North Rowan High students wait outside school at the end of the day. Falling enrollment at North Rowan was a big issue in 2008, with supporters asking the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education for help boosting the flagging numbers. School board chairman Dr. Jim Emerson says the North situation 'is on my radar' for 2009. Photo by Wayne Hinshaw/Salisbury Post.

By Sarah Nagem

snagem@salisburypost.com

For the Rowan-Salisbury School System, 2008 brought good news and bad — especially when it came to money.

Statewide budget shortfalls meant the system had to cut more than $800,000 from its budget. And that was after high diesel prices forced school leaders to dip into local funds.

But in the midst of bleak economic setbacks, the school system was awarded several grants to fight an issue school leaders have been battling — the dropout rate.

Dr. Jim Emerson, chairman of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education, said he's looking forward to the programs being created from the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant.

The $6 million, which will be awarded over the next four years, will help school leaders focus on student risk factors.

"I'm anxious to see us implement some of these programs," Emerson said. "I'm anxious to see it make a difference."

Along with battling dropout rates, Emerson said his goal for the school system in 2009 is to improve students' test scores.

Another goal, he said, is to deal with issues at North Rowan High School.

Some North supporters spent much of 2008 pleading with the school board to boost the school's enrollment.

Shrinking enrollment means the school will be in the 1A athletic conference next fall.

"The whole North situation is on my radar," Emerson said. "They're very vocal. So many of them think the solution is transfer more white kids into the school. I don't look at it that way."

Instead, he said, school leaders need to set higher expectations for students at North.

Emerson said redistricting is not at the top of his 2009 to-do list.

"I don't know that redistricting is a goal," he said. "Certainly looking at it, to get us in a position to do the right thing, is a goal."

As for a central school administration office, Emerson has said he supports a proposal for the system's office to move into the former Winn-Dixie building on Jake Alexander Boulevard.

The sagging economy could work in the school system's favor, he said. Real-estate and construction prices are often cheaper in sour economic times.

Here are some of the top school system stories of 2008, in no particular order:

Redistricting plan?

Rowan-Salisbury school leaders hoped to take politics — and emotions — out of the equation when they voted in October to hire a planning firm to outline local school attendance needs.

For $40,000, the firm will consider growth patterns in Rowan, transportation efficiency, neighborhoods and schools' capacities.

The plan, which is scheduled to be ready in April, could offer school leaders a roadmap for new attendance boundaries.

If North Rowan High School supporters have their way, the new boundaries will boost the school's enrollment, which is leading to a drop to a lower athletic conference.

Dropout prevention

In 2008, the school system was awarded $6 million over the next four years from the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant.

The money, which comes from the U.S. Department of Education, will allow schools to focus on issues like violence prevention and mental health support.

West Rowan High School is getting $150,000 from the N.C. General Assembly Committee on Drop-Out Prevention for a new program.

And Communities in Schools, in partnership with the Rowan-Salisbury system, is getting a $113,000 state grant for a new program at North Rowan middle and high schools.

Central office

Rowan-Salisbury school leaders have wanted a central office for a long time now.

In 2008, the issue went from being a pie-in-the-sky dream to a real possibility.

Rowan County leaders are considering helping the school system consolidate its four administrative buildings into the former Winn-Dixie building on Jake Alexander Boulevard.

"I really think the potential is there to see this happen," board member Karen Carpenter said in September.

High fuel prices

Just about everybody complained when gas prices spiked to more than $4 a gallon in 2008.

The increase in fuel costs caused concern for the school system, too.

After they had to shell out some money last school year to pay diesel costs not covered by the state, school leaders decided to take the safe road and set aside $270,000 in the budget this year in case diesel prices held steady.

Prices dropped, and school leaders chose to put that extra cash toward the more than $800,000 that had to be returned to the state because of anticipated state budget shortfalls.

In early December, the school system was paying about $1.43 a gallon for diesel, compared the $4.11 a gallon in June.

Fewer trips for some

Some parents were outraged last fall when the school system said students with disabilities would not leave campus as often as they used to for activities, such as swimming at the YMCA.

In the past, students in some exceptional children's classes left school grounds as often as once a week for activities, school officials said.

They would go to the YMCA to train for the Special Olympics, visit the public library or practice shopping skills at local stores.

Now, students will be allowed to leave school 16 times a year to train for the Special Olympics.

Other trips, like shopping trips, will be considered based on students' needs, school officials said.

"I know the teachers are doing the best they can do. But there's only so much they can do in the classroom," Debbie File said in September. File's son, who has Down Syndrome, attends Carson High School.

The school board also started denying some regular field trip requests this fall. Some board members said they don't want students to lose valuable classroom time.

Elections

Rowan voters decided to keep Dr. Jim Emerson on the school board this election year.

Emerson, who serves as chairman of the board, was elected to serve a second term. He beat out Eric Trail, an educator in Cabarrus County Schools.

Board members Bryce Beard and Linda Freeze were also re-elected. They ran unopposed.

Math and science

In May, school board members gave Salisbury High School the go-ahead to offer students a math and science concentration.

Students who complete the academic track might qualify for a scholarship at Catawba College.

The timing of the academy caused a split vote among the board. Some school leaders said academies, or concentrations, should have gone in place systemwide at the same time.

Now, other schools are considering which academies they would like to host.

A new diploma option

Some students will now be able to graduate from Rowan-Salisbury high schools with fewer credits.

The school board approved a differentiated diploma program, in which they can graduate after earning 21 credits.

The Rowan-Salisbury School System requires 28 credits, while the state requires 20.

School leaders say the new program — for students with special circumstances — might reduce the dropout rate.

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