ROANOKE RAPIDS — North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Director of District and Schools Transformation Dr. Pat Ashley was here Monday to talk about Halifax County Schools’ transformation plan, in particular the 12-new positions for master coaches.

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These $100,000 per year positions are the major expense in the $1.9 million plan to be funded as well as implemented by the district, according to the April ruling of Judge Howard Manning.

The district has been part of an ongoing Supreme Court case originally brought before Manning in an effort to bring more money to poor rural school systems. Manning ruled it the constitutional right of every child to receive a free basic education, but thus far hasn’t done much to channel funds into the poor rural systems to pay for it.

Manning’s recent ruling was Halifax County Schools were infringing on children’s educational rights and order a partnership between DPI officials and the Halifax County school district to raise it’s standards.

Ashley wouldn’t comment on how the district was suppose to pay for implementing the transformation plan or for the coaches, but said they are an integral part making the program work.

“Just talking about it doesn’t make change,” said Ashley. She explained this is not the first time master coaches have been used to raise standards in schools. It’s just the first time they’ve been used district wide. She said a similar model, the “Turn Around” initiative has been used in several high schools with positive results over the past three years. She said master or instructional coaches provide support and help teachers, principals and administrators stay on track with implementing training.

Schools involved in the “Turn Around” initiative model “had two years of performance below 60 percent of proficiency,” according to Ashley. She said two schools involved in that model for the past two years were Southeast Halifax and Northwest Halifax — Halifax County’s two high schools.

Data from the 2007-2008 school year show neither school reached proficiency or growth according to state standards and preliminary data projects, neither will perform at or above state standards for 2008-2009.

Ashley said she didn’t feel comfortable commenting on preliminary data results.

Ashley does insist the transformation plan is the way to go in attaining higher standards in student achievement in Halifax County Schools.

Judge Manning, who looked at the plan, agreed at the hearing and said he’d be watching and expecting positive results, or else.

Seven of the 12 positions for master coaches have been filled. For more information on the criteria for becoming a master coach, visit the district’s Web site at halifax.k12.nc.us.