[THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: On Thursday, Darrell Allison became the 12th chancellor of Fayetteville State University, an historically Black university, the history of which stretches back to 1867. His tenure officially begins March 15. Allison is a former member of the UNC Board of Governors and resigned from that position last fall to pursue the top job at FSU. He beat out more than 60 other candidates and was appointed by the UNC board, which governs FSU and other state universities. Some have objected to his appointment, while others say he should be given a fair chance to succeed. What are your own thoughts about the selection of Allison to lead FSU? Share your comments online at bit.ly/fayopinion, see the form below this article or email eletters@fayobserver. com, subject line: Observer forum. We’ll publish a selection of responses.]
Gary Pearce
One of North Carolina’s most enduring political alliances – teachers and the Democratic Party – is being tested by today’s debate over reopening schools.
The ties, which go back decades, have been strained before, and survived. But this may be the toughest test.
I was surprised recently when three Democrats, in separate conversations, complained about the “teachers’ union” resisting reopening schools. The N.C. Association of Educators isn’t a union; that’s prohibited by state law. And “teachers’ union” is a term you usually hear from Republicans never as a term of endearment.
The NCAE supported Gov. Roy Cooper and Democratic legislative candidates in 2016, 2018 and 2020. Teachers marched on Raleigh to protest what they considered meager pay raises from the Republican General Assembly.
Which Pa. schools had the largest number of arrests in 2019-20?
Updated Feb 15, 2021;
The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s annual Safe Schools report for the 2019-20 school year showed a noticeable drop in reported arrests.
Districts are required to submit their misconduct reports, both criminal and academic infractions, to the state every year. Reporting sometimes changes from year-to-year, but no changes were made last school year.
Last year, the top three criminal reasons why students were in trouble statewide were:
Possession, use, or sale of tobacco or vaping 8.34 percent
Fighting 8.14 percent
Minor altercation 5.42 percent
Here’s a list of the schools that had the largest number of arrests, and the crime that was most common at each school.
Cumberland schools crowns first-ever winner of virtual spelling bee
But to compete in the official bee, he had to wait two years.
When Zachary’s shot came, he did not miss. On Friday, the VanStory Hills Elementary School student beat three of the county’s other top spellers to punch his ticket to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, usually held in Washington, D.C. The championship word was “girder,” an iron or steel beam.
Zachary is the son of Jeffrey and Rachel Thurnher and older brother of Ryan Thurnher, 6. His fourth-grade teacher at VanStory is Avery Cameron.
“This is something he’s wanted for a long time,” Zachary’s mother said. “We’ve tried to encourage him just to have fun. But he’s worked so hard and we’re so proud of him.”