ROANOKE RAPIDS — Halifax County schools and the Department of Public Instruction took another step in their partnership to transform the district’s school system Monday.

N.C. Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison worked with Halifax County school board members, administrators and staff during professional development sessions Monday at William R. Davie Middle School. Here, Harrison and Superintendent Geraldine Middleton take the podium. Della Batts | Daily Herald Advertisement

School board members, administrators, principals and assistant principals met with State Department of Public Instruction officials at William R. Davie Schools for the beginning of professional development, as part of the transformation plan designed by the state and Superintendent Geraldine Middleton to bring Halifax County Schools to 100 percent proficiency.

The plan was approved in April by Judge Howard Manning as a “last chance” for the district to raise its standards in education for Halifax County students. District and state school leaders agreed this is a partnership to provide students with a quality education.

DPI Director of District and School Transformation Dr. Pat Ashley and State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison participated in the sessions with district leaders.

Harrison spoke on the importance of teamwork, focus on the same goals and the importance of honesty when assessing situations.

School Board Chair Debbie Hardy offered words of encouragement to participants, reminding them change is difficult but possible, as she introduced Gov. Bev Perdue to the session. “Change is uncomfortable, but we’ll make it,” she said. She encouraged participants to accept the changes and move forward saying, “The pain of change doesn’t last long.”

Participants were also schooled on the focal points of the transformation plan in this first session. Those focal points include higher expectations of students and staff, instructional excellence, stronger use of data, capacity building, more respect of parents teachers, staff and students, better time management and a system of accountability for everyone in the system. Participants were then trained on how to implement these points.

According to Middleton and Ashley, Halifax County’s transformation plan is different because it is uniquely designed for the Halifax County district.

Middleton said in earlier interviews, studies and surveys were performed to provide information about where the district is in terms of capacity, curriculum and the culture surrounding the students — that information was used by a DPI team to develop directional strategies to bring the district to higher standards and help them maintain those standards.

The plan’s premise is, “Belief that all children can learn, plus careful organization, plus instructional excellence equals student success at 100 percent proficiency.”

Working with the plan, everyone in the school district from the school board to administrators, principals and teachers, parents and students receive information. Participants are then monitored closely to insure they integrate that information into their everyday routine. The idea is to bring everyone in the district collectively, to higher levels of proficiency, help them to maintain proficiency and move on to new higher levels. The plan is designed to show maximum results within three years. Student proficiency levels monitored by state testing will show the results of the efforts. If individuals do not cooperate or attain those standards, they are held accountable.

Middleton, along with the school board and other participants, expressed their enthusiasm and belief the plan can work and their dedication to making it work for the sake of the children.