Up & Coming Weekly

July 24, 2018

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1007462

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 13 of 36

WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JULY 25-31, 2018 UCW 13 "Cumberland County schools have a lot of potential for academic achievement and im- proved graduation rates as well as the overall social welfare of students." ese are the words of Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. in an exclusive interview with Up & Coming Weekly. Connelly takes re- sponsibility for the governance of 87 schools and 50,000 students as the new traditional school year gets underway. Cumberland County Schools made up the fourth largest school system in North Carolina until Winston-Salem Schools took over that posi- tion a few years ago. Connelly was chief of staff of the public schools of Wake County, the largest system in the state. "e challenges are the same. It's just a matter of scale," he said. Cumberland County and its school system have been in a no-growth posture for decades – un- like Wake County, which has grown beyond the county government's capability to keep up when it comes to new schools. Some local officials have noted that lack of growth has eliminated the need for expensive new school buildings. "We hope that changes in time," Connelly said. "We want to be optimistic for what the future holds." Connelly hopes to develop what he called a strategic plan to improve academic outcomes for students and strengthen the organizational structure for faculties and staffs. "We want to make sure our students can com- municate in a global society," he said. "It's more important today for students to be able to interact with their peers." Connelly said he will get to know the commu- nity by taking part in a "listening tour" at seven locations around the county. Connelly is a long-time clergyman as well as an educator. He has served as senior pastor of Saint Augusta Missionary Baptist Church in Fuquay- Varina for 18 years. at's one-half of the 36 years he's been in the ministry. He said the Board of Education is aware of his dual occupations and has encouraged him to continue his work with the church. He promotes public education from the pulpit. e church's June/July newsletter noted that the College Foundation of North Carolina is an excel- lent way to map out each year of high school and make plans to graduate with post-secondary and career-related options. Students should create an account to start receiving the benefits of this education tool, the program stated. Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. brings vision to Cumberland County Schools by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. know in the stay www.upandcomingweekly.com We can help you learn what is happening in and around Fayetteville! In print and online! 208 Rowan St. 910.484.6200

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Up & Coming Weekly - July 24, 2018