Dave DeWitt

Wake Picks Merrill As New Superintendent

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:03:00 +0000

As homecomings go, this one was slightly delayed for James Merrill. He spent 16 years in a variety of administrative posts in the Wake County Schools in the 1980s and ‘90s, rising as high as associate superintendent. Once he became the top candidate earlier this month after a series of interviews and public events, it took another few weeks to iron out the contract details.

He says it was worth the wait.

NC Pulls Out Of Drought

Dave DeWitt — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:21:00 +0000

Thanks to recent rainfalls associated with Tropical Storm Andrea, North Carolina is now out of drought or abnormally dry conditions for the first time in three years.

The persistent drought has wreaked havoc on agriculture, affecting apple crops in the western part of the state and corn in the east.

Now, thanks to Tropical Storm Andrea and other rain events this spring, the state is no longer suffering from even the mildest classification of drought condition – abnormally dry or “D-zero” - for the first time in the past three years.

Wake School Board Split On Superintendent

Dave DeWitt — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:29:15 +0000

Tonight, the Wake County School Board will continue its discussions on hiring a superintendent.

It’s been more than two weeks since the three finalists for Wake Superintendent visited the district for a hectic few days of interviews and public appearances. Wake School Board Chair Keith Sutton initially indicated a new superintendent would be hired within a few days, but delays have pushed it back to tonight, at the earliest.

Two Teacher Training Programs, One Spot In The Budget

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:57:00 +0000

Back in the 1980s, North Carolina had a serious teacher problem. There were shortages in much of the state, but the bigger problem wasn’t how many teachers, but who they were.

“We had a real need to raise the scholastic profile of candidates for teaching and also to increase the numbers of males and minorities in teaching,” remembers Jo Ann Norris, President and Executive Director of the Public School Forum of North Carolina.

Veterans Affairs Chief Visits UNC

Dave DeWitt — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:56:25 +0000

The UNC System hosted the federal government’s top Veterans Affairs official yesterday. V.A. Secretary Eric Shinseki met with UNC leaders to discuss expanding higher education opportunities for military veterans.

Several UNC system schools have long and proud histories of educating military veterans. And as General Shinseki pointed out, veterans have a lot to offer the universities and the state of North Carolina as students and employees.

Report: NC High School Grad Rates Dip

Dave DeWitt — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:01:28 +0000

North Carolina’s high-school graduation rate is headed in the wrong direction. In the past two years, the state’s rate has dropped by about one percent.

Two years ago, North Carolina beat the national graduation rate average for the first time. Two years later, the state is back below the national average, as rates have gone up across the country and North Carolina’s have dipped.

President Obama Touts Technology In Mooresville

Dave DeWitt — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:13:52 +0000

President Barack Obama used a visit to a North Carolina middle school as an opportunity to promote a new White House effort to expand broadband internet access in schools.

Forest Leads Fight Against Common Core

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:45:34 +0000

North Carolina may join several other states in challenging the implementation of the Common Core standards.

The Common Core is a set of national standards for student learning. Forty-five states have adopted the Common Core standards for math and language arts; North Carolina did so two years ago. They were implemented this past year.

Wake Superintendents Face The Public

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 29 May 2013 01:53:51 +0000

The three finalists for Wake County Schools’ Superintendent answered questions from members of the community at a forum last night.

As expected for three people vying for the top job in the Wake Schools, Dana Bedden from Irving Texas, Ann Clark from Charlotte, and Jim Merrell from Virginia Beach, had some very nice things to say about the system they hope to lead.

“Coming to Wake County presents an opportunity to come to the state’s largest school district,” said Bedden, “but also one of the best school districts in the country.”

Jordan Lake Rules Threatened

Dave DeWitt — Mon, 27 May 2013 08:34:00 +0000

Thousands of visitors are expected to visit Jordan Lake on this Memorial Day. It’s a popular spot for boaters, kayakers, and campers. It’s also at the center of an ongoing fight over clean water.

In 1997, the State Legislature began the long, arduous process of addressing pollution in Jordan Lake. Algae blooms caused by upstream runoff threatened recreational activity on the Lake, and the drinking water that serves much of western Wake County.