By Kyle M,Neely
Taylorsville Times
http://www.taylorsvilletimes.com/localstory1.htm
On
Jan. 12, U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx visited Alexander County
on her “Listening Tour.”
Local community leaders and elected officials were in attendance at the Catawba
Valley Community College Alexander Campus to speak with Foxx on issues they
would like for her to address during her term in Washington.
Foxx, who was recently elected to serve the 5th District, said she was eager to
come to Alexander
County, and wants to help
the county.
“We want to help you in any possible way we can,” she said. “I’m elected to
office to help you with what you're struggling with.”
Foxx spoke of how she was very familiar with the struggles of Alexander County.
“I grew up in Avery
County, a not unsimilar
situation, and I’m quite familiar with the struggles of smaller counties in the
district.”
Jack Hoke, Superintendent of Alexander County Schools, said one of the main
issues is the Title Five funding. Hoke said that about $32,000 is used for high
school drop-out prevention. The prevention program used 46 percent of the
salary to employ a person to help with dropout prevention. Hoke related that in
the 2001-02 school year, there were 125 dropouts; however, after employing a
full-time specialist the next year, the number dropped to 93 dropouts. Dropouts
for the 2003-04 school year fell to only 82.
“Without the federal funding, it would be very difficult for us to be able to
fund a full position to meet the needs of that target operation,” Hoke said.
“The more students we can keep in school, the better opportunities they have.”
Foxx said she would do her best to get the funding where it needs to be.
“Anytime there is any flexible funding coming out of the government, you will
find me on your side,” said Foxx.
Another issue that Hoke discussed was the ‘No Child Left Behind Act.’ Hoke said
that in the past year, 88 percent of students in Alexander County
schools were at or above grade level. Unfortunately, one local school is
considered low-performing.
“The federal government should consider looking at the growth we’re making
instead of being so imputative if we are making progress towards that goal, I
think that would be fair,” Hoke exclaimed. “The federal government should
consider looking at the AYP (adequate yearly progress) component and be a little
more flexible and try to meet needs of students in schools.”
Foxx said that in ‘No Child Left Behind,’ it
should be all or nothing. She agreed that there is not enough attention paid to
the growth being made. Foxx said she is to be appointed to the U.S. House
Education Committee.
“We will do everything we can to bring your concerns up,” Foxx said.
Town Manager David Odom discussed a town issue concerning the infrastructure of
the feeder lines from the water company.
“We operate the only wastewater treatment plant in the county,” said Odom. He
noted that many of the feeder lines in Alexander County
have been in the ground since the late 1950s, and they are beginning to fail.
“There’s just not a lot of money for grant funds,” he remarked.
Foxx said she would help with grant proposals any way she could, and would
fight tooth and nail to get the county’s fair share of the money.
“By golly, if there’s money there, I’ll go to work to get that money in the 5th
District,” she said.
Commissioner Darrell Robertson addressed the matter of installing water lines
on a pay-as-you-go basis. He said the county is looking at an area north of
Hwy. 64/90, which is a rural, primarily agricultural area.
“If there is any funding available, grants, loans, or zero interest loans, we
would like to know about it,” Robertson said.
Foxx said she would do whatever she can to help with the issue of water.
Another important issue to promote tourism and trade in Alexander County
was discussed by Chip Sweeney, President of the Alexander County Chamber of
Commerce’s Board of Directors.
“Until we can get our names on the map, we are going to have a difficult time
having tourism and trade,” Sweeney said. “We have a beautiful county, and we
have plenty of property for development.”
He said that if any grants can be brought through the chamber to the county, it
would be greatly appreciated.
“We want to take the chamber, the city, the county, the schools, and link them
all together and be a spokesperson for them,” Sweeney said.
Foxx said that if the Chamber was applying for grants or looking for funds,
that she would certainly be glad to help.
Dr. Cuyler Dunbar, President of Catawba Valley Community College, discussed the
origin of the Hickory Metro Higher Education Center. Jane Everson, executive
director of the organization, said that the center has been open for 18 months,
and currently has eight colleges/universities that are affiliated with the
center.
“Our center is the first and only Higher Education Center in North Carolina,” said Everson.
“I think community colleges do not get the respect that they deserve,” Foxx
said.
In conclusion, Foxx spoke a little about herself.
“I’m not a real complicated person. I try to respond when I can,” she said. “I
will not talk in riddles.”
Foxx said that she would do her best to get the answers for Alexander County.
“If I know the answer to something, I will tell, if I don’t know the answer, we
will work together to figure out the answer.”
