Adrienne Clark

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Local School Officials Fight Overcrowding Issues

By Adrienne Clark | May 1

As this school year winds up, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools officials are starting to prepare for next year. The system is addressing issues of overcrowding in schools, the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances and the Minority Student Achievement Plan. But system Assistant Superintendent Steve Scroggs said overcrowding is detrimental to the quality of schools. "Overcrowding affects all kids," he said. "It's not helping education.

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New Committee Hopes to Boost Minority Plan

By Adrienne Clark | April 30

Dissatisfaction with the progress of local schools' Minority Student Achievement Plan, which was designed about a year ago to reduce the achievement gap between white and minority students, has prompted the creation of a new group to oversee the program. About 50 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools staff members and parents involved with the minority achievement plan met Monday at Lincoln Center in Chapel Hill to discuss the introduction of a six-member steering committee.

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Council to Consider Halting Fourth of July Celebration

By Adrienne Clark | April 24

This year's Fourth of July celebration in Chapel Hill could be cut or even eliminated to save the town money. The Chapel Hill Town Council is holding a work session today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to discuss ways of saving money, where options including canceling the annual celebration likely will be discussed. Officials say spending needs to be selective this year to account for the state's $900 million budget shortfall. Because of the deficit, the state withheld $1.4 million from Chapel Hill this year.

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Low Turnout Marks Ordinance Meeting

By Adrienne Clark | April 22

The number of residents at a forum Thursday on Chapel Hill's development ordinance could have been counted on two hands. Only six residents made the trip to the Chapel Hill Town Hall. But town officials say the small crowd still managed to raise important questions. "The topics (Thursday night) were a repeat of Monday's issues at the (Chapel Hill Town) Council meeting," said Planning Director Roger Waldon. "My sense is more and more people are watching the meetings on television."

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Community Turns Out to Support Renovated McDonald's House

By Adrienne Clark | April 15

As eight-year-old Joelle Tatum sinks the basketball into the hoop, 2001-02 UNC basketball player Adam Boone jokes to teammate Jackie Manuel. "She's got a better shot than you do," Boone said to Manuel. Boone, Manuel, Jawad Williams and Melvin Scott -- all members of the 2001-02 North Carolina men's basketball team -- were on hand Saturday to celebrate the re-opening of the Ronald McDonald House, located at 101 Old Mason Farm Road. "They asked us to come by and play with the kids," Boone said.

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Area Landlords Fear Consequences of Ordinance, $10 Fee

By Adrienne Clark | April 12

The mere mention of Chapel Hill's new rental licensing ordinance elicits an immediate reaction from Shari Staccio, property manager of 82 Magnolia at 100 Saluda Court. "We're against it," Staccio said quickly. "I don't think the ordinance deals with the issues. They should enforce the laws already in the books." And Staccio is not alone in this opinion.

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New Registration Options Fast, Easy

By Adrienne Clark | April 5

Parents planning on registering their children for pre-k or kindergarten in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools have a new range of options this year. In previous years, parents could only register during one of two registration sessions. This year, parents can bring in registration forms any day of the week, and they can also request forms be sent to their homes. Assistant Superintendent Stephen Scroggs said the change was implemented to replace a hectic registration process that required an abundance of staff. "Last year almost 400 kids registered in two days," Scroggs said.

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Schools Aim to Capitalize on Break

By Adrienne Clark | April 3

Next Monday, students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will take their first steps back in school on newly buffed and waxed floors. While students spent the week relaxing and vacationing, some system employees used the peace and quiet to concentrate on both office and maintenance work. "During Spring Break, I catch up on paperwork," said Steve Scroggs, assistant superintendent for support services. "We don't get many calls.

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OWASA Software Causes Billing Error

By Adrienne Clark | March 22

Six thousand northeastern Chapel Hill residents received incorrect account statements this week from the Orange Water and Sewer Authority. Bills sent to residencies east of Airport Road and north of N.C. 54 failed to take into account payments customers had made since the last billing period. OWASA realized the problem when a customer called the company regarding his statement. "Some payments made were not posted correctly," OWASA Public Affairs spokesman Greg Feller said. "Some items were not shown as credited."

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School Board Discusses Minority Achievement Plan

By Adrienne Clark | March 22

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education held a special meeting March 14 to discuss concerns raised about the Minority Student Achievement Plan. The program, in its first year of implementation, was developed to eliminate the difference in academic achievement between white and minority students. The special meeting was called as a result of concerns raised by members of the community at Feb. 21 and March 7 board meetings regarding the Minority Student Achievement Plan report.