Nash County Schools educates staff on possible reduction of staffing

Nash County Public School employees on Thursday are learning what their fate could be due to the district's demerger.

The demerger will send about 1,700 students from four different Nash County Schools to the Edgecombe County School District in July.

Until now, the Nash district has included four schools in the Edgecombe County portion of Rocky Mount. Edgecombe County pays Nash County Public Schools to educate some of its residents.

Brandy Taylor picks up her nephew five days a week from Baskerville Elementary School in Rocky Mount.

Taylor's biggest fear is a staffing shake-up for her nephew, who attends Baskerville Elementary, one of the schools that will move into the Edgecombe County School District.

"Routine is very important for him," Taylor said. "If he gets out of it, he gets frustrated and doesn't know what to do."

At a Board of Education meeting last month, Nash County Public Schools outlined the possibility of reducing staff members due to the demerger.

The number of positions impacted will not be clear until May because of several factors. Some may transfer districts or retire, and enrollment numbers for next year will also play a role.

"Those numbers will tell which path Nash County Public Schools will have to take," Heather Louise Finch, communications director for Nash County Public Schools, said.

The plan gives the district the right to cut positions based on work evaluations, student test performance, years of service and other factors if necessary.

Thursday's informational session is the first of three meetings that will help inform staff about possible changes.

"These info sessions are ways to be transparent and educational for all staff to understand what is happening or what may happen, so people can be informed instead of speculating and guessing. They'll be able to ask questions at these sessions," Finch said.

In a statement, Edgecombe County Public Schools said it is hiring to help staff at the four schools joining the district and will welcome any affected staff from Nash County to apply.

The following two information sessions on a possible reduction in force will be at the following dates and times:

Friday is the last day for current high school students to apply to be a legacy student, with the Nash district approving them to stay at their Nash County high school.