By Jessie Burchette

Salisbury Post

The chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners said he was “flabbergasted” at news that the Rowan-Salisbury School System ranks near the bottom statewide in the federal No Child Left Behind accountability program.

School officials revealed Monday night that the system is in the bottom 11 in the state and faces mandatory corrective action.

“I had no hint,” commissioners Chairman Arnold Chamberlain said Thursday. “I was totally taken aback and flabbergasted.”

Another commissioner expressed surprise, while another questioned school officials’ contention they didn’t know the school system faced mandated state action.

Chamberlain and other commissioners weren’t told in advance of the report to the school board Monday night. Commissioners attended the swearing-in of new school board members and the election of officers, but most didn’t stay to hear the bad news.

“I found out by reading the paper,” Chamberlain said. “To say that I’m concerned is an understatement.” He went on to emphasize the dual concern for educating children and the impact on the county’s economic development.

“Since Monday night, I have been in touch with Dr. (Judy) Grissom (Rowan-Salisbury superintendent) and with the chairman of the school board,” Chamberlain said.

The Board of Commissioners is set to discuss the state of the schools at its meeting Monday at 7 p.m. Chamberlain said he expects a vigorous discussion.

Vice Chairman Chad Mitchell, a teacher and athletic director at East Rowan High School, said he first heard at an East Rowan High staff meeting Monday afternoon.

“I was surprised. I don’t know anyone who was not surprised,” Mitchell said.

The school board and the commissioners need to figure out a way to work together to make the needed improvements, Mitchell said.

He also called for improved communications. “We can’t have a situation where the public or the commissioners or the school board doesn’t know what’s happening.”

Commissioner Jim Sides, who has closely scrutinized school spending in the past two years, wasn’t surprised.

“It just goes to prove what I say: You don’t fix it by throwing money at it. It’s about educating kids. We sure aren’t doing a very good job.”

Sides left no doubt he doesn’t believe the assertion by top school officials and board members that they didn’t know about the failing state of the school system.

“If they truly didn’t know, they should all resign,” Sides said.

He also said a 7 a.m. Monday breakfast for commissioners and the school board members at the Ellis Street office won’t be purely social.

“I wasn’t going only to have breakfast. I was going to talk school business,” Sides said.

Advised that the county had not given public notice of the meeting, Sides said he might change his topics.

“I wouldn’t have dreamed that the county wouldn’t have given public notice …If we haven’t, I’ll go and talk about Christmas,” Sides said.

After consultations, Carolyn Athey, clerk to the Board of Commissioners, said late Thursday, the county will post a notice of commissioners attending a social event, hosted by the school board.