. "I was very impressed with what (McKibben) brings to the table."
Flowers suggested the possibility of other companies, especially locally, that might provide similar information. The superintendent said he was comfortable looking into that.
Flowers, who reminded everyone that he has long been an advocate for redrawing district lines, said his reservations stemmed more from the stigma associated with enlisting the help of a consultant.
"If you want nothing to happen, get a consultant," he said. "I want something to happen. I don't want to waste a lot of time and spend a lot of money.
"I will certainly submit to the collective wisdom of the board."
Others shared their concerns.
Board member Len Henderson said his issue was with putting any projects out to bid before hearing a presentation.
Board member Jennifer Strickland sought clarification of the potential cost of such a study.
And board member Rick Pridgen said he would welcome the chance to speak with other districts that had used McKibben's services.
Flowers wound up withdrawing his motion and recasting it.
"I move that we ask this gentleman to come and do his presentation, that we be willing to compensate him for reasonable expenses, that reasonable amount to be determined by the superintendent, and that if we enter a contract with him that the fee that we pay for this presentation be deducted from his contract," he said, referencing the potential contract amount of $26,900.
Dunsmore said he thought that was reasonable, adding that he would also begin investigating other companies that might offer up similar services.