Parent & school advocate, Karin Kent, Real Estate Attorney and Public school parent, Clark Campbell, & retired CFO of MCS, Mike Griffin start off the new year by laying down the challenges and agenda for the Moore County School system amidst strong student growth and teacher demand.

Three challenges MCS faces in the coming year:

Depletion of the district’s fund balance.

• Ideal fund balance level: $4 to $5 million
• Examples of the use of fund balance include extending state-mandated raises and benefits to locally funded employees, fluctuations in utility and fuel costs, appropriations to charter schools, emergency one-time allocations, and unforeseen shortfalls in county and state appropriations.
• State budget is typically set several months after the district and the county set their budgets which can result in unforeseen shortfalls.
• The fund balance has been depleted since its peak in 2012, meaning it has no “reserve” funds to offset costs due to state-mandated pupil- teacher ratios or any other needs.
• Allocations to charter schools have nearly doubled since 2012-2013 to $1.2 million.

Ongoing need for capital maintenance and improvements (all of which are locally funded).

• Examples include new boilers, windows, roofs, technology needs, security and alarms systems, etc.
• MCS currently receives $1.5 million in annual funding from lottery and county appropriation; at this pace, it would take 50 years to complete 20 years’ worth of needed repairs and upgrades.
• Based on current age and condition of buildings and equipment, $72 million would be needed over the next 20 years.

State-mandated class-size reductions in kindergarten through 3rd grade.

• Based on current assessments, MCS would have to add 36 additional teachers to accommodate new state-mandated pupil-teacher ratios at a cost of $2 million. No funding was provided by the state to meet these mandates.
• Needed space for new classrooms to comply with the new mandate would result in 12 to 20 new modular units at $40,000 per unit.
• Unintended consequences could include larger pupil teacher ratios in grades 4 and higher as positions are shifted to lower grades and/or cuts in art, music and physical education programs to offset budget impact.

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MCS Board of Education Agendas & Videos:
http://www.ncmcs.org/BoESchedule

KARIN KENT – 910 639-2284

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Best known for their Aberdeen restaurant, The China Garden Buffet, the Lin family has made a strong mark in Moore County.

I met John Lin in 1999 when he was a freshman at Pinecrest and his sister, Jing, was an 8th grader.

Their journey through Pinecrest and N.C. State as well as their upbringing with tough love parents, tells us a story about the success of these two siblings all the way up to their current status as restaurant owners and real estate investors.

John & Winnie got married 12 years ago and have 3 boys who attend the Episcopal Day School. Jing is married with one son; lives in Charlotte and works for the Belk Corporation. Winnie works tirelessly as a mother, in the restaurant and as a property manager for rental homes they own together.

This family has set a standard for excellence, diligence and loyalty. It’s a privilege to call them friends and to have been a part of their lives these last 17 years.

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This Christmas weekend is a great time to speak with Church Planter John Kinyon and church members, Vanessa Royer, Bo & Meagan Arnold. 

John was raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia and became a Christian as a teenager through the ministry of Young Life. A graduate of Cornell
University and Vanderbilt Law School, John was employed as a Wall Street banker and an attorney while ministering in the collegiate and community-based ministries of The Navigators and Campus Crusade for Christ, before heeding God’s call to full-time church ministry. Upon graduation from Reformed Theological Seminary/Orlando in 1994, John and his family moved to the Island of Oahu where they “suffered for Jesus” planting a multi-ethnic PCA congregation from scratch. John also trained future church planters and pastors as a member of the faculty at International College and Graduate School in Honolulu, HI. John and Claire (his wife of 29 years) returned to Pennsylvania in 2000 to be closer to family and to join a core group of 4 young couples to plant Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in the Lehigh Valley which, by God’s grace, planted two daughter churches in 12 years. Consistent with his commitment to see more gospel-centered churches planted locally and abroad, John served until recently as the team leader for the Eastern Pennsylvania Presbytery (PCA) Church Planting Ministry Team (overseeing the planting of 4-5 new churches) and he teaches Biblical Studies and Theology classes as an adjunct faculty member of a Mainland Chinese Seminary. Desiring to “make another go of it” and to live nearer their aging parents, John and Claire moved to Moore County, NC only a few months ago to join a core group of approximately 60 people to plant Redeemer Church. John and Claire are blessed with 5 strapping young sons ranging in age from 14 – 25 years of age.

They currently live in Pinehurst, NC.

The Redeemer Church will be holding their Sunday morning services at 10:00 a.m. at The O’Neal School (Hannah Marie Bradshaw Activities Center).
www.redeemerchurchpca.org.

Our panel of guests covers a whole host of issues including the difference between a Biblical & Gospel centered church, generational dynamics in Moore County, core values, it’s vision & purpose, the strong role of music in service, and their place in a world of political discourse, misinformation
and social media. 

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Dr. Jolene Cassellius Erlacher, Trudy Engebretson, chairwoman of the Sandhills Christian Classical School & Cathleen Jones, Director at SummerShine Resort Staffing have an eye opening conversation about inter-generational relationships in the school, work and worship environment.

Dr. Erlacher founded Leading Tomorrow in 2013 with the aim of equipping churches, businesses, schools, mission agencies and other organizations or effective inter-generational leadership in an evolving culture. www.leadingtomorrow.org.

Dr. Erlacher says “I taught writing at our local community college for a couple of years. It always encouraged me to read student essays on who has greatly influenced them. Most of the time, they wrote about family or friends. These influential people were seldom rich, famous, or powerful. They sometimes lived far away or were seen infrequently. Students’ writings about grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings who have greatly impacted them revealed the significance of relationships with family and friends.

Christmas is a time when we often see people who live far away or are busy throughout the year. As a result, interactions during Christmas gatherings can be awkward, forced or uncomfortable. If there is dysfunction or hurt in a family, it makes it even more difficult to have meaningful conversations. Nonetheless, these holiday events provide invaluable opportunities to mentor and encourage. Our attitudes, behaviors, and responses influence and communicate important messages, especially to kids, youth, and young adults in our family circles. So, as we begin this season of celebration, here are a few tips to remember as we seek meaningful interactions this Christmas”.

1) Ask open-ended questions. We often ask questions that produce one word responses. For example, “How is school going?” “What is your favorite class?” After the person responds, “good,” and “chemistry,” there is an awkward pause and the conversation ends. Instead, ask family and friends questions that demonstrate you really care to know what is going on in their lives. For example, “What has been most rewarding or challenging about your studies/sports team/job this year?” “What was a significant decision you had to make this year?” “What are your hopes or goals for next year?” When they respond to your initial question, ask a follow-up question to show you are truly listening and care to know more.

2) Listen more, talk less. Often when someone shares an experience, we immediately want to offer our perspective or tell a similar story from our own lives. While sometimes appropriate, this often redirects the focus from the other person back to ourselves. As much as possible, demonstrate you are truly interested in what is happening in the lives of those around you, and wait for questions from them to invite conversation about your own life and experiences.

3) Embrace imperfection. In families or situations where authentic relationships and conversations seldom occur, trying to engage in meaningful interactions can be a challenge. Sometimes your attempt to show interest in someone’s life will be greeted with surprise or disinterest. Don’t take offense. Building relationships is seldom perfect. It is a important that you made the effort, and that effort will likely stick with the individual regardless of their response to you in the moment.

4) Follow up meaningful interactions. After a sincere conversation, individuals may feel vulnerable or regret that the interaction is over. Following up those conversations can develop trust and demonstrate you were listening and care. It does not have to be elaborate. For example, after a conversation with your nephew about a difficult supervisor at work, text him a couple of weeks later to ask how it is going.

5) Model healthy communication. Sometimes in family gatherings, sensitive topics or interactions occur. How we engage and respond in these situations models volumes to listening ears around us. Make an intentional effort this holiday season to practice grace, love, kindness, and self control that models healthy relational skills to those who are present.

This Christmas, we each have an opportunity to pursue positive and meaningful interactions with family and friends, especially young people who will inevitably take something (positive or negative!) away from watching, listening to and talking with us. These mentoring moments with the young adults, teenagers and kids in our lives may leave a lasting impression, the kind they will write about one day in an essay. Be intentional in your attitudes, behaviors and words…listening, encouragement and love may be the best gifts we give this Christmas!

For the next generation!
Jolene Erlacher

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Toys For Tots, Project Matthew 25:40 & The United Way of Moore County all make a difference in the lives of many of our Moore County residents.

Although these organizations run a year round effort, the Christmas Season is a prophetic time to cover the good work that they all do.

Jerry Townley of Berkshire Hathaway & Dave Berger of the Sandberg Ltd. Real Estate group have been affiliated with the Toys for Tots campaign for over 15 years. This iconic organization has been around our nation since 1947. It’s not too late to donate toys for this Christmas season to the youngest
of our residents; the children. All the drop off areas are noted at their website. www.toysfortots.org.

Ken Rahal and Jack Kennard join us to discuss a new and growing program that provides food to children through our school system and directly into their homes. Project Matthew works in conjunction with many of our area grocery retailers whose efforts and generosity have made a difference in children’s lives. For more information call 910 603-9768.

Executive Director, Linda Pearson and past board chairman and current Leadership Giver, Gerald Galloway, review the important Moore County
agencies that benefit from our charitable United Way contributions. The United Way provides cost effective oversight and works closely with many agencies in Moore County addressing physical, emotional, financial & disaster needs. Making a donation this Holiday season is easy. Go to
www.unitedwaymoore.com or call 910 692-2413.

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