North Carolina will receive about $70 million less this year than Congress authorized under a key provision of the bill, a landmark school reform law supported by President Bush, he said.
“The No Child Left Behind Act made a deal with local schools,” Edwards said. “It increased standards and accountability and in exchange promised new resources to make sure all students receive a quality education. President Bush has broken that promise.”
Nationwide, the $11.7 billion to be distributed later this year under the largest federal school aid program represents no more than three-fourths of the $16 billion authorized by the original law signed by the president. North Carolina’s $260 million share should have been $330 million for this school year, the senator said.
MOORE SCHOOLS — For Moore County, the funding estimate exceeds $2 million, according to Edwards.
Edwards, who grew up in Robbins and graduated from North Moore High School, said the smaller-than-promised increase in federal funds is coming from the workhorse of all federal programs for assistance to public schools. Known by educators as Title I, the program distributes aid, based on population and poverty level, to more than 90 percent of the nation’s elementary and secondary school districts.
“Schools across the state are scrambling to meet tough new standards,” Edwards said. “Our principals and teachers deserve more than another unfunded mandate.”
REAGAN DAY — State Sen. Patrick Ballantine of Wilmington, Senate Republican leader, will deliver the keynote address at the Moore County Republican Party’s Reagan Day fundraising dinner on Thursday, June 5.
Tickets are $50 per person, according to party Chairwoman Elizabeth Kelly. She said the party is also finding sponsors, hosts and patrons who are donating larger sums for the occasion.
Moore County Republicans stage a Reagan Day dinner rather than a Lincoln Day dinner, which is traditionally held in February.
The event at the Holiday Inn in Southern Pines will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception for sponsors, hosts and patrons. Dinner will begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the dinner and reception may be ordered by calling 639-1839 or 692-2476 and are also available on the Internet at www.mooregop.com.
LAND-USE — Several local governments, including Moore County, have not yet taken action on a proposed regional land-use plan designed to slow private development in areas adjacent to the Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base military installation.
However, this did not keep an advisory commission from celebrating with a banquet at the Fort Bragg Officers Club Thursday night. The celebration was actually held to mark the end of a two-year study of land-use needs in communities affected by the military presence. Each local government in the region had a representative on the commission.
The proposals, including some legislative actions, have been presented to the Moore County Board of Commissioners and to the Moore County Planning Board. The Moore County commissioners listened to the latest report at an April meeting but did not take a vote.
The village of Pinehurst is among the local governments that have voted to endorse the plan. Others are Scotland and Harnett counties, the municipalities of Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, and Laurinburg. Hoke County and the city of Raeford have turned it down, and the Cumberland County commissioners have called a public hearing on the proposal.
Among the legislative bills recommended by the commission are real estate disclosures for property within a mile of military installations and low density zoning requirements for land in areas designated as critical or important.
EASEMENT — The Moore County commissioners have authorized release of easement on two lots in the Seven Lakes West development.
The vote was taken as part of the consent agenda at an April board meeting.
The lots were acquired for installation of water lines, but Public Utilities Director Dennis Brobst informed the board that the property owner, Dennis Kalp, had requested release of the easement in order to combine the two lots. He recommended approval.
