NAACP Sponsors Education Forum to Discuss Possible Legislative Impacts on Public Education

MEDIA ADVISORY

Immediate Release

March 21, 2011                                 

Contact:  Rev. Andre’ D. Knight, President, (252) 544-2949

Reuben Blackwell, NC NAACP Community Coordination Chair (252) 544-3343

    

NAACP Sponsors Education Forum to Discuss Possible Legislative Impacts on Public Education

Rocky Mount, NC – The Rocky Mount Branch of the NAACP, in conjunction with area ministers, will host a discussion with local and statewide leaders in education.  “The NC General Assembly is on a fast track to drastically change the face of public education,” Andre’ Knight, President of the Rocky Mount Branch said. “We want to make sure that our local legislators and the people they serve understand the full ramifications that Senate Bill 8 will have on public schools in the Nash/Rocky Mount and Edgecombe County Public Schools.”  This bill deals with lifting the cap on charter schools in North Carolina as well as their funding and governance.

The Education Forum will be held in the OIC Auditorium located at 402 E. Virginia Street at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24th.  Reuben Blackwell, NC NAACP Community Coordination Chair stated, “The North Carolina NAACP and the HKonJ coalition has made a clear call to all chapters throughout the state to support progressive legislation that helps every child in North Carolina receive a sound education.  We want to have a good dialogue that might help our legislators craft and support bills that will move our state forward, not cripple and destroy public education opportunities for every child.” 

Confirmed panelists to date are: Rick McMahon, Retiring Nash/Rocky Mount Public Schools Superintendent; Marvin Pittman, Education Consultant and former Associate Superintendent of NC Public Schools; Evelyn Wilson, Chair of the Edgecombe County Board of Education; Michael Pratt, Headmaster, Rocky Mount Preparatory School; Keith Sutton, Wake County School Board Member; and NC Rep. Angela Bryant.  The complete delegation of members of the NC General Assembly from the Twin Counties has been invited to attend and participate.

Andre’ Knight added, “This forum is for everyone. We want to be able to discuss issues related to charter schools, education tax credits and any other issue that is relevant to the education of our children and that will either help our eastern North Carolina economies grow or fail.  We need everyone to be concerned and to attend. ” 

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